Good read. Some more tips I found.

Test Drive a Roof

There are two ways to test drive a convertible roof. The first is the most obvious: standing still. This is when you have all the time in the world to either get the top up or down. It’s not going to be difficult to operate a roof with a power top, of course. During the stand still test, with a manual roof, you’re basically seeing how difficult it is to operate the latches that secure the roof. You also want to see how easy it is to fold the top and secure it in the down position.

Be brutally honest with yourself in your appraisal of how easy it is to manually operate the latches associated with opening the roof and securing it. The latches may – and I emphasize may – become easier to use as time passes, but probably not. If your hands aren’t strong enough to open the roof now, they’re probably not going to be strong enough six months down the road.

Speed is another important test. See how quickly you can put the top up. Now, this doesn’t matter with a power roof because it only goes up as fast as its engine allows it to. Where it makes a difference is with a manual roof. You’re going to want to see how quick you can put the roof up in a rainstorm.

Types of Roofs

There are two basic types of roofs: fabric or hardtop. The hardtop roof is made of the same sheet metal as the rest of the car and folds down with the aid of a motor. Fabric tops can be made of a variety of materials such as vinyl, canvas or an acrylic/polyester blend.

Test the roof itself by spraying water on it, specifically at the points where the roof hits the windshield and where the glass hits the roof along the sides. You’re looking for leaks. They can happen even in a hardtop convertible. A 2010 Infiniti G37 S convertible I test drove had a slight drip problem after a heavy rain. A good roof seal lets in no moisture.

The Storage Space

Check out the well where the roof is stored. Most have some kind of removable top that locks into place. See if there are signs of rust inside the well. It could demonstrate leaks that are going to eventually destroy the roof if it is stored improperly. Examine how securely the top snaps into place. Loose tops contribute to the destructive moisture problem. They could also fly off at highway speeds.

I prefer hard top to a soft top. Somehow the idea of having a fabric looking-like material keeping out the rain does not register.

But on a practical front, the only car that I ever owned closest to a convertible is one with a Sun-Roof. Even then, I rem that my sunroof leaks water under those high pressure car wash. But maybe it's because the car is more than 10 years old.

I always think it's not awesome to cruise with open top, eating dust on the road. But when I do, I'd just enjoy.

I always think it's not awesome to cruise with open top, eating dust on the road. But when I do, I'd just enjoy.

Who tell you to open the top on a dusty road? lol

Been owning a 2 seater hard-top roadster for coming 5 years. So far only rattle roof sound can be heard in the rear of the latch. Given a correct lubricant spray on the roof mechanical arm screw every few months to eliminate the rattling noise.