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Convertible Car Reviews and Buying Guide:Convertible cars are meant for enjoyment and tend to be brought out only in the best of weather. For those of us in rainy climates (like the Pacific Northwest) the idea of owning a covertible just doesn't make sense as a year round car. We are forced to garage our convertibles until the sun is shining in the spring and summer. If you live where the weather is better year-round like California, Florida or Arizona, you can buy a convertible as your primary vehicle and not have to watch it gather dust in a covered parking place during the winter months. It used to be that convertibles were "expensive" and priced out of the market for the average car owner but recently car makers have produced more and more affordable convertible cars so that many more of can buy one.
Best Convertible Car:The Porsche Boxster ($46,395-$56,295) is a top rated convertible per Car and Driver winning out in head to head competition and tests over the Corvette Convertible. The mid-engine design gives you 2 trunk spaces for plenty of storage capacity. The 24-valve 2.7 liter flat 6 engine will turn out 245HP and the fuel economy is rated 20-23 MPG. Reliability in Porsche Boxsters has been better than average in this class of vehicle. Although you will pay a premium to own a Porsche Boxster, they are clearly the winner as "best convertible car" with incredible engineering and styling that the German car maker continues to produce. There are head and thorax airbags for added safety and the handling and braking are superb. Consumer Reports last reviewed the Boxster in 2005 and gave it an excellent rating. You can find out more information online HERE.
Value Convertible:The Mazda MX-5 Miata ($21,030-$28,055) has some new designs and performance features that make it the most affordable hardtop convertible in the US. Both Car and Driver and Consumer Reports rate this car very high. It made the Top 10 Best on Car and Drivers website and they say it's "quicker, more agile, more refined, quieter, roomier, more comfortable, better-looking". The front engine, rear-wheel drive 2-door roadster is the perfect 2 passenger car with 2.0 liters and 4 cylinders. Get up to 166 HP as you wind through the 6-speed auto transmission with manumatic shifting (5 or 6 speed manual also available). Gas mileage is pretty decent at 22-25 MPG. Edmunds.com says the Miata is "fun to drive ... and more responsive". Everywhere we looked the Mazda MX-5 Miata received great reviews and ranked high on car enthusiasts lists. You can find out more information online HERE.
Roadster/Convertible:The BMW Z4 Roadster ($36,400-$42,400) is a fun looking car and we've seen similar models on the 007 movies. Reviews are mixed on this roadster that provides 215 HP from the 3.0 liter 6-cylinder engine. Power is ample and the estimated 30 MPG on the highway is impressive. The high performance brakes lets you push the convertible to the limits and the front airbags designed to protect your knees give you the added safety feature. Consumer Reports was less than excited about the agility, but other car reviews we read online listed the Z4 as "good buy". Reliability is rated as "average" by CR, but the other cars in this class had less than stellar rankings as well. BMW has an excellent website with specs, wallpaper images, and complete pricing details on all the available models HERE
Mini Convertible Car:The Mini Cooper ($22,600-$26,050) is the cutest convertible around and owners satisfaction is high eventhough the car lacks the acceleration and overall performance of their competition listed above. For a small (mini) convertible, the Mini Cooper is called "fun to drive", the S (supercharged) model is the one to purchase. The base engine lacks the necessary power you would want in a convertible and surprisingly the MPG is estimated to be only 25. I would consider the Mini Cooper if the fuel economy was better. Reliability rankings per Consumer Reports used to be less than average, but the latest models are back up to "average". The 3-in-1 convertible roof is rated "easy" to use which makes adds to the Mini Coopers allure for the weekend driver. For more details and pictures, check out the Mini Cooper online HERE.
Performance/Luxury Convertible:The Chevrolet Corvette Convertible ($53,335) is the 6th generation of Corvette to come from Chevy and Car and Driver rates it as a "Top 10 Best" for 2007. 400 HP is not too shabby from the new Corvette (V8) and the available 6-speed paddle shift with automatic modes is a nice feature. Fuel economy is just ok at 16-18 MPG but good mileage ratings are probably not why you should be buying the Corvette. The improved performance of Corvettes along with reliability that appears to be on the upswing is certainly a selling factor. You can find specs, details, and full color pictures online at the Corvette website HERE.
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