If you had $25k-32k and you wanted to buy a convertible...what would you get? Are there any out there not made for hair dressers?

6/3/2009 8:41:48 AM

Well....I bought an S2000 and it was within (actually a little lower than) that price range.

But if you're talking about a woman, she should get a Miata (if she wants to buy new).

6/3/2009 8:45:23 AM

boxster s, z4, c6

6/3/2009 8:46:21 AM

corvette

6/3/2009 8:48:23 AM

there's also the 350z roadster... I think a lot of people here would get a convertible sports car and suggest such (except for maybe a 3 series convert.). Decide if you want a sports car convert. or a sedan (touring) first so we know more specifically what you are looking for.



[Edited on June 3, 2009 at 9:11 AM. Reason : .]

6/3/2009 8:54:39 AM

Yeah if you don't want a really raw sports car the 350z roadster is nice. The exhaust note on those truck engines is memorizing. 6 cylinder jealousy!

6/3/2009 8:56:05 AM

VAN ENGINE

The 350z roadster is awesome, but like Quinn said it's not a raw sports car by any stretch of the imagination. It's far more of a quick, borderline luxury car that happens to only have two seats.

For that reason, they tend to be overpriced new, but the used ones are generally more reasonably priced.

[Edited on June 3, 2009 at 9:08 AM. Reason : .]

6/3/2009 9:05:48 AM

another for corvette

6/3/2009 9:19:32 AM

I would go used s2000 and save 20k

6/3/2009 9:19:50 AM

corvette


although nothing says Iredell county like a 92 Stang convertible with a white top

6/3/2009 9:20:23 AM

Comedy MR2 Spyder option

6/3/2009 9:38:06 AM

6/3/2009 10:06:24 AM

Quote :

"If you had $25k-32k "

Sports cars I'd consider:

Boxster S: $28,750
http://raleigh.craigslist.org/ctd/1188501733.html

S2000 : $19,998
http://www.carmax.com/enUS/view-car/default.html?AVi=3&id=5897487&N=4294967097+4294965842&D=90&zip=27612&No=0&Ep=homepage:homepage%20Make&Rp=R&PP=20&sV=List&CD=14+240+190+9&Q=29aa1a6d-4240-462d-878e-6da75dabe6b6

BMW Z4M: $32,988
http://raleigh.craigslist.org/ctd/1195221002.html

Touring cars I'd Consider:

BMW 325ci:$17,900
http://raleigh.craigslist.org/ctd/1201103320.html

I know I'm a little below the price range you specified on smoe cars, but you could always pay more for a newer model or one with more options. I'd seriously consider the Boxster S or the S2000(I'd rather have a c6 coupe, and the Z4M is cool but more than I'd spend. I'd still check it out). Granted, I wouldn't pay that much for the Boxster S, I'd wait for the price to come down some on it. A miata would be nice, but I want something with more power. I can't think of any touring cars I'd consider in a convertible, other than a BMW 3 series.

Also, keep in mind you have the Soltice and Sky roadsters.

In case you were interested in this:
Corvette C6: $30,993
http://raleigh.craigslist.org/ctd/1196479570.html



[Edited on June 3, 2009 at 10:25 AM. Reason : .]

6/3/2009 10:21:19 AM

Honestly, a used Miata would fit the bill and is WAY cheaper than what you're looking at. They are very cheap to own, get great gas mileage, have plenty of power for daily driving and spirited driving on back roads and of course they handle very nicely. They also retain value extremely well, so you'll most likely be able to get a lot of your money back out of it later should you wish to sell it (Depending of course on how long you keep it and how well you maintain it). The build quality of the Miata is also way up there from what I've experienced.

Plus, most of the women I know don't want to take a car to high RPM for some reason. The end result of that is that she may never experience any difference in performance between something like a Miata and an S2k because she'll probably never hit VTEC in the S2k. The 350Z convertible is overpriced for what it is and it's ugly compared with the coupe IMO, so I'd cross it off the list. I'd honestly cross most "convertible versions of previously non-convertible cars" (Like the 350Z convertible, the C5 convertible, etc) off my list. I don't tend to have any interest in a chassis that wasn't designed from the ground up to be a convertible. So I always end up leaning towards cars like the S2000 and Miata if a convertible sports car is something being considered. If only I could shoehorn the S2k motor into a Miata (Although I wouldn't mind a B18C or even an H22 either to be honest). Then I'd be set because I'd have dat VTEC and dat Miata.

