Best used convertible sports cars?

[Geezer]

I'm having this mid life crisis thing too. Trouble is at 6'3", I can't fit into most of the cool roadsters I like. My bud, same height, bought a Nissan 350z, and had the seat moved back a couple inches.

Ever see tall guys driving Miatas? Seen a few whose heads were above the windshield header, must be fun with the top up.

I'm 6'4", 260 lb. and have had folks do a double take when they see me get out of my Miata. With the seat adjusted all the way down and all the way back, I only have to slouch slightly to keep from banging my head on the roof.

I am 5' 11' and 250 lbs and I fit comfortably but almost touch the inside of the roof with the top up in my Miata. I don't think anyone much over 6' is going to fit, but it depends on whether your height is in your torso or your legs. The seat does move back a little further that I need it. And the earlier years look smaller, though I don't know if they have the same amount of room for the driver.

Something else for Mr. Burleigh to consider, I don't think I am seen much better in the Miata than I am on my FJR. It is a low car with a small profile and I drive it with the same focus and caution as a motorcycle.

 

[RadioHowie]

Horsepower is how fast you get to the scene of the crash.Torque is how big the hole will be.

 

[majicmaker]

Great conversation. I've often daydreamed about a two seat sporty. The dreams always end up with me in a Z4. But, that wouldn't be in the ~$10.000 range.

 

[Geezer]

Great conversation. I've often daydreamed about a two seat sporty. The dreams always end up with me in a Z4. But, that wouldn't be in the ~$10.000 range.

I prefer the Z3 just because of the style, but the ones that sell in the 10K price range around here have over 100k miles on them.

 

[RadioHowie]

Well, since almost everyone hated my Honda S2000 choice, I'm throwing a couple more out there...

NO true petrol-head has lived until he/she has enjoyed/suffered through ownership of an Italian motorcar.

Lancia Beta Monte Carlo

Fiat Pininfarina Azzura

And last, but not least, a Fiat Dino Spider

 

[Geezer]

Those Fiats are nice cars, especially the Spider, but they were built at a time when Fiats were among the least reliable cars on the planet. The Lancia doesn't count because it is not a roadster. Besides, it's fugly.

 

[user 213]

realistically, the $10k price point means looking at older, higher mileage cars. Miata, Mustang, Volvo C70, Audi A4 and misc things that pop up in searches. I just found a Mercedes SL500 for $8k, for example. (search, not buying) It's a 2000 and has 137,132 miles. I'm thinking that despite the full tank of gas, detailed to within an inch of it's life and free car washes for a year, it may still be pretty beat for $8k, but I guess you never know. No pix in the ad.

https://tinyurl.com/ogwo83v Direct dealer web site link w/pics - https://www.smalltownautosales.com/2000-Mercedes-Benz-SL-Class-Hurricane-UT-1106 Auto Trader only found 13 vehicles that fit the convertible, two door, $10k or less price limits.

 

[James Burleigh]

My last (and only) sports car. Here with Fang in Redondo Beach, [SIZE=14.3999996185303px]about 1980[/SIZE].

 

[user 213]

Nice GT-6 across the street. I preferred MG flavor, and the MGB-GT.

That's why I'm a good MG mechanic...

 

[Bearly Flying]

Actually a C4 Corvette, either convert or Targa will get the wind in your hair ( or lack there of) and still turn in decent mileage and can be easily upgraded for more hp.

Small block Chevy is one of the easiest engines to get big power for relatively low dollars.

Bang for the buck, pretty hard to beat in that price range.

 

[Bounce]

Isn't the C4 the one that no one wants and has no value? If so, doesn't the MX5 have a better power-to-weight ratio than that model Vette (which only has something like 200hp out of it's honking great v8)?

Clickity-click. Ooops. Nope. I'm thinking the '73 L3:

"The base L-48 engine produced 190 hp (142 kW). The L-82 was introduced as the optional high performance small-block engine (replacing the LT-1 engine) and delivered 250 hp (186 kW)."

Those were truly sad times:

"The 454 cu in (7.4 L) LS-4 big-block V8 engine was offered delivering 275 hp (205 kW) and 15% of the cars were ordered so equipped."

 

[majicmaker]

Great conversation. I've often daydreamed about a two seat sporty. The dreams always end up with me in a Z4. But, that wouldn't be in the ~$10.000 range.

I prefer the Z3 just because of the style, but the ones that sell in the 10K price range around here have over 100k miles on them.

I agree, Geezer. But, I lean toward the Z4 because it's just a wee bit longer than the Z3.

 

[Bungie]

Nice GT-6 across the street. I preferred MG flavor, and the MGB-GT.

That's why I'm a good MG mechanic...

My brother had a GT-6 for a while. After rebuilding the engine, then the trannie, then the rear end, then the electrics, he finally realized this would be a never ending cycle when he needed the engine rebuilt again. He sold it immediately after that.

Nice car though.

 

[Geezer]

Nice GT-6 across the street. I preferred MG flavor, and the MGB-GT.

That's why I'm a good MG mechanic...

My brother had a GT-6 for a while. After rebuilding the engine, then the trannie, then the rear end, then the electrics, he finally realized this would be a never ending cycle when he needed the engine rebuilt again. He sold it immediately after that.

Nice car though.

lol Yes, those British roadsters of that era were a lot of fun, and nice looking little cars. They were also generally inexpensive. However, you had to have a well stocked toolbox and know how to use it if you wanted to keep one running. I lusted after a Triumph TR6 back in the 70's. I was still living at home and on my Dad's insurance and he would not let me buy one of those cars because 'they were too fast'.

Instead I bought a VW beetle and hot rodded it up to about 80 hp. Pretty wimpy, but I had a lot of fun.

Back to the OPs question, if you enjoyed that Fiat, the only newer cars that are anywhere near similar to that is the Miata and the Toyota FRS/Subaru BRZ, and the Toyota/Subaru is a hardtop. The others are either bigger, heavier, or more expensive.

 

[Fred W]

OP says ~ 10k price target.

I see 145 hits for a Z3 BMW 6 cylinders with $11k or lower asking price (who pays asking price?) in Cars.com

Surely there is one of these worth buying? You may have to drive a ways to get it, but isn't that kind of the point?

How about this one in Indian Wells, CA. 1997 Red 2.8 5 speed 32K miles $7500.

They are out there...

 

[BMWSFJR]

<$10K - my $.02

1. Boxster - under 100K, yes available all over. fits like a glove for most drivers

2. Miata - but the aftermarket Farkles will kill ya - (must drive one to understand)

3. SLK - nobody seems to want a used older Mercedes?

 

[Warpdrv]

Fiat = Fix it again tony

 

[RadioHowie]

Fiat = Fix it again tony

Clever...bet no one ever thought of that before!

 

[Bustanut joker]

Got a line on a 1980 Triumph TR 7 here.. I know most of it's history as my sister bought in new.

However it's been sitting for 5 years and looks like it may need a lot of love. But he only want's 1200 bucks.

 

[FJRay]

Got a line on a 1980 Triumph TR 7 here.. I know most of it's history as my sister bought in new.
However it's been sitting for 5 years and looks like it may need a lot of love. But he only want's 1200 bucks.

There is one born every day. Make sure you put one foot on top of the other one before you pull the trigger dumb ***.