pennypinch

So let me set the scenario: I'm a young, twenty-something living in LA, but because I live a block away from my office, I drive maybe four or five times a week. Therefore, having an SUV seems to be an overtly utilitarian way to get around, especially an SUV with a 5.9L engine that gets, oh, 14 miles on the freeways.

So I figure, I'm a young professional that makes decent money, why shouldn't I spoil myself a little. I've therefore decided I'm going to buy a convertible...

So this is sort of what I've been looking at. In order of preference:

Used Boxster S
Used TT 2.8 roadster (yeah, yeah, I know I said it was a girly car, but it looks pretty cool...)
New TT 1.8
New Saab 9-3
Good condition 1961 Porsche 356

The first two and last one are harder than hell to find (if you see one, please let me know at fastlivin47@hushmail.com, and I will love you long time)

But does anyone have opinions? I really dislike BMW's, so that's out. I'd like something that's reasonably sporty. Thoughts?

Blu

It looks like you're heading euro, which is a great thing. But don't discount the new MR-2 Convertible. Small, fun to drive, great price and it was built to be modded. Don't for get about a used SLK either. Other than those two, you're limited by the lack of decent companies coming out with convertables.


Blu

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katmai

Damn, Dude, stay away from the Saab. Parts will murder any future thoughts of oh, say a home or bank account. Cushy ride, tho. Old Porches are sort of the same.

Go with the Boxter. You'll have more fun. Get a TVR if you want something exotic, unusual and fast.

If you REALLY want a classic, call British Car Persons in Albany, OR. Last I saw he had some BAD Lotuses in there. Porche killers. Good people and great prices.

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hapoo

Damn, saw me from a mile away! BTW what do you do?

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pennypinch

I work at a consulting firm...hapoo sounds like a college kid!!

And katmai, you will bite your tongue! Lotus's will NEVER be Porsche killer! Good ol' "English build quality" will always ensure they run 100 days out of the year quickly, and drip oil all over the place equally quickly for the other 256

Thanks for the input on the Saab though...I figured it was a kind of odd choice, something not everyone drives...I guess there's a reason for that!

jclark

Buy an '81 Triumph TR8. For the price of a used TT or Boxter S you can get two or three. Actually drive one before you laugh. Then, if you can, find one that's been bored & stroked (or block-swapped) from 3.5L to 4.6L .

Or how about a Miata V8?

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hapoo

Jeez, I'm only 19 (well 3 weeks from turning 19 )

Ice-9

Oooh, Speedster...

Beautiful car, but I'm assuming you don't mind spending as much time under it as driving it. The 356s are nice and simple to fix, or so I've heard, but they need to be fixed often.

Personally, being a Porsche fanatic, I'd say go with the Boxster S, but any of that list other than the Saab would seem pretty cool to me. The Boxster does outperform all the others, but the TT has the coolest interior, so I guess it depends on what your priorities are. Good luck, you lucky bastard!

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Ice-9
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Nanotech9

Good condition 1961 Porsche 356

Porsche all the way d00d... and you don't have to buy the original if you dont want the repair problems etc...

I was a VERY NICE replica for sale on Ebay once... (i wouldnt buy it off ebay, but I was it there) and it wasn't one of those "fiberglass body kits" on a Fiero frame with a fiero engine either... This was a damn nice car. Pearl Grey, with a little chrome and a red interior.

I can't remember all the details, but it was sooooo nice looking.

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Nanotech9

here's a pic from Ebay:
http://www.autoforum.com/replica/131-3123_IMG.JPG
This is NOT nearly as nice as the grey one i saw though.


This is also a sweet looking replica.. much closer in design to the grey one i saw:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/aw-cg...item=565898577

OMG - I love the slantnose on this 911 Carrera... and those wheels! (i'm drooling over the wheels)
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/aw-cg...item=565725169

[Edited by Nanotech9 on 03-02-2001 at 10:37 AM]

jclark

I once thought I was Snuggles the Fabric Softener Bear. Imagine people's suprise when I told them that I made towels fluf-fluf-fluffy.

katmai

Ok, so a Lotus will tend to burn up in the garage for no particular reason, and may even slide out of the driveway on it's own oil slick, but they're fun!

Really,, if you want to see what's selling, and for realistic prices, pick up a copy of Hemmings Motor News and keep it in the bathroom for a week where you'll read it.

No insult intended there... it just seems to be America's non-cerebral reading room

ken

Don't get used. First, the cars you're looking at are going to have been driven hard. For the money you're spending, its not worth the risk. Imagine your fun when you realize the car you bought is a three year old POS. When you get the repair bills, you'll really have some fun.

