Convertibles?

Question

do you guys have any sugguestions for a nice looking convertible for my first car? $1000-$10000

Answer 1

Personal experience is a Sebring is not what you want. It held up to the MOPAR transmission gremlins at 65,000 miles and had to get the trans. rebuilt. Motor started having low oil pressure at 75,000 miles and it was time to go. You might look at a Mazda Miata if you can find one in that price. The last much longer and get very good fuel mileage.

Answer 2

Sebring or Mustang are probably the only rag tops you'll find in that price range.

Maybe an older Toyota Solara.

Answer 3

I don't recommend a convertable for a first car for several reasons.  The first is safety.  Statistics show a large percentage of first cars are involved in accidents due to inexperienced driving.  The convertable body style is inherently less crash resistant due to it's lack of a rigid top.  This is the major reason that insurance costs of convertables are higher than other body styles.  I personally would never consider driving or owning any convertable without an aftermarket roll bar installed.  Second reason has to do with climate.  You may live where it's warm now but as a young person with a first car you may move to a colder climate for school or work or marriage or whatever reason.  Convertable tops are poorly insulated at best and I have seen few that seal tightly without leaks of air and or water in a cold wet climate.  You can freeze your butt off driving a convertable with the top up and the heater on it's warmest setting on a 4 hr trip at below freezing temperatures outside.  The third reason is security.  A locked convertable with the top up is equally as secure as a locked sedan with the windows rolled down, which is to say no security at all.  Two seconds and a sharp knife will get a thief into your convertable.  Door locks on a convertable are equally useful as screen doors on submarines.  The last reason I will discuss here is maintainence costs.  You mention initial cost of one to 10,000 dollars for your convertable.  A $1,000 car will need a new top when you buy it.  The top on a $10,000 used convertable may last a year or two but it will almost certainly need a new rear window upon purchase.  Replacing a top for most any convertable costs well over $1,000.  Some rear windows also cost over $1,000.  Your first car doesn't have to be a dull 4 door mom and pop grocery getter, but it doesen't need to be a flashy convertable either.  You should shop for a nice 2 door sport sedan.  You want open air, find one with a retractable sunroof.  I roll in a 30 year old Totota Celica GT that my friends and co-workers are jealous of because it's reliable, sporty, and incredibly cheap to purchase, maintain and operate.  It's not expensive to insure.  Something like that, perhaps 20 years newer would be your wisest choice for a first car.

Answer 4

$4,000 1998 Mustang V6

$6,000 99 to 2001 Mustang V6

$8,000 V8 1999 to 2000

$10,000 V6 2003 or a V8 2001

or the mazda miata as already suggested.

avoid chrysler sebrings (bad news)

BMW 3 series, Honda S2000