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RSX
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I'm looking at buying a convertible soon. I'm going to have to go outside the Honda family and it will be my first non-Honda since I bought a Matrix for my wife 11 years ago. Which by the way we regret.
Here are my criteria:
- must seat four people
- have good performance for this type of car
- be somewhat reliable but it will likely be a summer only car
- less than 60,000 miles
- $25,000 budget
I already have the BMW 645 and E46 M3 on my list but can you guys recommend any others. I could go to other forums like BMW but they would be biased towards their own. So, I want your opinion.
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according2kev
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Are you kidding me?! You don't have to look outside the Honda family...
J/K Would you consider a Lexus IS C? Not sure how it perfoms but I think it has a back seat and I'm sure it's reliable.
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BachelorFrog
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If I am teh market, I will get it from this list.
All slightly used:
Audi A4/A5 cabriolet
BMW 330ci
Mustang GT
Jeep Wrangler
VW Eos
Volvo V70
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CB77
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(A recent article in SmartMoney about the future of the convertible)
Russell Wild can still picture his first convertible: a 1968 Mustang that he tooled around in as a 20-something, with the top down and Supertramp blasting on his stereo. So when the 56-year-old investment adviser from Allentown, Pa., started car shopping earlier this year, he couldn't help but take a peek at today's drop-tops.
But while he remained drawn to the cars' sporty look, Wild soon realized he wouldn't be reliving his youth. Shopping around, he didn't see a single model that managed to tick off all the must-haves on his list: reliability, affordability and gas efficiency. What's more, he began to remember that his Mustang wasn't all tight turns and warm breezes; the car was also broken into -- not once, but four times. In the end, Wild brought home the anticonvertible, a sensible Subaru sedan. "Sometimes I think it'd be fun to own one again, but then I think about all those stereos I lost," he says.
Can you feel the wind in your hair? It's hard to think of anything that screams "summer!" louder than a convertible.
But while Americans might still fantasize about tooling around the neighborhood with the top down, they're not opening their wallets to make that dream a reality. Convertible sales, which typically make up a minuscule 2 percent of the car market, fell even further in 2011, to just over 1 percent. And the drop-off comes as sales should be accelerating; new-car sales turned around last year and are expected to hit 14.4 million units this year. The problem, say analysts, starts with the sticker price. A convertible Ford Mustang, for instance, costs about $5,000 more than the standard coupe. The cars have also stalled when it comes to design and innovation -- which might be one reason they're not drawing younger buyers. Indeed, less than 5 percent of convertible buyers were under the age of 35 last year. "Convertibles are a symbol of the baby boom generation," says Jessica Caldwell, senior analyst at Edmunds .com. "Gen X and Y don't feel the same."
Not surprisingly, the economic downturn has prompted drivers to home in on practicality and affordability -- not exactly the biggest strengths of a model that's often a second (or third or even fourth) car. The struggles of the automotive industry have also played a role in the convertible's fall from favor, say analysts. During tough times, makers often scale back on things like how many different body types they'll produce for a single model, and convertibles are often the first to get chopped, says Tom Libby, senior analyst at Polk's North American Forecasting Practice. The cars have also proved to have their own particular -- and persistent -- design bugaboos, from mechanical weak spots to limited trunk space (that top has to go somewhere, after all).
Still, car companies maintain that the days of pulling into the driveway with a freshly tanned bald spot are far from over. A handful of makers are trying to inject some new life into the model, tweaking the design to appeal to more-modern-car buyers (think electric models). Others are tackling the convertible's graying image; Chevy, for one, splurged on a Super Bowl commercial this year that features an ecstatic college grad who is under the (mistaken) impression that his parents are giving him a topless Camaro. It all boils down to a simple question, say industry watchers: Can the convertible pull off a U-turn?
The convertible has taken some hard corners over the years. Americans fell in love with the cars during the "Mad Men" era, when Detroit was cranking out everything from cheap and tiny drop-tops like the $2,000 Studebaker Lark to boatlike classic Caddies, and convertibles accounted for a record 6 percent of all car sales. Then came the spiking gas prices and new safety standards of the '70s, which nearly spelled the end for the model. (Cadillac even marketed the 1976 Eldorado as "the last convertible in America.") The model has edged back since then, but experts say it hasn't regained its place as an industry pace car.
Nissan is hoping to challenge that idea with its Murano CrossCabriolet. The car, which starts at $45,400, is a mash-up of a convertible and an SUV -- a two-door with an actual trunk and surprisingly roomy seating for four. Mike Drongowski, senior manager of product planning for Nissan, says the company wanted to create a practical car that would appeal to empty nesters and young families, and purposefully swapped sporty looks and handling for an all-wheel-drive model that rides high off the road like a typical SUV. Analysts say they've never seen anything like it -- though, admittedly, not everyone thinks that's a good thing. "It's a polarizing car," says Edmund's Caldwell.