You're spending alot of money. Spend the extra 10k (or get a cheaper car) and get piece of mind. Especially the piece of mind that comes with a 48,000 mi service warrantee.

Second, on top of being driven hard, you're looking at convertibles. Regular cars get noisier and noiser with age as all the nuts and bolts get looser and looser. Its 10 times worse in a convertible. They're allready 10 times noiser than the equivalent hardtop.

If you're looking at the TT 1.8 or the Saab, the 1.8 is underpowered. Plus, Saab's are cheap. I got one a year ago and they're even cheaper now. Just beware there's a planned model change as soon as next year.

And with a convertible, in my opinion, a glass rear window is a requirement. No matter how expensive your car is, if your rear window is yellow and cracking, your driving a POS.

In my opinion, in the 40k range, you're looking at:

TT
Saabs
Volvo (I don't like them, but this is a list)
BMW 325
SLK

Get insurance quotes first too. My insurance charges me 1000 for my saab, but the 325 would have been almost 2200.

And test drive everything. Its a lot of fun.

hapoo

Thats true, but consider the fact that the car drops in value a couple grand the second you drive it off the lot! You can get the same car for so much less, you just have to do your research and not jump on the first one you find.

epoxi

hmm...yamaha r1? hayabusa?

pennypinch

Yep, one of the things scaring me off the Audi's and Saab's of the world is the resale value. Audi's, in particular, are culprits when it comes to having a few hundred miles and leaving a big chunk of change. Porsches seem to hold their value far, far better. I guess that's what happens when you build cars that have accelerators that have a mind of their own...

I'm in London right now, but I'm going to get out to lots when I get back to LA. I was largely surprised when looking at cars with under 1000 miles on Autotrader...looks like the bottom fell out on the TT 2.8 market, I see a few with 500 miles that are selling for around $40k. Niiiiiice.

But seriously, I'd be happiest with the Boxster S or the 356, 'cuz, well, Porsche: there is no substitute!

WebWorks70

how bout this car?

Hanyoung

Great resale value (limited offering)
Can beat a Boxster
Coolest most functional interior (red engine start button)
Low torque, but built to be race-ready
Japanese reliability

Why not a Honda S2000?

Ice-9

Hanyoung has a point, the S2000 is a sweet little car - a friend of mine just bought one and we're planning on swapping cars one of these weekends. But I think it's not really in the same "luxury-sport" class as the others.

The S2000 is pretty much a functional sports-car - the interior, aside from the kick-ass start button, is fairly plain, the stereo sucks (and may even be optional?), and the seats aren't that great. And I have to take exception to "race-ready." It's a great little car, but because it develops the majority of it's horsepower in the upper stratosphere of rpms, you just can't take the Mustangs and Trans Ams off the line, and those are your main competition price-wise. Plus, it doesn't touch the Boxster when it comes to handling.

What about an M Roadster?

hapoo

Ice-9

Oh, right, don't like BMWs. Sorry, my mistake.

Didn't mean to get you all excited there, hapoo.

ken

Because of the low resale of saabs and audi's, lease them. You mentioned you're a block from work, so mileage should work out.

Saab's have GREAT lease terms.

hapoo

Too late

pennypinch

Yeah, good idea. I'd bet Saab salesmen are pooping their pants everytime someone steps onto the lot, they'd pay me to take one for 36 months.

Nice idea. Thanks, ken.

Oh, and if you know anyone that's looking for a pristine Durango, loaded, with 18000 miles (after 2 years!), get in touch with me!

Loosah

Penny, right now I drive a Saab 9-3 (I have ordered an Audi TT Roadster but I won't have it until April/May). People always talk about the high cost of parts and maintenance with Saab's. It MAY have been true in the past, but not now.

My Saab, has been the best and most trouble free car I have ever owned. I like it so much I am keeping it as a third car instead of trading it in. And the maintenance and parts on it cost LESS, than my husband's Pathfinder. Plus the warranty is pretty good.

Saabs are kind of an oddball choice. Except for New England where they seem to be more popular. But I think that is a good thing.

ken

Pennypinch. Have you researched your car prices!! Saabs are CHEAP. I assume you can afford these class of cars based on the types of cars you mentioned.

You can lease a saab 9-3 convertible SE for about $4k to start (with taxes and everything) and <$500 a month (again with taxes). 36 months. 12k miles.

All the other cars you've been looking at would kill you (comparatively speaking) on lease terms. You'd be looking at $4k to start and $800/month.

And if you buy, Saab 9-3se convertibles are less than 40k, with very low financing (1.9% or thereabouts)

pennypinch