Well, I'm moving to La Jolla and I've decided that I'd like to own a convertible for awhile. I'm looking to spend ~$15,000 on something used and would like to hear what cars you guys would recommend that are a mixture of fun to drive and comfortable to ride in for extended periods of time or just the pluses/minuses of some possible options.

2/19/2006 7:33:24 PM

well if you wanted to jump back as far as 99 to a bmw 328ci

but for that price it looks like you have trade offs.....comfort or fun to drive

maybe a 2000 z3 if 2 seaters are ok

[Edited on February 19, 2006 at 8:00 PM. Reason : .]

2/19/2006 7:45:17 PM

Fun for driving i'd say a miata, don't know how big a person you are to fit in one comfortably...But if I could fit in one well I'd love to have one

2/19/2006 7:52:51 PM

i have a 97 firebird convertible. I like it.. its great for sunny days driving around. I find it pretty comfortable also. You might would like a formula or trans am if you wanted a bigger engine instead of the 3800 in the firebird. But it works for me.

2/19/2006 7:54:14 PM

i'm a very tiny man so i've definitely been considering miatas but every time i see one i have flashbacks to previews of that corky romano movie

2/19/2006 7:54:28 PM

Yea I love my Z28 convertible. Its pretty nice to be able to throw the top down and just cruise, or crank open the 350 and show most the ricers and other racing guys around here my taillights, even with an automatic.

I'm thinking about buying the fiberglass tonneau cover that covers my top and the back seats when I'm cruising so that I can get the 2 seater look and still have the functionality of 4 seats, and gain the extra storage room to makeup for little trunk space. Plus when the wife and I go to the beach, it'll give us a good bit of extra storage space where nobody else can see my shit, and its protected from the wind. Last time we went down to the beach the backseat was so full it almost necessitated putting the top up so shit wouldn't fly around.

Here is a picture of the tonneau cover, and how I'm going to get the car painted (add the black stripes down the car, add the light ground effects and the OEM spoiler flair to the back)



[Edited on February 19, 2006 at 8:08 PM. Reason : ]

2/19/2006 8:02:51 PM

^i am a big fan of tonneau covers on convertibles with almost non functional back seats

2/19/2006 9:06:35 PM

S2000. this would be my pick.

miatas are lots of fun, but they are slooow in stock form. for 15k, though, you could get a nice supercharged or turbocharged one that would either be quick or totally haul ass, depending on the setup.

Z3s are nice. dad had a Z3 2.8. I don't think that I'd prefer one over an S2000, though.

you might could find an early model M-Roadster for that price. I don't know. I'm almost certain you won't find one of the later models with the 320hp engine for that $, though.

Never driven an MR2 Spyder, but I think it would be a fun ride.

2/19/2006 9:22:54 PM

corvette /thread

2/19/2006 10:00:06 PM

i don't think you'll get even a standard targa C5 vette for $15k. maybe a really high mileage one or something.

and I'd rather have lots of other stuff before I got a C4 'vert. They still cost too much for what they are.

2/19/2006 11:22:27 PM

2/19/2006 11:31:35 PM

Z3 is an ugly bitch car. Z4 looks much better to me.

I'd get the S2000, because you know that bitch can handle, unlike a porker fbody vert

2/20/2006 9:48:48 AM

S2000

2/20/2006 10:21:09 AM

2/20/2006 10:42:12 AM

the only straight mans convertible is a jeep

2/20/2006 11:59:32 AM

that and a clasic Bronco

2/20/2006 12:00:20 PM

another vote for s2000

2/20/2006 12:04:19 PM

^^that or a scout

[Edited on February 20, 2006 at 12:05 PM. Reason : .]

2/20/2006 12:05:12 PM

LeBaron

2/20/2006 12:08:05 PM

S2000
Miata
Z3

2/20/2006 12:21:15 PM

s2k
f-body
mustang gt
mr2 spyder
miata

in that order...

2/20/2006 12:28:22 PM

^I've always wondered how those newer MR2s drive, but I could never own one due to the looks.

I'm going to throw in another vote for the S2000. I liked it better than the Z3 overall.

[Edited on February 20, 2006 at 12:37 PM. Reason : ]

2/20/2006 12:36:49 PM

they're fun. nothing very fast, but i'd rate it over a miata in terms of handling/performance. i drove both a year or so ago.

2/20/2006 12:56:16 PM

ive admittadly never driven an s2k, but riding in one it feels like you always have to drive the piss out of the car to get any performance out of it. its a much different feeling driving the z3 and z4

2/20/2006 1:14:43 PM

As your attorney I advise you to get a
large late 60s early 70s Caddy

Either a red shark or white whale.

2/20/2006 1:35:11 PM

MR2. for ex.:

http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.jsp?car_id=195725470&dealer_id=43207859&car_year=
2000&search_type=used&make=any&distance=200&transmission=&address=70737&advanced=
y&certified=&max_mileage=&bkms=1140460840596&max_price=15000&min_price=
10000&first_record=1&end_year=2005&color=&start_year=1995&drive=&isp=y&pager.offset=
0&engine=&body_style=CONVERT&lang=en&fuel=&doors=&cardist=183

i was going to add with regards to the mr2, "CUTE! car" but then realized that you're
prolly a guy and that wouldn't be what you wanted to hear..... but still it is CUTE!



