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If you’re planning on taking a road trip this summer and want to be one with the outside world, then a convertible car can provide the best experience. There’s nothing like cruising along on the open road and feeling the wind in your hair and the sun on your face. However, if you pick the wrong convertible to road trip in, then you could be in for a very uncomfortable experience. To ensure that you don’t take your road trips in misery, here are four of the most uncomfortable convertibles you can buy.

1. Mazda Miata MX-5

Pair of 2022 Mazda MX-5 Miata Roadsters in street, the most reliabile sports car according to Cosumer Reports
2022 Mazda MX-5 Miata pair | Mazda

We can’t love the Mazda MX-5 Miata any more than we already do. When it comes to on-road thrills and track-ready fun, Miata really is always the answer. Its cloth convertible top drops in seconds and if you’re the type that likes hardtop convertibles, then the MX-5 RF is there for you. There’s also a 181-hp engine under the hood to provide rev-happy smiles for miles and its slick-shifting manual shifter is sublime.

That all being said, when it comes to road trips, Miata isn’t always the answer. Although it does boast 43 inches of legroom and 37 inches of headroom, it can feel a bit cramped over time. Especially if you’re planning to go across the country. If that’s the case, then you may want to look into some more comfortable convertible options.

2. Honda S2000

A red 2007 Honda S2000 coupe convertible model featured from the National Motor Museum
2007 Honda S2000 | National Motor Museum/Heritage Images/Getty Images

The Honda S2000 is a legend when it comes to convertible cars and there’s no denying that we’re massive fans. Its high-revving naturally aspirated engine can sing its way up to 9,000 rpm and its six-speed manual shifter is from the gods. What’s even better is that its convertible top folds down in seconds, which means that you can be connected to the outside world in no time. There’s honestly no better feeling than hearing VTEC kick in on a nice sunny day.

However, if you’re planning to take a fabled S2000 on a road trip, then you may want to think again. It only has 44.3 inches of legroom, so its interior is a little more cramped than the Miata’s. Also, the S2000 is loud at highway speeds, its suspension is stiff, and it doesn’t get the best gas mileage either (21 mpg combined). Save the S2000 for the weekends and drive something more comfortable, like a sedan, for road trips.

3. Smart ForTwo Cabriolet

One of the coolest aspects of the Smart ForTwo Cabriolet is that you can raise or lower the top in just 12 seconds, even when the car is moving. There are even three different position settings for the cloth top – you can peel it back slightly for a sunroof experience, drop the top for more exposure, or remove the roof bars for a genuine cabriolet feeling.

Surprisingly, the Smart ForTwo’s interior provides a decent amount of room. However, its ride quality is where you might suffer. According to Edmunds’ review of the 2017 Smart ForTwo, “the suspension is much too stiff to provide any peace over rough city roads. With an extra-short wheelbase, large bumps are an adventure.”

4. Fiat 124 Spider

2018 Fiat 124 Abarth Spide
2018 Fiat 124 Abarth Spider | Getty Images

The Fiat 124 Spider is basically a Mazda Miata with a turbocharged engine and an elegant aesthetic. That means that it has the same amount of head and legroom, which translates into a cramped feeling over time. Sure, you can go on a long road trip with a 124 Spider as its ride quality is good and its interior may be spacious, but it can wear on you over time.

The most uncomfortable convertible cars

While anyone can technically take any of these four convertible cars on a long road trip, it’s not entirely recommended. Yes, cars like Mazda Miata can handily fit occupants over six feet tall, however, it’s the hours and hours of driving that eventually makes it uncomfortable. Also, if you’re a passenger, then you may have a hard sleeping in any of these passenger seats as they don’t really recline. However, if you do plan to take a road trip in any of these cars this summer, then just note that you have been warned.

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