Used Drop-Top Checklist

volkswagen beetle convertible

Sellers of used convertibles have been waiting since fall to pawn off last summers’ joyride to a new owner because once fall hit, prices dropped. But the beginning of summer marks the peak of demand in the used rag top market and they get snatched up quickly. So how do you make a snap decision to ensure your “Summer of Automolove,” without spending the sunshine months making lemonade from a newly purchased lemon?  These drop-top beauties come with their own special potential problems in addition to the usual used car checkpoints and this checklist will help you sort those destined to be cruisers from those destined for the crusher.

Convertible interiors suffer more damage than any other vehicle. Many spend a large portion of their lives with the top down, in the sun’s damaging UV rays, and showers catch nearly every convertible owner off guard eventually. Add to that dust from your gardener’s leaf blower as well as your fellow commuters’ exhaust settling into every exposed nook and cranny, and the question when buying a convertible becomes not if, but how much damage have the elements done? Here’s a few tips to help you make the right decision:

• Reach under seats (front and back) and feel the higher exposed foam to see if it crumbles to powder from too much UV exposure. How different in color is the bottom of the seatback compared to the top of the seat cushion?
• Look for two-tone interior panels where there was only a single shade when the vehicle was new. Fading of higher, more exposed panels is a sure sign this car spent many days baking in direct sunlight.

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• Check the dash and center console for cracks and/or spider-webbing that will eventually become cracks – especially on wood veneers.
• Inspect plastic trim pieces and knobs including door and window handles for fading and or cracking.
• Lift the carpeting and check for signs of mildew or rust. A car left out in the rain, and had the top put up before it dried, will get quite humid inside as the moisture has no place to evaporate. Water is evil when trapped between metal and carpeting. With the carpet up, climb under the car and see if you can see any pinholes of light coming through. Once that first hole works through the metal, it’s over. Even if you do everything to ensure it never rains on your interior again, water will come in off wet pavement and get trapped there, causing the hole to grow ever larger. It can be fixed, but make sure you factor in that cost prior to purchase.
• Check the bottoms of the doors for rust stains in the drain holes. With windows and the top down during a storm, water will enter the slot the window normally occupies and will accumulate inside the door. Doors rusting through the bottom are rare, but it does happen, and more importantly it may mean water has hit electric window motors or other electronics. That could spell trouble down the road.
• If there is a deck under the rear window check it for warpage or rot, looking underneath from the trunk if necessary.
• While you are in the trunk, lift up the mat and check under the spare tire (if equipped) for rust and mildew. Leaky rear decks, rain pooling in speaker compartments, and tops that fold into trunk space can all result in water settling in the bottom of the trunk without sufficient ventilation for proper evaporation and quick drying.
• While you are in the trunk, lift up the mat and check under the spare tire (if equipped) for rust and mildew. Leaky rear decks, rain pooling in speaker compartments, and tops that fold into trunk space can all result in water settling in the bottom of the trunk without sufficient ventilation for proper evaporation and quick drying.
• Listen to the sound system. Car speakers do not hold up well to extended outdoor use. The more exposure, the poorer the sound and vice versa. Do all the controls still work properly? Electrical components seldom enjoy the company of dust and combined with extreme heat, cold and moisture can make keypads inoperable.
• Extreme outdoor conditions also wreak havoc with electric windows, light switches, emergency flashers and any other electrical control device. These are important to check in any car, but check and double check them when purchasing a convertible.