Want a 5 seater convertible

danix

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None now. Former: 2011 335d, 2010 Jetta TDI, 2003 Jetta TDI Wagon. 99.5 Jetta TDI, 98 NB TDI, 3 different black 96 Passat TDI wagons.
And no, there aren't many. There is one sold in the US - it's the Jeep Wrangler 4 door (I forget the name) and I don't care to own one.

Every other convertible I've looked at has only 2 seat belts in the rear. And I have 3 kids.

So, I think the options are:
a) find an older big convertible (think American big iron from the 70s)
b) modify the rear seat of a Cabrio or EOS to include the 3rd seatbelt
c) slice the top off a Golf or Passat TDI :)

Have I missed anything? In short the options all suck.
 

danix

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None now. Former: 2011 335d, 2010 Jetta TDI, 2003 Jetta TDI Wagon. 99.5 Jetta TDI, 98 NB TDI, 3 different black 96 Passat TDI wagons.
Just need a pair of fuzzy dice and a 10 gallon hat. Yee-haw.
Good find on the sunfire/cavalier, unfortunately, they are crappy cars.
PT Cruiser is 4 passenger. So is everything else made today.
 

MrMopar

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danix said:
PT Cruiser is 4 passenger. So is everything else made today.
Yeah, I thought as much. Since the folding-top mechanical stuff and body bracing for stiffness stuff intrudes so much on passenger compartment space, all the modern convertibles come with just two seatbelts in the back with the intention being that you just don't seat 3 back there because it's such a tight fit.
 

danix

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None now. Former: 2011 335d, 2010 Jetta TDI, 2003 Jetta TDI Wagon. 99.5 Jetta TDI, 98 NB TDI, 3 different black 96 Passat TDI wagons.
Technically, this is a 4 door convertible, but I have no interest in driving one.
 

owr084

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danix said:
And no, there aren't many. There is one sold in the US - it's the Jeep Wrangler 4 door (I forget the name) and I don't care to own one.

Every other convertible I've looked at has only 2 seat belts in the rear. And I have 3 kids.

So, I think the options are:
a) find an older big convertible (think American big iron from the 70s)
b) modify the rear seat of a Cabrio or EOS to include the 3rd seatbelt
c) slice the top off a Golf or Passat TDI :)

Have I missed anything? In short the options all suck.
Totally not possible on the Eos. The middle of the seat cushion is too narrow and cannot support any weight. Besides, it's way too small across the back to seat 3....
 
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danix

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None now. Former: 2011 335d, 2010 Jetta TDI, 2003 Jetta TDI Wagon. 99.5 Jetta TDI, 98 NB TDI, 3 different black 96 Passat TDI wagons.
compu_85 said:
The cabrio wasn't a 5 seater?

-Jason
Nope. Neither was the A1 Cabriolet, not even the Super Beetle I believe.
 

danix

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None now. Former: 2011 335d, 2010 Jetta TDI, 2003 Jetta TDI Wagon. 99.5 Jetta TDI, 98 NB TDI, 3 different black 96 Passat TDI wagons.
Hmm, probably easier to import than to find one in the US.
 

MrMopar

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I am way late to this thread with this observation: Jeep Wrangler Unlimited is the only 4 door convertible in the USA, and it seats 5 people.
 

danix

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None now. Former: 2011 335d, 2010 Jetta TDI, 2003 Jetta TDI Wagon. 99.5 Jetta TDI, 98 NB TDI, 3 different black 96 Passat TDI wagons.
Yep, as I noted in the original post.
Handles poorly, gets horrible mpg, unreliable. Pass.
 

MrMopar

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Yep, as I noted in the original post.
Handles poorly, gets horrible mpg, unreliable. Pass.
Ah, I had completely glossed over that. I'm on vacation in Florida, soaked in whisky and margaritas, saw a 4-door Wrangler in the parking lot of the Wal-Mart, and this thread popped into my head. I thought I was coming in with some original thought. Clearly too whiskyed up for thinking straight.
 

danix

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None now. Former: 2011 335d, 2010 Jetta TDI, 2003 Jetta TDI Wagon. 99.5 Jetta TDI, 98 NB TDI, 3 different black 96 Passat TDI wagons.

MrMopar

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On the other hand, this might fit the bill, though it's not much in the handling department, but I thought you might like it anyway given your moniker:
http://buggybank.com/car.php?vehicle=17867
One of my dream cars is a 1966 Plymouth Barracuda. I want it with the rare aluminum block 225 Slant-6 engine that was available in the Valiant from about mid-1963, and I'd want it converted to fuel injection just so I never have to deal with carbs again. I saw a Dodge Dart years ago at a car show where the owner had converted to electronic ignition and also fitted a Mopar fuel injection conversion. It was a kit that Mopar sells for 4.2 Jeep I-6 engines, and he had fitted it to a 225 Slant-6 with great results.
 

guanomade

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Two additional possibilities for 5 seat (or more) convertible.

Hi,
I'm looking for weeks now to find a recent model of convertible with 5 or more seats and I'm not interested in the Wrangler...
I finally found two new alternatives :
1) Hummer H1 with soft top and the optional Jumper Seat... This one will seat 6 people.
Or, even better, have your preferred model modified by a professional convertible specialist:
2) http://www.newportconvertible.com/category.jhtm?cid=137
My favorite would be to have a Treg TDI V10 converted to a soft top fun car.
 

VWConvert

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Cincinnati, OH
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Going to purchase one
I can't believe you're in the VW forum bringing up buying a H1 with jumper seats. Sacrilige!!! :mad: j/k haha.

It is a bummer that we aren't seeing any 5 seater convertibles around anymore. I think it would be a pretty neat idea if some of these major performance cars were 5 seaters (even if the room was tiny).

Z06/7 Vette with a 5 seater drop top... oh man I'd be a happy camper :D
 

German_1er_diesel

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BadMonKey

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Colorado
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And no, there aren't many. There is one sold in the US - it's the Jeep Wrangler 4 door (I forget the name) and I don't care to own one.

Every other convertible I've looked at has only 2 seat belts in the rear. And I have 3 kids.

So, I think the options are:
a) find an older big convertible (think American big iron from the 70s)
b) modify the rear seat of a Cabrio or EOS to include the 3rd seatbelt
c) slice the top off a Golf or Passat TDI :)

Have I missed anything? In short the options all suck.
the 2007 Audi A4 Cabriolet will be hard to find but it had 5 seat belts.

1965 Lincoln Continental with suicide rear door left outs.

Cant understand why someone would want one? The frame stiffness on large convertibles feels like a slinky and you really have to hate someone to make them go through the wind blast in the back seat. I had the displeasure of sitting in the back of solara on a nice day and it ruined my nice day with wind burn. I would consider it child abuse to make kids sit through that. IMO the new panoramic large moon roofs are the way to go so your passengers can choose to get chapped faces if they want and you don't have to drive around a spaghetti noodle the rest of the time.
 
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TDIJetta99

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03... Faster than yours =]
What about newer Saab convertibles? I know the older ones are only 4 seaters..

And you'll drive an H1 but not a new Wrangler? The H1's weren't the most fuel efficient at 9-13mpg, or the most reliable either..
 
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