It's almost the dead of Winter, so it must be roadster time.

[Sulaco]

2005+ Boxster S > Z4M Roadster > 2004+ S2000 > 2000-2003 S2000 > Z3 M Roadster > Mazdaspeed Miata > base Boxster > NC Miata > Z4 with 3.0L > Any other miata


I don't think the TT is a true roadster, nor is a Z Convertible.

anybody else agree?

I've driven them all, save for the Z4M, and couldn't disagree more. The base boxster (year?) and Z3M are great, but I would put them both behind the NC Miata and the Z4 3l.

 

[AMCRambler]

I'm middle aged, have some money and can't seem to lose any weight or grow any more hair, so obviously a convertible is the only viable answer. I still have a few bitcoins to spend, and hopefully the convertible price points will drop along with the average temperature.

For the most part I really would like to keep the purchase price at or below the $15,000 mark. That is what I can afford to spend for this purely leisure car. I can do most of the repair and maintenance myself, I know some parts prices will be higher, I have pretty much taken all of that into consideration.

Looking at the following, hoping to get opinions from owners, nagging issues I may not be aware of and suggestions on cars I may have missed.

Z3, preferably an M Roadster. Known issues of tearing the differential mount away from the trunk. Expensive repair.

Boxster, again prefer a Boxster S. Known issues of rear main seal causing IMS failure and expensive out of pocket repairs.

350Z Convertible, I have noticed several of these dropping to my price point. I have not studied reliability. They do look horrible with the top up.

S2000, again dropping to the 15K mark, seem to have Honda reliability.

C5 Corvette, they seem to be just above my price for a nice one.

For some reason a Miata or an Audi TT just doesn't seem to appeal to me.

There is also a possibility I may spend 5-7 thousand and just buy a Mustang GT convertible, or a late 60's/early 70s land yacht convertible, I still like those.

No, no, no! You're all wrong.
http://www.ffcars.com/forums/18-fac...ines/241592-2003-mkii-roadster-22-000-ct.html

/thread

 

[helpme]

I'd vote for the C5, because I thought it would be easy to find a nice vert for 15k... However I guess it's not! Keep in mind the fit and finish of a C5 is going to be lower than the Honda, BMW and Porsche...

I bought a stock 01 Z06 w/80k mi a year ago for 16k... KBB claims that the convertibles are worth more??? I would have guessed you could pick up a similar 00-01 vert for 15k, but as you said it might be tough to find a nice 02-04 vert for 15k.

If I couldn't have the C5, I would probably look at the S2000 next... But the lack of torque is somewhat irritating.

After that the BMW/Porsche would be a toss up - BMW might be slightly cheaper and easier to work on?

I'd skip the Nissan.

 

[Stryker124]

No, no, no! You're all wrong.
http://www.ffcars.com/forums/18-fac...ines/241592-2003-mkii-roadster-22-000-ct.html

/thread

Agreed, this would be more fun than anything else mentioned in the thread.

 

[Sluggo]

Thought I would update this a bit as my search continues. I have gotten a chance to drive a few of the models I am considering, and frankly surprised myself with results.

Drove a base Z3 from a local dealership. I liked the car and had plenty of room inside. Good power and handling, love the bulging rear fenders in the rearview mirror. The pedals were horrid for me, seemed much to close together. I was wearing my work boots which are heavy and don't offer much tactile feel, but my foot constantly pushed the brake and gas pedal at the same time. I seem to have an unusual preference for cars with wide tires and wide hips (rear fenders). Jaguar XJRs, Z3Ms, Porsche 930s and even the rear flares on the new Corvettes draw me like a moth to a flame.

Tried to buy this Z3M, but the guy sold it just a few hours before I could commit to the deal. Had a hardtop and 126,000 miles for $11,500

After missing that deal I went and looked at a 2002 Mustang GT/4.6/5sp. I was really nice looking bright yellow and chrome wheels, but had been driven pretty hard, bald back tires and a check engine light. The loudness of the Borla exhaust made me feel my age, it sounded nice, but as RPMs increased it started to sound like a glasspack exhaust and the resonance would get tiresome quickly. The ride was pretty harsh, and the car had a ton of cowl shake.

Saturday I went and drove a 2002 S2000. To be honest I went with a bad attitude thinking I wouldn't even like the car. I was absolutely floored by how much I did like it. It was a bit cramped inside, but I could live with it. Took me only about 30 seconds to get used to the clutch operation, loved the short throw shifter and the handling was superb. All things considered it was a very easy car to drive, just puttering around it was fine, and the guy was cool about letting me really run the RPMs up and get a feel for how fast the car really was. We dropped the top and got the heater cranked and even at 40 degrees out, it was just fine to cruise in with the top down. Only complaints are the ride was pretty harsh and the engine a bit raspy. Could probably buy this for slightly under $11,000 with 92000 miles.

After that I went and drove a base Boxster at a local dealership. I really liked that too, the ride was more supple than the Honda, and it was just as easy to drive. The motor was quiet and smooth, while having more than enough power to make the car feel sporty, I am sure the "S" model feels even better. Interior seemed to be roomier, and the car overall just seemed to be much nicer, and of course priced much higher. The dealership had the car priced very high, but there are better deals around.

