View Full Version : Difference between a Roadster & Cabrio
1zippo1
08-09-2003, 01:52 PM
I was just reading an article in a car magazine about the Saab9-3 Cabrio. And they sayd Saab is making cabrio's for a long time, since the Sonett 1 from 1956, wich was more of a roadster then a cabrio. So I asked myself, what is the difference. I feel stupid that I don't even know this.
Here are some pic's of the Sonette 1
Roadster:
http://w1.520.telia.com/~u52002808/son1_a.jpg
coupé (wich looks very nice):
http://www.martin-roth.com/images/sonett_seite_wimpfen.jpg
Uhm.. hard one dang.. a Roadster should be a strict two seater, while a cabriolet can have 2+2 or 4 places... ( I think )
1zippo1
08-09-2003, 02:34 PM
Ah, oef, I'm not the only one that doesn't know this :)
But I think you're right TT!!
AlienDB7
08-09-2003, 02:59 PM
According to the webster dictionary:
Main Entry: road·ster
Pronunciation: 'rOd-st&r
Function: noun
Date: 1818
1 a : a horse for riding or driving on roads b : a utility saddle horse of the hackney type
2 a : a light carriage : BUGGY b : an automobile with an open body that seats two and has a folding fabric top and a luggage compartment in the rear
Main Entry: cab·ri·o·let
Pronunciation: "ka-brE-&-'lA
Function: noun
Etymology: French, from diminutive of cabriole caper, alteration of Middle French capriole
Date: 1763
1 : a light 2-wheeled one-horse carriage with a folding leather hood, a large apron, and upward-curving shafts
2 : a convertible coupe
so... TT is right, I think.
So the only difference is really only the number of seats? Cool! :D
draak666
08-09-2003, 09:08 PM
A cabriolet is a car with a removable top , but the model exists also with a fixed roof. I believe a roadster only exists with a removable top. I guess that is the difference...
1zippo1
08-10-2003, 07:19 AM
aaah, thx for the info guys!!!
By the way, what did you think of that old saab (the coupé).
Oh and one other thing, for the people who would like to see Herbie (the VW beetle) again, there is a movie in half an hour (13:00 GMT 14:00Belgium) on BBC1.
mendocino
08-10-2003, 07:21 AM
yes drag, you're right!
A cabriolet IMO is a derivative of a coupe while the roadster only exist with a removable top and doesn't exist as coupe... anyway in reality the difference is quite obvious, roaster are sunny day cars, two seats, sporty, that can have a roof in extreem conditions, whereas cabrio are everyday cars, practical, 4 seats and not necesserily sporty that can remove the top if needed.
If you want a real example, look at porsche:
911 cabrio: when you see it, it's generaly with the top on, 4 seat's, buisness man on it
boxster : generaly open, 2 seats, blond woman on it.
draak666
08-10-2003, 07:44 AM
I bet 1zippo1 will be in front of his TV in a couple of minutes :D Would like to see Herbie again but I'll be at the beach though...too hot... 8)
Is that really a Saab? Looks kinda cool, like an old Corvette. When did they make that one?
aaah, thx for the info guys!!!
By the way, what did you think of that old saab (the coupé).
Oh and one other thing, for the people who would like to see Herbie (the VW beetle) again, there is a movie in half an hour (13:00 GMT 14:00Belgium) on BBC1.
The old Saab is super sexy IMO!
And BTW, a saw Herbie at Monte Carlo some days ago :) the one where he falls in love ;)
1zippo1
08-10-2003, 07:57 AM
Don't know from wich year the car is but I think it looks great. Here are some more pics:
http://www.martin-roth.com/images/sonett_und_ich.jpg
http://www.martin-roth.com/images/sonett_codeschloss.jpg
http://www.martin-roth.com/images/sonett_hinten_heck_offen.jpg
http://www.martin-roth.com/images/sonett_hinten.jpg
http://www.martin-roth.com/images/sonett_seite_heck_offen.jpg
http://www.martin-roth.com/images/sonett_vorne_fisheye.jpg
I wonder how many were produced...
Jabba
08-10-2003, 10:43 AM
yes drag, you're right!