[Edited on February 20, 2006 at 6:00 PM. Reason : -]

2/20/2006 1:45:17 PM

i like how price has not been considered

the cheapest s2000 in 200 miles on autotrader is listed at $15900 and the seller "neglected" to list the mileage

not to mention the s2000 is mostly a drivers car....if he is really looking for a mix of creature comforts as well then bmw is probably a better choice.....and the z3 looks better than the z4 unless you have the need to look like you are riding around in a big penis

but don't get me wrong, personally i would get an s2000

2/20/2006 2:00:37 PM

s2000 or if you are really careful you might be able to get a 97+ vert m3.

miatas i dont care what you say are chick cars. (yes i know they are fun to drive and they are pretty good on the track but they are still girl cars and dudes look funny driving them)

my opinion as always is that camaros have to be the ugliest cars ever created.

z3 and z4s fall in the miata catagory as well.

sorry to offend.

[Edited on February 20, 2006 at 2:01 PM. Reason : .]

2/20/2006 2:01:06 PM

s2k

2/20/2006 2:12:22 PM

Fourth gen vette

[Edited on February 20, 2006 at 4:08 PM. Reason : 95-96 preferably]

2/20/2006 4:07:38 PM

what about a transam convert newer ones.

2/20/2006 4:35:32 PM

buy my miata and keep 13500 in the bank

2/20/2006 4:39:19 PM

Quote :

"miatas i dont care what you say are chick cars. (yes i know they are fun to drive and they are pretty good on the track but they are still girl cars and dudes look funny driving them) "

2/20/2006 4:39:52 PM

i dont think the m coupe is girly, i have to disagree with you there

2/20/2006 4:49:28 PM

2/20/2006 4:59:44 PM

First of all, thanks to Queti for making the thread go for a million pixels across

I have owned two convertiables in my life. One was a 1988 RX-7. It was a fun car, but the injectors
started leaking about two months in. No big problem and I would have had it fixed if the car hadn't
been stolen a month later.

The first one I owned was a 1994 Alfa Romeo Spider. I absolutely loved the car, but at 6'1" it was a
pain to drive. It has a classic look that would fit well in San Diego. It also is rare enough that you
won't see them every time you go for a drive (can't say the same about the Miata). It can be a pain
to fix since most places have to get parts from Italy and can thus leave you waiting a week or so for
unplanned maintenance. I put about 20k miles on my car in 2 1/2 years. It was plenty confortable
for drives of 6 hours or more. I miss the car but also realized it wasn't going to be pratical as I
went into the Navy and was moving every 2 years. When I lived in San Diego I wished I had it
back.

I now have a 944 Turbo and would willingly give it up for a 968 Cabriolet. Those can be a bit more
expensive to fix, but should be able to be found for around $15k in decent shape.

2/20/2006 5:38:41 PM

Quote :

"i dont think the m coupe is girly, i have to disagree with you there"

didnt say anything about the m coupe. I like the m coupe alot but its boarderline girly but the 315hp more then makes up for it. Z3 however is a chick car.

2/20/2006 5:39:06 PM

Quote :

"First of all, thanks to Queti for making the thread go for a million pixels across "

any time

2/20/2006 5:52:39 PM

what is with TWW and tiny little 2 seater convertibles obviously aimed at the female market. im so confused.

mr2 (latest gen)
miata

2/20/2006 5:55:30 PM

i don't think they're aimed at the female market. i think you just don't "get it", for lack of a better term.

hell, i've had more than one person say that my 360hp S2000 is a "girl car". I think I've seen precisely ONE girl driving an S2000, ever.

2/20/2006 7:12:34 PM

I've seen women in their mid-30's driving s2000's

and this chick:

2/20/2006 7:16:49 PM

360hp

2/20/2006 7:40:37 PM

S2000 is not a girl car

a cilica is a girls car, a jetta is a girls car, but an S2000 works both ways

2/20/2006 7:51:38 PM

S2000.
Mustang GT.
BMW 325/328/M3.
Audi Cabrio (mid 90's version)

I'd suggest an A4 cabrio, but that would run you considerably more than $15K.

Also a big fan of classic/musclecar convertibles, but that doesn't sound like what you're looking for.

2/20/2006 7:56:35 PM

well if you get a saab 900 convertible, then you can accelerate up to 185mph on a ramp before the governor kicks in

2/20/2006 8:25:49 PM

no ramps here long enough

2/20/2006 8:46:35 PM

2/20/2006 8:54:17 PM

An Allante would actually be pretty hot. The Reatta, though kinda cool looking and very rare, had no power. And I wouldn't trust a Fiero with the top removed.

2/20/2006 9:41:56 PM

the majority of the convertibles are girl cars

the stuff execs buy their wives

2/20/2006 9:46:01 PM

Quote :

"S2000. this would be my pick."

2/21/2006 8:52:26 AM