The Best Convertibles for a PCH Drive to Malibu

The Pacific Coast Highway is the drive most people picture when they think of Southern California. Ocean on one side, hills on the other, and the top down. A convertible rental in Los Angeles is the simplest way to do it properly. This guide covers the route, the best time to go and which cars in the MACH fleet suit it.

MACH can deliver the car to your home or hotel, or you can pick it up. Exact location and timing are confirmed with each request.

The route: Santa Monica to Malibu

The classic PCH drive starts where the 10 freeway meets the coast in Santa Monica. From there, Highway 1 runs northwest along the water toward Malibu.

• Santa Monica to Malibu Pier. A short, easy first leg. Traffic can be slow near Santa Monica, then opens up past the canyon roads.
• Malibu to Point Dume. The coastline gets wider and quieter. Point Dume is a good place to stop, walk and look back down the coast.
• Beyond Point Dume. If you have time, keep going north. The road becomes more open and the views are some of the best on the drive.

For more on the area, see our exotic car rental in Malibu page.

The canyons

Several canyon roads climb inland from PCH into the Santa Monica Mountains. They are narrow, winding and often busy with cyclists and local traffic. Drive them at a sensible pace, respect posted limits and stay in your lane. They are a great way to loop back toward the city without retracing your steps.

Best time of day

Timing makes a bigger difference on PCH than the car does.

• Weekday mornings. Light traffic heading north and fewer people at the beaches. Start after the morning rush into the city.
• Late afternoon to sunset. The light is excellent, but traffic builds, especially on weekends and summer evenings.
• Weekends. Beautiful and busy. Leave early if you want open road.

In late spring and early summer, the coast often sits under a marine layer in the morning. Locals call it May Gray and June Gloom. It can burn off by midday, so pack a jacket and be flexible. Fall is often clear and warm along the coast.

The convertibles that fit PCH

Lamborghini Huracán EVO Spyder

For a Lamborghini rental in Los Angeles built for the coast, the Huracán EVO Spyder is the headline. A naturally aspirated 5.2L V10, 640 hp, 0-60 in 3.0 seconds and a power-folding soft top. With the roof down you hear every rev. It is black and rents for $1,295 per day.

Lamborghini Huracán Spyder

The Huracán Spyder shares the V10 and the 640 hp figure, in blue, also at $1,295 per day. Pick the color you prefer. Both are two-seaters with limited luggage room, so bring a small bag.

Rolls-Royce Dawn

Not every coastal drive needs to be fast. The Rolls-Royce Dawn is a twin-turbo V12 convertible with four seats and coach doors. It is calm, comfortable and ideal for a long lunch in Malibu with friends. $1,095 per day.

Porsche 911 Cabriolet

The Porsche 911 Cabriolet is the most balanced choice. Twin-turbo flat-six, 443 hp, 0-60 in 2.9 seconds, a power fabric roof and a 2+2 layout. It is easy to drive in traffic and sharp on the open stretches. At $595 per day it is also the most accessible convertible in the fleet.

Audi R8 Spyder

The Audi R8 Spyder gives you a mid-engine V10 with quattro all-wheel drive and a power-folding soft top. 570 hp, 0-60 in 3.2 seconds, two seats. It is white and rents for $795 per day.

Ready to book? Press Book now on any car page or text (714) 904-7552. The team confirms the car, rate and insurance before anything is booked.

A coupe for the canyons: Porsche 911 GT3 RS

If your plan leans more toward the canyons than the beach, consider a coupe. The Porsche 911 GT3 RS has a naturally aspirated 4.0L flat-six that revs to 9,000 rpm, a swan-neck rear wing and DRS. It is a track-focused car with 518 hp and 0-60 in 3.0 seconds. It is firm and loud, and it rewards a driver who enjoys precision. $1,695 per day, in grey, black or white and red.

Many people do both: a convertible for the coast on day one, a coupe for the canyons on day two. With the multi-day discount, every 3 days of rental lowers the daily rate by $100, never more than 25% off.

A simple half-day plan

1. Morning: take the handoff at your home or hotel and head to the coast once the morning commute eases.
2. Late morning: drive PCH north from Santa Monica with the top down, stopping in Malibu for coffee.
3. Midday: continue to Point Dume, park legally and walk out to the overlook.
4. Afternoon: take one of the canyon roads inland and loop back toward the city, or simply turn around and enjoy the coast from the other direction.
5. Before dinner: beat the worst of the evening traffic back into town.

This plan works in any of the convertibles above. With a Huracán, you may want more time in the canyons. With the Dawn, a longer lunch.

Practical tips for the drive

• Sunscreen and sunglasses. With the top down, the sun on PCH is strong even when the air is cool.
• Secure loose items. Hats and papers fly out of convertibles faster than you expect.
• Watch for parking rules. Beach parking along PCH is often restricted. Read the signs before you leave the car.
• Be patient in towns. Speed limits drop in Malibu and there are frequent pedestrians and cyclists.
• Fuel up before you go. Return the car at the fuel level in your agreement.

Booking your convertible

Upload your license and full coverage insurance through Check eligibility, choose your dates and send a request. The team confirms the car, availability, rate and insurance. Staying in Santa Monica or Beverly Hills? Read about hotel delivery in Los Angeles.