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"It's like a roller coaster!" my daughter shouted gleefully during her first convertible ride. Yes, peeling the top off your car can turn even a trip to the dentist's office into an amusement park ride.

Convertibles aren't just for kids, either. After you drop them off at school, a convertible becomes your own rolling chaise lounge. You can kick back in the sun and cruise, enjoying the pleasure of your own company while driving to work or running errands. For seeing and being seen in, nothing beats a convertible. (Have you ever tried to flirt in a minivan?) 

Sales soaring

With drop-top technology improving every year and so many baby boomers hitting middle age, it's no wonder that convertible sales are hotter than ever. Registrations of new convertibles have increased 63 percent in the U.S. over the past six years. According to R.L. Polk & Co., convertible sales totaled 310,595 in 2001, up more than 10 percent over 2000. This marks the first time in 30 years that convertible sales have surpassed 300,000 vehicles.

Not surprisingly, when the mercury climbs, ragtop sales soar. Approximately 40 percent of all convertible sales occur from June through September. And Sun Belt states don't hold the monopoly on open-air driving. The top 10 cities for convertible sales are Los Angeles, New York, Miami, San Francisco, Orlando, Chicago, Philadelphia, Detroit, Washington, D.C., and Dallas.

Like all sunny things in life, ragtops have their dark side. They're vulnerable to thieves wielding knives and pianos falling from the sky. They're usually small two-doors, making it awkward for kids to clamber in and out of the back seat. They're even a bit of a nuisance, since you have to put the top up every time you go to the mall.

For another thing, a car tends to shake and shimmy when you shave the roof off.  I learned this the hard way while carrying coffee in a 2001 Saab 9-3 Viggen. I left Peet's Coffee with a full cup of coffee in the cupholder, but by the time I got home, there was only a splash of coffee left. And I hadn't taken a sip.

Not all convertibles shake like Robert Downey, Jr. at his latest intake session. Today's drop-tops are sturdier, safe and comfortable, and most are appropriate for year-round use. Many have glass rear windows with defrosters, and fast-acting power roofs.

Still, convertibles aren't for everyone. You'll make a few sacrifices for your fun in the sun. Driving a roofless car can be like riding a motorcycle. It's noisy (you'll have to yell even louder at the kids), wreaks havoc with your hair (elastic bands and baseball caps are de rigueur), and exposes you to sunburn, truck exhaust and road gunk. At least in a convertible, you won't arrive at the BBQ with bugs in your teeth.

What you will arrive with is a smile on your face. Sure, your cranky mother might not approve, but convertibles can be real family vehicles. Having a drop-top in your driveway is like having a swimming pool in your backyard. It's kind of a pain all winter long, but when summer comes, the kids think you're cool and everyone in the neighborhood wants to be your friend.

Best Family Verts

If you're longing for the pleasure of top-down driving, check out these family-friendly four-seaters: 

If the kids are young and leg room isn't crucial, a Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder ($24,172) has plenty of style. If you really want your mother to approve, a Toyota Solara convertible ($25,950) is as practical and durable as you'd expect a Toyota to be. Try donning black sunglasses and a long silk scarf over your hair while driving a BMW 325ci convertible ($36,745), and people will say you're a ringer for Audrey Hepburn. The Saab 9-3 SE convertible ($40,750) might be the only four-passenger cabrio where the rear-seat passengers aren't meant to be grocery bags, and it has the most sumptuous leather this side of a Bentley. If you can wait until next year, the Chrysler PT Cruiser and Volkswagen New Beetle convertibles should be great choices for less than $25,000.

Five Affordable Topless Sport-Utes

 If you're desperate for top-down thrills, but must keep the out-the-door price under $20,000, consider an SUV. Believe it or not, the cheapest "convertibles" are actually trucks. All five sport-utes listed below are two-doors with removable soft-tops. The Jeep Wrangler ($15,915) is the oldest and the coolest of the group, but it's not your only choice. There's also the Suzuki Vitara ($16,099), Kia Sportage ($15,140), Chevrolet Tracker ($16,435), and the Isuzu Rodeo Sport ($16,985).