Other automakers have stuck to more-gentle tweaks. Hardtop roofs, which used to be seen mostly in luxury cars, are now starting to trickle down into somewhat more-affordable models, such as the Chrysler 200 ($27,600) and the Volkswagen Eos ($35,100). Hardtops boost a car's practicality factor by sealing up the cracks that can make convertibles a winter driver's nightmare. They can also deliver a quieter drive and, since they're more substantial than fabric models, can help prevent break-ins, says Jesse Toprak, vice president of market intelligence at auto site TrueCar.com. Meanwhile, brands like Fiat and Mini Cooper have focused on the aesthetics, hoping to revamp the convertible's dated image and target hipper buyers with playful designs and celebrity-studded ads.
Gerardo Acosta-Meza says his new Fiat 500 convertible manages just the right mix of good looks and technical firsts. The San Diego hairstylist says he was originally drawn to the car's classic lines, but it was a Fiat innovation that really won him over: The 500 has a retractable roof that the driver can slide back with the push of a button -- even when the car is zooming down the freeway at 50-plus miles per hour. "That's my favorite thing, that I can open it when the feeling strikes," says Acosta-Meza.
Still, some experts say the convertible has a rough road ahead. For one thing, the move toward hardtops has, in some cases, made the model's persistent space problem even worse. The hardtops are generally bulkier than the fabric versions, eating into precious trunk or rear-seat real estate. Building a convertible has also remained more complicated (read: expensive) than building other vehicles, so drop-tops often cost $5,000 to $10,000 more than their sister models -- an issue that has become more noticeable as overall car prices have soared in recent months.
For Steve Berenbaum, the issue is even simpler: Just how often are you actually going to convert your convertible? The retiree, who splits his time between the Toronto suburbs and Florida, owned a BMW 328i Cabriolet convertible for four years and says he was planning to replace it with a similar Beemer this year -- until he did the math. Berenbaum, who says he drove the car nearly every day, ran a few mental numbers and realized he put the top down only about 20 times last year. "It wasn't worth having less space and comfort," he says.
Of course, for some drivers, the flash and freedom of the convertible will always outweigh any practical concerns. Little wonder that there's one market where the drop-top still reigns supreme: "A convertible just screams midlife crisis," says Subaru owner Wild.
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RSX
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I've decided to go with an E46 M3. I found one that was really well taken care of in Pheonix Yellow on black leather. It has about 87,000miles but in 'like new' condition and all BMW serviced. Absolutely amazed by the performace in this car. Can't wait to pick it up. In convertible form it's the closest thing I can think of to a motorcycle, which I've driven for 30 years.
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Dren
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RSX wrote:
I'm looking at buying a convertible soon. I'm going to have to go outside the Honda family and it will be my first non-Honda since I bought a Matrix for my wife 11 years ago. Which by the way we regret.
Here are my criteria:
- must seat four people
- have good performance for this type of car
- be somewhat reliable but it will likely be a summer only car
- less than 60,000 miles
- $25,000 budget
I already have the BMW 645 and E46 M3 on my list but can you guys recommend any others. I could go to other forums like BMW but they would be biased towards their own. So, I want your opinion.
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Add a few zeros to your budget and get a MP4-12C.
I hate to say it but the Solara convertible a friend of mine had was really nice. It's just sorta...girly.
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mobis21
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I'll throw a vote towards the EOS.
Love the options of the sunroof, the glass panel roof, or full convertible.
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A77
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RSX wrote:
I've decided to go with an E46 M3. I found one that was really well taken care of in Pheonix Yellow on black leather. It has about 87,000miles but in 'like new' condition and all BMW serviced. Absolutely amazed by the performace in this car. Can't wait to pick it up. In convertible form it's the closest thing I can think of to a motorcycle, which I've driven for 30 years.
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Good choice! Convertibles are invariably in better condition and well looked after than coupes and sedans.
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superchg2
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A77 wrote:
RSX wrote:
I've decided to go with an E46 M3. I found one that was really well taken care of in Pheonix Yellow on black leather. It has about 87,000miles but in 'like new' condition and all BMW serviced. Absolutely amazed by the performace in this car. Can't wait to pick it up. In convertible form it's the closest thing I can think of to a motorcycle, which I've driven for 30 years.
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Good choice! Convertibles are invariably in better condition and well looked after than coupes and sedans.
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...except for maybe this one.
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superchg2
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A77 wrote:
RSX wrote:
I've decided to go with an E46 M3. I found one that was really well taken care of in Pheonix Yellow on black leather. It has about 87,000miles but in 'like new' condition and all BMW serviced. Absolutely amazed by the performace in this car. Can't wait to pick it up. In convertible form it's the closest thing I can think of to a motorcycle, which I've driven for 30 years.
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Good choice! Convertibles are invariably in better condition and well looked after than coupes and sedans.
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...except for maybe this one,
or this one!
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RSX
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RSX wrote:
I'm looking at buying a convertible soon. I'm going to have to go outside the Honda family and it will be my first non-Honda since I bought a Matrix for my wife 11 years ago. Which by the way we regret.
