i want to rent a convertible! should i do it NYC or is it cheaper elsewhere?

[bluegreyeyes]

i just turned 25... i finallyyyyyyy can rent a car without paying an arm & a leg! yay.

and i'm planning to visit my parents in Charlotte, NC in July.

at first I was going to rent a SUV but i figure, why not rent a convertible?

anyway, a few things:

1) i have a dog. is this a big "no-no"? i know it's dangerous to let them ride in the back of a pickup...she'd be fine in a convertible, right?

2) i live in NYC currently, but i have friends on Long Island, and in PA... so i could potentially (with a little bribery) rent a car from either of those locations. my question is -- where would it be cheapest to rent a convertible? anyone have any experience with this?

3) any "cons" of renting a convertible that i'm not aware of?

thanks!

[Mass Tim]

1) i have a dog. is this a big "no-no"? i know it's dangerous to let them ride in the back of a pickup...she'd be fine in a convertible, right?

Some animals are quite content to ride in a vehicle, and others can't stand it. Only you know your dog. Do you think she'd want to jump out of the car at high speed?

2) i live in NYC currently, but i have friends on Long Island, and in PA... so i could potentially (with a little bribery) rent a car from either of those locations. my question is -- where would it be cheapest to rent a convertible? anyone have any experience with this?

I would suggest using the Internet and pricing a few of the places that you are thinking of renting from. Just be aware of restrictions on where you can drive the car, mileage, etc.

3) any "cons" of renting a convertible that i'm not aware of?

These may or may not directly apply to you, but:
there is generally less trunk space than in the equivalent coupe or sedan, you might not have a lot of opportunities to drop the top depending on the weather, and if you have sensitive ears the buffeting in some cars may bother you.

[UKCraig]

I've had a convertible on three occasions and the last time I dropped the hood just once. I just find that if its cold you leave the hood up (obviously) and if its hot you leave the hood up to avoid burning your head or losing your hat! If you want to do it, great, but its definately a novelty thing. Once the novelty has worn off you're better off saving your money and getting a more comfortable car for the journey.