I was thinking about getting a cheap vintage convertible, it’s just for driving around town so reliability isn’t key and I’m ok spending on maintenance. I was thinking maybe an early 2000s to early 2010s Mercedes SLK, BMW Z3 or 6 Series, Audi TT/A4 Cabriolet or a Saab 93. Has anyone done that? It won’t be a daily driver, just more of a fun and relatively cheap toy.
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MX-5
Genuinely surprised how few I see around. Seems like a really fun car to drive in warmer climates.
E46 M3
Boxter and it isn’t even close
The MX-5 is best cheap convertible period. The question for you is do you actually want a cheap one, or are you looking for a specific vibe.
More the specific vibe, my dad had a 93 and later a TT and it’s a fair bit of nostalgia. I like the Miata, but it’s just not going to scratch the itch.
Part of me also likes earlier cars like the Alfa Romeo Spider, before Alfa stopped importing to the US in 1994, but I’m leery of how bad the parts situation will be.
If you want the vibe, then that pretty much answers your question.
Damn. I came here to see what constitutes as ‘fun’ for a convertible bond
Those aren’t nearly as fun as muni bonds.
Guys, quit joking around. If you want fun in FI distressed debt is where it's at. Will the company default? what will you recover? etc.
For cars, I'd echo everyone saying to get a Miata. Given the suggestions that you want older and cheap, a 94-97 1.8L NA would probably best suit you.
BMW clown shoe, most fun car I have ever driven
Forum ate my post and it was long, premise is here are some oddball choices; Lexus SC430, Volvo C70, Fiat 500/Abarth, Mini, Jaguar F-type, Jaguar XK8, Jeep Wrangler.
S2000
theyre not so cheap anymore tbh
Jag XKR, SL 550, Cadillac XLR, LC 500, 650i
986 Boxster. Best purchase ever.
A few things I missed from my previous post that the forum ate:
There were some great suggestions, but my impression was that the OP sounds like they just want a short-term toy, which is why I listed the cars I did. Some of the OP’s choices aren't bad if you just want something to drive to the Hamptons without overthinking it for instance. A Saab is so cheap you can find a nice one for under $7,000, and even a base Z3 is often priced at (or sometimes below) a comparable Miata. I mean what? I like Miatas but the averages are getting disconnected from the proposition.
I tried to curate a list around a $15,000 budget which I self-imposed for fun. The goal was to find something affordable that won't look out of place among an enthusiast social crowd, but which functions primarily as a temporary vacation/date night car.
I view many of the other suggestions as "evergreen" territory. A 986 Boxster, AP1 S2000, or E46 M3 are cool, but they feel like overkill if the OP is also willing to consider an old Saab 9-3. If I had one of those, I wouldn't see the point in spending more unless stepping up to 911 or Corvette territory.
If they wanted to go more exotic, we could easily discuss how the Alfa Romeo 4C, Lotus Evora, and Lotus Elise seem to have bottomed out. I don't think they are being priced aggressively enough, not because of market forces, but because they are personal future classics I really like.
I’ve been watching this space closely because I believe a few sub-$25,000 cars like the SW20 MR2, E36/E46 M3, and E39 M5 are going to skyrocket soon. Don't get me started on the E92 M3 or E60 M5. I already saw this play out when I missed the boat on the 993 911 Turbo in the early 2000s.
The only main outliers are the Wrangler and the F-Type. I included the Wrangler because they didn't specify it had to be a sports car, and the F-Type because it's such a great value, even if it is technically outside the budget.
This is a roundabout way to say get the Saab and try to do it under $7000, even better if it is under $5000, if you don't then definitely budget more like $20,000 and get a Boxster.
This is pretty accurate I’m just not sure how short term of a toy it will be. We live in a neighborhood where lots of people have a nice golf cart to just go around and enjoy the nice wear her, so I’m viewing this as an alternative to that. The vast majority of use will be low speed surface streets, perhaps I’ll drive it from home to a vacation spot about 2.5 hours away most of which is on backroads.
Ironically I have considered the Jeep Gladiator, I currently have a Grand Cherokee which I’ll probably keep for another 5-7 years.
Miata and it's not even close. Z3 is fun for sure. I would pass on the SLK and TT those were super tiny and they're chick cars.
Live la vida Miata!
One of my good friends has one, it’s very fun, just not my cup of tea. This is more, no pun intended, driven by nostalgia as the cars I listed are ones my parents or family friends had when I was in middle or high school.
2002 BMW Roadster M, this would be hard to beat and their price point is nice.
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