Here are my criteria:
- must seat four people
- have good performance for this type of car
- be somewhat reliable but it will likely be a summer only car
- less than 60,000 miles
- $25,000 budget
I already have the BMW 645 and E46 M3 on my list but can you guys recommend any others. I could go to other forums like BMW but they would be biased towards their own. So, I want your opinion.
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I found the car I was looking for. A 2001 E46 M3 Convertible in Pheonix Yellow. The M was very well taken care of, basically only driven in the summer when it was sunny. Has a few more miles on it than I wanted (88,000 miles) but was so well taken care of and the price was well under market value.
I purchased it from a guy in Eastern Canada and had to drive it back 2000 miles. My family had vacation planned out there anyway so I got to use it on vacation and then drive it back myself. What a drive through Eastern Canada. The bonus is that I averaged 28.1 mpg's which blew me away for this car. The drive is up and down hills and I had the a/c on for about half the time.
Wish I didn't have to go outside the Honda family but this car is awesome!
Here's a pick, enjoy!
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RyanDL
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Nice car. Time to update your sig!
Ryan
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BananaBoy2601
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RSX wrote:
RSX wrote:
I'm looking at buying a convertible soon. I'm going to have to go outside the Honda family and it will be my first non-Honda since I bought a Matrix for my wife 11 years ago. Which by the way we regret.
Here are my criteria:
- must seat four people
- have good performance for this type of car
- be somewhat reliable but it will likely be a summer only car
- less than 60,000 miles
- $25,000 budget
I already have the BMW 645 and E46 M3 on my list but can you guys recommend any others. I could go to other forums like BMW but they would be biased towards their own. So, I want your opinion.
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I found the car I was looking for. A 2001 E46 M3 Convertible in Pheonix Yellow. The M was very well taken care of, basically only driven in the summer when it was sunny. Has a few more miles on it than I wanted (88,000 miles) but was so well taken care of and the price was well under market value.
I purchased it from a guy in Eastern Canada and had to drive it back 2000 miles. My family had vacation planned out there anyway so I got to use it on vacation and then drive it back myself. What a drive through Eastern Canada. The bonus is that I averaged 28.1 mpg's which blew me away for this car. The drive is up and down hills and I had the a/c on for about half the time.
Wish I didn't have to go outside the Honda family but this car is awesome!
Here's a pick, enjoy!
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Looks great, love the color. What's the interior?
-Get a 1-piece front lip
-Updated LED tails
-19s from 03.5-06 M3
-Matte black grill
See you on E46fanatics or m3post!
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DCR
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Any pics of that yellow under some light?
I am not sure I could own that color.
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Inebriated Snake
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That yellow and Laguna Seca blue were the "it" colors for that model. Much better than the bland sun faded Dakar yellow they had. Both colors changed depending on the light.
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RyanDL
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DCR wrote:
Any pics of that yellow under some light?
I am not sure I could own that color.
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Have you never seen it in person? It's a very mustardy, glittery yellow. Not my cup-o-tea, but I could see how people like it.
Laguna Seca Blue was always one of my favorite Bimmer colors (and Kozmos Black).
Ryan
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RSX
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RyanDL wrote:
Nice car. Time to update your sig!
Ryan
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I actually haven't had the RSX-S since 2004. The Honda family now includes a Pilot Touring and TSX.
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RSX
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Looks great, love the color. What's the interior?
-Get a 1-piece front lip
-Updated LED tails
-19s from 03.5-06 M3
-Matte black grill
See you on E46fanatics or m3post!
The interior is black. I'll enjoy it as is for now. Maybe some tasteful mods in a couple years.
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TonyEX
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EVERYTHING else is crap....
If you're gonna get a convertible, there's only one brand with the panache...
IMHO, this is THE ONE. The quintessential American convertible. Get one of these and move to Texas.
Just make sure to wear a while suit, custom cowboy boots, a stetson and a thick gold watch. A cigar will complete the 'fat cat businessman' look. The color is perfect too. On your face baby blue with white leather interior.
I think the El Dorados are more of an artiste's car. Hunter Thompson looked good in one of these.
But eventually Hunter got one of these - Can't say I agree with thaat move. I think Vegas really messed up his mind, though.
If you get the Buick, make sure to pump the tires to 60PSI or more. It firms up the handling. However the black interior just looks cheap.
HOWEVER.. do not get this
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according2kev
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superchg2 wrote:
A77 wrote:
RSX wrote:
I've decided to go with an E46 M3. I found one that was really well taken care of in Pheonix Yellow on black leather. It has about 87,000miles but in 'like new' condition and all BMW serviced. Absolutely amazed by the performace in this car. Can't wait to pick it up. In convertible form it's the closest thing I can think of to a motorcycle, which I've driven for 30 years.
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Good choice! Convertibles are invariably in better condition and well looked after than coupes and sedans.
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...except for maybe this one,
or this one!
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LOL, that movie is hilarious. At least that one has no wheel gap!
RSX, that's a clean BMW. Enjoy the ride.
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Jovian8
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Tony you forgot the longhorn accessory..
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