Summer sampler: Ups and downs of convertibles

The car: By the standards of ordinary SUVs, the Wrangler should be a tough sell. But the rough ride, dicey handling and deafening road noise - all still there despite notable improvements in its recent redesign - are part of the appeal, along with legendary off-road prowess.

The cost: About $18,000 to start

The top: One of the biggest selling points for the new Jeep Wrangler Unlimited - and it's selling like crazy - is that it's simply the only four-door convertible you can buy.

It's also one of the few that offers a choice of hard or soft tops and the only one that will let you have both so you can switch back and forth as the seasons change. The Wrangler's new hard top has a front section that comes off easily in two pieces, allowing for something like a sunroof.

Wind noise on the highway is fairly wicked, even with the hard roof firmly in place. For rollover protection, the Wrangler has a full roll cage and electronic stability control is standard equipment.