I have one word for your Cabriolet: Plastic.

There are certain places on a car that are prone to show wear no matter how gingerly you treat it. For fastidious Cabriolet owners, for example, the paint tends to get pitted and chipped around the headlight wiper panel directly beneath each headlight. Ditto for the black headlight wiper arms and the large glass headlights.

Fortunately, the wipers and wiper panels are easily removed and repainted. The panels are a small, isolated part that are particularly forgiving to new paint since any mild variation in color probably won't be obvious. And if your car is finished in a color like 040 Black (like mine), you can even take on the task of repainting the part yourself with a can of spray paint from your local hardware store, some fine 1500-2000 grit sand paper, and the patience to prep, paint, wet sand, compound, and generally fuss. It can be done with surprisingly professional results, even to this concours judge's eyes.

One game-changer worth mentioning is 3M clear removable automotive tape. Yes, we're talking about the automotive equivalent of a plastic slipcover over your couch. Stick this clear piece of vinyl tape over places that take abuse and watch dirt, bugs and debris bounce right off without leaving a mark. Application can be tricky though, since it must be performed with extreme care to avoid air pockets forming underneath the tape. Fortunately, my experience shows that the tape adheres better over time once it's subjected to heat from the sun and the engine bay. This helps smooth out some flaws initially visible such as air pockets and bubbles. Over time, all bubbles disappeared.

Another 3M innovation is spray-on paint protection. It's essentially the same product, but in an aerosol can. Like the tape, this is a removable product, so it's reversible if, for example, your car were about to be judged in a concours and needed to be bone stock.

One more thing: you'll need to order a pair of the washer nozzles tucked underneath the wiper arms. They will break as you remove them, but they're inexpensive and readily available. They're 1.99 each and part #2018690124.

These kinds of modern updates are a pleasure to adopt since they address a longstanding problem area, while remaining reversible, subtle in appearance, and even inexpensive.