Am looking for a convertable with a little grunt in the $10 to $15000 range, any advice on make or model! I quite like this one because it also has a hard top, what do you think! anything I should check out on it! 371986293 TIA!
pandai,
Apr 30, 7:44am
If you are looking for something with a bit of grunt, that Z3 is a pig.That said, this is because it is a 4 speed auto.If you want a 1.9 Z3, get one with a manual only (I've spent quite a lot of time in the manual version, with a hardtop).
Alternatively get a 2.8L Z3 and you should be OK, manual or auto.
ginga4lyfe,
Apr 30, 8:44am
therre are actually manual ones! I spend ages looking for one for my uncle, i just couldnt find zilch!
pandai,
Apr 30, 8:57am
There's a facelift 2.2 manual and a pre-facelift 2.8 manual on TM at the moment.You're right, they're hard to find!
ct9a,
Apr 30, 1:27pm
2 litre 177kw at that!
ceedoubleyou,
Apr 30, 1:56pm
Have you been into the forums for these cars to ask how durable they are. It always worried me the revs these cars do to acheive the horsepower.
mgmad,
Apr 30, 2:08pm
I wouldn't be going for a Z3 personally, I'd be buying a VVC MGF and having some change left over, or maybe a TF 160 for about $15k.
thejazzpianoma,
Apr 30, 2:13pm
Just as a side note, give some thought as to how and where you would actually use the removable hard top if you are trying to get one. In a lot of instances with a modern convertible you will likely never have a need for it as the soft top should be excellent in bad weather. If you do put the hard top on for security you may find you never bother removing it, in which case you have bought the wrong car.
thejazzpianoma,
Apr 30, 2:15pm
Oh and what would I buy! Probably the 3.0 Alfa Spider with 6 speed box. Not everyones cup of tea but me likey long time. A lot of car for the money and easily available right throughout your 10 - 15K price range.
_peas,
Apr 30, 3:59pm
Ever seen a MGF on a car hoist. watch the gap between the door and rear quarter as the weight comes on.A little scary.
fordcrzy,
Apr 30, 4:25pm
you guys have to be joking. there is a VERY VERY good reason the mx5 is the highest selling roadster ever.BECAUSE IT IS THE BEST.
BUY YOUR SELF A 1998-2001 MX5 RS with its 6 speed manual and pick up a hard top for it for about a grand.(good luck finding a hard top for a merc/z3 etc etc)
fordcrzy,
Apr 30, 4:28pm
something like this
372531592
absolutly a great car. ive owned one for ten years and wouldnt even consider anything other than a mx5.if the mx5 didnt exist i would get a Honda s2000
mgmad,
Apr 30, 4:48pm
And it's still got higher torsional rigidity than pretty much any other roadster, bar an Elise, of a comparable age.
mgmad,
Apr 30, 4:49pm
Good as it is, the only reason it is the highest selling sports car is because it was sold in the USA, and for a very long time.
fordcrzy,
Apr 30, 5:10pm
and that speaks volumes for the car.americans who kept buying a small light bloody awesome sports car despite thier love for overweight slushy cars.Mazda could have "datsun'd" the MX by turning it into a heavy weight slug but they didnt and it still sold by the thousands. the mx5 is the best.others may claim specialness over the MX but lets face it they pail in comparison.
thejazzpianoma,
Dec 28, 8:12pm
Americans have had an obsession with light imported convertibles since WW2. The GI's went crazy for MG's etc they saw in Europe and started importing them when they got home. Then when the movie "The Graduate" came out Alfa Romeo's sold like the proverbial hot cakes. So many were sold that they actually officially called a line of export models "Graduate". Not just Alfa's either, loads of little Fiats, MGB's etc. So popular are they that most online stores for Fiat and Alfa Spiders are actually U.S based rather than anywhere in Europe!
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