Still shopping around, but the S2000 seems like an OK buy if nothing better comes up.

 

[Dr. Detroit]

If you go for a S2000 - get a later model year, 2004+, as they came with a host of upgrades like larger displacement engine which adds much needed torque making the car more livable day to day. Bigger 17" wheels as well.

Glass rear window in the 2002 model year is also a huge improvement.


http://forums.s2kca.com/showthread.php?t=9319

 

[Sluggo]

As things appear now, this Boxster will be finding it's way onto a truck and to my house in the next few weeks.

 

[jlee]

Congratulations! What year?

 

[Sluggo]

Congratulations! What year?

Guess I should have put more information in my post. :$

It's a 99 base Boxster/2.5L/5sp, argued by some to be the worst year in terms of mechanical issues. Definitely the slowest Boxster I could buy. Ocean Blue w/ savannah beige interior again some think are the least desirable colors. I'm kind of meh on the color, but it at least isn't every other silver one you see, and the wife seems to really like it.

62,000 miles, and got a clean bill of health from an in-depth PPI. Needs a few things done, but most are pretty minor things. New coils and spark plug tubes are the biggest items and aren't needed immediately.

It's had some minor upgrades: upgraded rotors, 18" wheels, Litronic lights and about 10k miles on new Bilstein struts.

Has all of the books and manuals it came with, a Bentley manual, all the keys, all the factory tools, a car cover, the windscreens and a couple of specialized tools like an oil filter wrench and transmission plug socket.

Got the car for $9100, a bit more than I hoped to pay for it, but not too bad. After the shipping and PPI, I will be just a bit over the $10,000 mark, which will leave me a nice cash reserve for tires, brake and maintenance for the next couple of years.

 

[ponyo]

Sounds like a great deal. Even has some nice upgrades. I'm jealous.

 

[master7045]

Nice pickup! I have always loved Porsche's. My dad had picked up a 00 base Boxster when I was in HS and I've wanted one since. Now that I have a wife, a 2 yr old son, another bun in the oven, and a mortgage...the wife gets "upset" when I even look at Boxsters Enjoy it!

 

[Sluggo]

After a few headaches with transport companies, I wound up flying to Virginia and driving the car home last weekend. 22 hours and 1400 miles of road-trip goodness. Me and the car survived the trip with no major problems.

As an added bonus, This past Sunday was a touch over 60 degrees, so the wife and I got to take it out for a few hours with the top down. Whatever shortcomings the car has seem to be easily overlooked on a nice sunny day with the top down.

Pic at home:

 

[halik]

Wow love the color, both in and out. Can't believe they're under 10k now.

 

[ballmode]

love the color

 

[Fritzo]

2005+ Boxster S > Z4M Roadster > 2004+ S2000 > 2000-2003 S2000 > Z3 M Roadster > Mazdaspeed Miata > base Boxster > NC Miata > Z4 with 3.0L > Any other miata


I don't think the TT is a true roadster, nor is a Z Convertible.

anybody else agree?

Not sure about the base Boxster being so far down the list. The 987 is faster and handles better than the S2000 and the Mazdaspeed Miata.

 

[Fritzo]

Guess I should have put more information in my post. :$

It's a 99 base Boxster/2.5L/5sp, argued by some to be the worst year in terms of mechanical issues. Definitely the slowest Boxster I could buy. Ocean Blue w/ savannah beige interior again some think are the least desirable colors. I'm kind of meh on the color, but it at least isn't every other silver one you see, and the wife seems to really like it.

62,000 miles, and got a clean bill of health from an in-depth PPI. Needs a few things done, but most are pretty minor things. New coils and spark plug tubes are the biggest items and aren't needed immediately.

It's had some minor upgrades: upgraded rotors, 18" wheels, Litronic lights and about 10k miles on new Bilstein struts.

Has all of the books and manuals it came with, a Bentley manual, all the keys, all the factory tools, a car cover, the windscreens and a couple of specialized tools like an oil filter wrench and transmission plug socket.

Got the car for $9100, a bit more than I hoped to pay for it, but not too bad. After the shipping and PPI, I will be just a bit over the $10,000 mark, which will leave me a nice cash reserve for tires, brake and maintenance for the next couple of years.

Just to be clear, there are no "bad" Porsches...just good, better, and best ones ;D They made every car top quality (well...ignore the 914 for now) and if maintained it should last you many years. You're past the 40K mile mark, so IMS failure most likely won't be an issue.

Enjoy!

 

[manimal]

Great boxster Sluggo!

I miss mine. Tremendous value right now with prices where they are. If you ever have to do the clutch or the rear main seal and you want to keep the car for a long time you can do the IMS when you get the clutch out.

Score on the litronic lights. Those things are 1500 a set.

 

[halik]

necro'd from last year, still love the color

 

[Bacstar]

Shelby Cobra Roadster replica.

Ex-roommate has one, and it was a blast to cruise around in during the summers in So. Cal.

 

[Sluggo]

Score on the litronic lights. Those things are 1500 a set.

And they do so much for the looks of the car, those yellow turn signals are awful. I also found a set of the all red 550 tail lights for it, which gets rid of the yellow in the rear.