A cabriolet IMO is a derivative of a coupe while the roadster only exist with a removable top and doesn't exist as coupe... anyway in reality the difference is quite obvious, roaster are sunny day cars, two seats, sporty, that can have a roof in extreem conditions, whereas cabrio are everyday cars, practical, 4 seats and not necesserily sporty that can remove the top if needed.
If you want a real example, look at porsche:
911 cabrio: when you see it, it's generaly with the top on, 4 seat's, buisness man on it
boxster : generaly open, 2 seats, blond woman on it.
If I understand you and draak666 correctly your examples dont work heres why...
Lamborghini Diablo VT (hard top)
Lamborghini Diablo VT Roadster (same car but with removable roof section)
I would call all hard top removable section cars roadsters or what other manufacturers might call a targa...(I cant remember what is left on a Porsche after you remove the roof on a targa) I used to have an MR2 T-Bar...I cant remember if you could remove the entire roof or you are left with a T-bar...hence the name maybe....
I would call all soft top convertables either cab's or the Italian equivalent spiders
mendocino
08-10-2003, 11:01 AM
Well I think it's still working with some explanations:
the only two examples that are wrong I think are pagani and lambo... but put it this way:
those are super cars, so obviously sporty, and I don't think we can call the diablo and the c12 'coupe' so their 'topless' version can't be seen as derivative of 'coupe' . if the top disapear, they moved from supercar to roadster... or perhaps superoadster...
stracing
08-10-2003, 11:03 AM
but the mx5 and s2000 are called roadsters
mendocino
08-10-2003, 11:07 AM
edit:
well actully mx5 and s2000 are roadster... not cabrios, because they don't exist in coupe... I think.
1zippo1
08-10-2003, 01:14 PM
I'm glad that I started this conversation, I would like to know the real correct to this question. It even seems that I'm not as stupid as I though :wink: and that I'm not the only one who doesn't really understood this fully.
It's the classic thing everbody think to know.. then you think about it 2 seconds and you realize you're not that sure ;)
Anyway it would have been easier if the "seats" rule was the only one :P
mendocino
08-10-2003, 01:32 PM
Anyway it would have been easier if the "seats" rule was the only one :P
yes indeed??? but does anybody knows a roadster with 4 seats? I think I don't!
Jabba
08-10-2003, 01:36 PM
Well I think it's still working with some explanations:
the only two examples that are wrong I think are pagani and lambo... but put it this way:
those are super cars, so obviously sporty, and I don't think we can call the diablo and the c12 'coupe' so their 'topless' version can't be seen as derivative of 'coupe' . if the top disapear, they moved from supercar to roadster... or perhaps superoadster...
you can call them whatever you want...my old diablo was listed as a coupe on the registration and sales documents...so thats good enough for me....btw the F50 has both a solid top and removable roof section and its not called an F50 Roadster...IMO its a manufacturers decision....Ferrari have their "TS" model which stands for "Transversale Spider" you could call this a Roadster as well....as its exactly the same design as my Diablo VT Roadster....also Ferrari have TB (Transversale Berlinetta) or Hardtop and of course the spider soft top.....for these models also....I cant see how "pagani and lambo" are wrong...they made the cars... they can call them whatever they want....plus I dont think they would make that sort of mistake some how....
mendocino
08-10-2003, 02:41 PM
LOL I didn't mean that pagani and lambo were wrong... I woudn't be that pretentious :D
I ment that with my umble definition, two examples are exeptions: pagani and lambo. but I think it works with non super cars.
draak666
08-11-2003, 07:00 AM
Here's an update on the definition of a roadster. Autobild.de just did a comparative test involving the Z4, Alfa spider and boxter. German is only my fourth language, but from what I understand a pure roadster must have the engine in the front and rear wheel drive, and a long front hood and a short rear. :idea:
http://www.autobild.de/test/neuwagen/artikel.php?artikel_id=4862&A_SESS=bb4591a7ad29f3bf38a742145ba97ba2#
mendocino
08-11-2003, 07:18 AM
a pure roadster must have the engine in the front and rear wheel drive, and a long front hood and a short rear. :idea:
http://www.autobild.de/test/neuwagen/artikel.php?artikel_id=4862&A_SESS=bb4591a7ad29f3bf38a742145ba97ba2#
don't work with mambo and pagani neither... well I give up finding a good definition and I'll trust constructors claims. :)
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