Why not get something that would do everything she needs and would save a shitload of money? Would she ever take an S2k over 6000rpm? Do you think she'd really use the power that something like a C5 vette offers? Would she want to put up with the relatively cheap interior of the C5? Given what you've told us, she probably isn't really into cars and might not care about performance as much as a nice looking interior and stuff.

Anyway, I'll let it go on from here. I was just throwing these things out there.

6/3/2009 10:21:25 AM

Quote :

"I'd honestly cross most "convertible versions of previously non-convertible cars" (Like the 350Z convertible, the C5 convertible, etc) off my list."

CUE BBR TO TELL US THAT IT WAS IN FACT DESIGNED AS A CONVERTIBLE FIRST, COUPLE LATER!!

6/3/2009 11:50:36 AM

If I was going to spend that much money on a convertible, it'd almost certainly be a Z51 6 speed C6 Corvette. Anything else I'd want would be way cheaper or way more expensive.

6/3/2009 11:52:59 AM

Whatbout a used S4 'vert? The A4 convertible is definitely a girl/hairdresser car, but the extra muscle of the S4 removes that stigma, at least in my mind.

6/3/2009 12:11:19 PM

Quote :

"CUE BBR TO TELL US THAT IT WAS IN FACT DESIGNED AS A CONVERTIBLE FIRST, COUPLE LATER!!"

If it was, then that vehicle may be acceptable my son. It very well may be.

6/3/2009 12:14:39 PM

Quote :

"I'd honestly cross most "convertible versions of previously non-convertible cars" (Like the 350Z convertible, the C5 convertible, etc) off my list. I don't tend to have any interest in a chassis that wasn't designed from the ground up to be a convertible. So I always end up leaning towards cars like the S2000 and Miata if a convertible sports car is something being considered."

I mean, there's really no arguing that the 350Z was designed to be a coupe first and then someone went "oh wait, we could use a convertible version". It also looks ugly with the top up, but I'm of the opinion that you're not buying a convertible to drive it with the top up, so who really cares?

6/3/2009 12:17:59 PM

People don't buy it to drive with the top up? I doubt this my son, I truly do. People buy convertibles to have the OPTION of having the top down son, the option. Not because they never plan to have it up son (Unless it's one of those true open tops son, like a Ferrari where the top can't go past 2mph and shit son).

Now, looking like shit only unless the top is down is garbage son. I happen to be OK with the S2k and Miata with their tops up son, but not the Z son. Not the Z son.

6/3/2009 12:26:08 PM

I said "I was of the opinion"

In the future I'll write it as "I son was son of son the son opinion son" so you can better comprehend.

The only time you'll see me out with the top up is when it started raining after I left my house.

[Edited on June 3, 2009 at 12:40 PM. Reason : Banana Boat rides shotgun]

6/3/2009 12:39:09 PM

Quote :

"I son was son of son the son opinion son"

got 'em

6/3/2009 12:47:55 PM

Quote :

"Now, looking like shit only unless the top is down is garbage son. I happen to be OK with the S2k and Miata with their tops up son, but not the Z son. Not the Z son."

NOT THE Z SON.

6/3/2009 1:02:14 PM

Mercedes Benz SLK 350. Hardtop convertible FTW

6/3/2009 1:11:07 PM

^

6/3/2009 1:13:46 PM

^^i was totally expecing "Volkswagen Thing" response from ya. Gettin soft ??

6/3/2009 1:29:45 PM

(No offense to Stein) but I've always been against the 350Z. It was already a bit heavy. Making it a convertible only exacerbated the weight problem. And the shape of that body...is something only its mother could love

There's a million choices, tell us what the person buying the car wants/thinks is important to have.

6/3/2009 3:09:08 PM

No offense taken. An additional two cylinders will weigh any car down!

6/3/2009 4:16:51 PM

6/3/2009 4:48:43 PM

^^^^ lol, I like the little model in the back seat...

6/3/2009 5:12:21 PM

Quote :

"If only I could shoehorn the S2k motor into a Miata (Although I wouldn't mind a B18C or even an H22 either to be honest). Then I'd be set because I'd have dat VTEC and dat Miata. "

You can do just that. There is a guy on s2ki who has an f20c powered miata.

