With spring comes one of the classic American past times; cruising on a joyride in a convertible.  Whether you drive a Mazda Miata or a BMW Z3, new or old, it doesn't matter... there's no feeling quite like cruising down a country highway with the top down, music blasting, and the summer sun shining down on you.

However one of the dilemmas many owners face are the need for replacement convertible tops after a few years. Unlike automotive paint which is designed to withstand the elements, the sun and snow can be particularly brutal on your canvas top. Even if you are lucky enough to have no rips or tears in it, the harsh UV rays are almost guaranteed to fade the fabric overtime... turning your black cloth top into an ugly gray. You see this frequently with the VW and Miata convertible tops. Unfortunately, this can make an otherwise meticulously maintained late model convertible look aged beyond its years

How to care for a convertible top?

Keep it Clean – Be sure to always keep your canvas top as clean as possible. Using a simple DIY pressure washer (such as at the self-service car wash) will help remove sediment that is build up within the fabric. The last thing you want is the top on your late model Mazda Miata to become permanently stained already because you allowed the dirt to stay on it too long.

Use a Protectant – Just like people wax their paint to protect it, you can also use certain products to protect your convertible top. There are a number of inexpensive ones on the market which you rub on using a cloth. Your local auto parts store should carry several. This is especially important with the early generation Mazda Miata convertible tops because they were made with a less durable, softer fabric which is more susceptible to the elements. After the initial application, be sure to apply the protectant regularly (as often as the instructions recommend).

Avoid the Sun – While this may seem like an oxymoron considering it's a convertible... it's true. When you are not driving it, be sure to keep the car out of the sun. Sometimes this can be difficult though – i.e. Your new Porsche Boxster convertible top that sits in an unshaded parking lot when you're at work. What's the solution? Get a car cover to block those harsh UV rays from prematurely aging the canvas. Spending a little on a car cover and using it daily could save you a lot of money later on by extending the life of your car's convertible top.

It's true that it may too late and the damage has already been done to your car, if it wasn't cared for properly in the past. But, if your convertible top is still in prime shape, you can keep it looking good for years to come by following these simple steps.

Admittedly I'm a long time fan of Mercedes cars, even though they are out of my price range I've always had an attachment to their sleek stylings, especially any Mercedes Convertible.  In a word 'sexy' and in a description 'I'd like to find a moist spot on the car somewhere'.  But I'm not just talking about new Mercedes convertibles, I'm talking about aged classics with the drop top.

Below are some of my favorite Mercedes convertible pictures and what I aspire to purchase one day.

Mercedes Benz CLK Class CLK350 CONV 2006 CLK 350 CABRIOLET CONVERTIBLE LOADED TEXAS CAR    US $22,900.00

Mercedes Benz SL Class CONVERTIBLE SL320 CABRIOLET LOW MILES W RECORDS    US $9,995.00

Mercedes Benz SL Class 280 SL HARDTOP CONVERTIBLE ROADSTER RESTORED RARE COLOR LK    US $42,950.00

Found these beautiful ponies at my local dealership. It looks like MSRP is floating around $30,000 depending on the options, but rest assured if I had the money I'd get me a loaded GT. At any rate, here are pictures of the new 08 Mustang.

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