Fabrication of the transmission adapter for a FWD civic engine will be tough. I think the crank spins the wrong way as well. I can tell you looking at the front of the engine (timing belt) all FWD honda motors I have seen spin counter clockwise (except the two exceptions i name next). The k20 looked to be clockwise as was the engine in my s2k. The k20 is a superior motor so you should probably start there. Make your dreams reality!!!1

[Edited on June 3, 2009 at 6:25 PM. Reason : .]

6/3/2009 6:24:27 PM

oh it's a chick car?

solara

6/3/2009 7:20:22 PM

Quote :

"If only I could shoehorn the S2k motor into a Miata "

Or you could, you know, leave the S2k engine in the S2k and have a car that is superior in every way.

6/3/2009 8:19:49 PM

get one for $15-18k these days quite easily



[Edited on June 3, 2009 at 9:30 PM. Reason : f]

6/3/2009 9:30:02 PM

winner winner

6/3/2009 9:44:48 PM

^^and how much a year in maintenance??

6/4/2009 10:09:27 AM

Quote :

"Or you could, you know, leave the S2k engine in the S2k and have a car that is superior in every way."

I'm not sure how the S2k is going to be "superior in every way" to a lighter car with the same amount of power, but ok. Anyway, nobody said the S2k was crap and nobody said the Miata was better than it. What I said was this:

Quote :

"If only I could shoehorn the S2k motor into a Miata (Although I wouldn't mind a B18C or even an H22 either to be honest). Then I'd be set because I'd have dat VTEC and dat Miata. "

You can even see that it's a silly comment, as implied by the beatup face and the use of the word "dat" repeatedly. I would not mind an F20 powered Miata though because I love that engine, I love the Miata and the combination is unique as hell. It's also simply an excellent engine to be powering that chassis and I'd prefer to have an NA setup if any of this were a possibility (Which it is NOT). And yes, I've driven quite a few S2k's and I've even driven them back to back with Miatas. I know the differences in the two cars and I'm a huge fan of the S2k. That doesn't mean a Miata powered by an F20c, H22 or B18c is stupid though. All of those swaps sound quite interesting to me, but I'm a ricer who thinks that clutches go in transmissions. What was I thinking son?

6/4/2009 11:17:40 AM

hot

6/4/2009 4:40:35 PM

2005 Lotus Elise (26-29k)

6/4/2009 6:46:38 PM

6/4/2009 6:48:28 PM

come on man thats as much a convertible as a sun roof!

6/4/2009 6:49:50 PM

Targa tops FTW son

6/4/2009 6:52:08 PM

lol. i guess the frame is so loose it really doesn't matter.

6/4/2009 6:53:16 PM

you mean, because the frame is so LIGHT

6/4/2009 6:55:58 PM

lol, there we go

its a shame they cant sell enough to really get the R&D right and the cost down. i really do admire what they have done. i wonder how large the entire design team is?

6/4/2009 6:58:40 PM

^ It's never mean't to be mass production. Lotus only produces vehicles to provide confidence in the chassis and platforms they license to other manufacturers (from a financial point of view).

If they moved to a steel unibody, it would weigh about the same, be more rigid, and cost about 12k less. Just need a few billion dollars in infrastructure to do it.

6/4/2009 7:10:12 PM

i love my stripper-mobile 03 M3 vert in the alpine white. i bought it 30 months ago or so and have only put on 14k miles or so. just over 50k now. I'm contemplating selling it thou...along with most of my other wordly possessions and becoming a bum of sorts. the only service it has needed was service II and a flat tire...combined those were about 4k if I remember correctly. but I have no more scheduled maintenance for another 10k miles, which won't be till 2010 easily

[Edited on June 4, 2009 at 7:29 PM. Reason : .]

6/4/2009 7:28:02 PM

C6 'Vette or Porsche 996

although I'd rather have the hardtop version of either car.


Miatas and S2000s are also great, and you can get a good example of either for waaay less than that budget.



________________

Putting an S2000 engine in a Miata would be stupid. Having driven stock examples and having owned significantly modified examples of both, I'd rather just buy the S2000. It's heavier, but it's significantly more car, with a far stiffer chassis, better brakes, etc. If you want to swap an engine into a Miata, you're a damned fool if it's anything other than an LSx.

6/4/2009 7:44:23 PM

Quote :

"the only service it has needed was service II and a flat tire...combined those were about 4k if I remember correctly."

4K holy jesus.

I think thats what the entire power train of most cars costs.

6/4/2009 9:04:03 PM

6/4/2009 9:10:20 PM