Convertibles

[Craig234]

Just a chat thread, really.

I don't know much about the market.

But I ran across this Corvette convertible - what catches my eye is only 19k miles:

http://sfbay.craigslist.org/eby/ctd/2545175857.html

Found even at $22K it's well over Kelly which is $12K for 'excellent' from dealer.

Some of these several years old convertibles that are nice cars, if low mileage and in good condition, seem tempting, like the Lexus SC.

A new Camaro Convertible V6 I think came out for 2011 is in the $30's.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Just a chat thread, really.

I don't know much about the market.

But I ran across this Corvette convertible - what catches my eye is only 19k miles:

http://sfbay.craigslist.org/eby/ctd/2545175857.html

Found even at $22K it's well over Kelly which is $12K for 'excellent' from dealer.

Some of these several years old convertibles that are nice cars, if low mileage and in good condition, seem tempting, like the Lexus SC.

A new Camaro Convertible V6 I think came out for 2011 is in the $30's.

I just checked KBB.com and came up with $23,999 as the suggested retail price for a 1998 Corvette Conv with 19,000 miles on it.

BTW-I hate what KBB did to their website.

 

[Dr. Detroit]

Those old 4spd autos are reliable as hell but not a lot of fun to drive. The newer 6spd Autos in the C6 are much improved. Plus I still can not get over the interior in the C5.

The C6 interior is leagues better.

Friends have a SC430 vert - tight fit in the trunk and passenger space. How they call that a 4-seater is beyond me. Makes a 911 back seat seem roomy! One of the last cars in the US that came with a cassette tape player as Lexus too k forever to do a redesign of the interior.


I'm a huge fan of the 2002 - 2004 CLK55's. Triple black - a manly convertible that still looks great today.

 

[slugg]

Not in that league of a car, but I just bought a 99 Miata and I love it. It's my first "fun" car and first convertible. Not much beats a ride at night with the top down. If you still have access to another car, I'd say you should stick to a 2 seater.

What are you looking for? A fun car or a powerful convertible? I must say, if you haven't driven a Miata, it's definitely worth trying. They say the problem with driving one is that you'll want one

 

[Zenmervolt]

I just checked KBB.com and came up with $23,999 as the suggested retail price for a 1998 Corvette Conv with 19,000 miles on it.

BTW-I hate what KBB did to their website.

Agreed on both. Not sure how the OP screwed up his KBB research so much.

ZV

 

[manimal]

I would try a 04-05 Boxster S for 20-25K depending on miles. The fun one can have for so little astonishes me. I picked up a 2000 base Boxster for less than 13k with 49K miles and all porsche dealer maintenance its whole life.

Try a 370Z as well in that price. Corvettes just dont do it for me..

 

[slugg]

I would try a 04-05 Boxster S for 20-25K depending on miles. The fun one can have for so little astonishes me. I picked up a 2000 base Boxster for less than 13k with 49K miles and all porsche dealer maintenance its whole life.

Try a 370Z as well in that price. Corvettes just dont do it for me..

The Z convertibles are uuuuggly.

 

[AMCRambler]

Lol @ $20-$25k not being a lot. You must be a millionaire. That's a good chunk of change for a used car or for anything even these days.

If I was buying a sports car though, it would be a vette. Lots of aftermarket parts options, relatively inexpensive parts too when it comes to aftermarket or maintenance as compared with their European counterparts. Also pretty darn reliable.

Edit: Ohhh ok, I didn't see you had purchased a Boxster for $13,000. That's pretty inexpensive for a Porsche. Did it have something wrong with it? That seems dirt cheap.

 

[SpatiallyAware]

I would try a 04-05 Boxster S for 20-25K depending on miles. The fun one can have for so little astonishes me. I picked up a 2000 base Boxster for less than 13k with 49K miles and all porsche dealer maintenance its whole life.

Try a 370Z as well in that price. Corvettes just dont do it for me..

+ Z4

 

[manimal]

Lol @ $20-$25k not being a lot. You must be a millionaire. That's a good chunk of change for a used car or for anything even these days.

If I was buying a sports car though, it would be a vette. Lots of aftermarket parts options, relatively inexpensive parts too when it comes to aftermarket or maintenance as compared with their European counterparts. Also pretty darn reliable.

Edit: Ohhh ok, I didn't see you had purchased a Boxster for $13,000. That's pretty inexpensive for a Porsche. Did it have something wrong with it? That seems dirt cheap.

Yes 20-25K is a large sum of money. Now for a fun car like a convertible its not that much in the grand scheme of things. Whats 25K buy you in a new car these days? Certainly not a Vette. I personally buy used nicer cars that have already depreciated and do the work myself.

First Gen Boxsters can be had for very little these days. They are very reliable outside of a intermediate shaft and rear main seal issue that is easily sorted. Check auto trader nationally. One can find a low miles clean an well maintained Boxster or a Boxster S for a few grand more.

Z4 as was mentioned above is really fun to drive as well.

Why get a miata when you can get a porsche frr the same price. Dont get me wrong. I loved my miata and regret ever selling it..

 

[thedarkwolf]

Yes 20-25K is a large sum of money. Now for a fun car like a convertible its not that much in the grand scheme of things. Whats 25K buy you in a new car these days? Certainly not a Vette. I personally buy used nicer cars that have already depreciated and do the work myself.

First Gen Boxsters can be had for very little these days. They are very reliable outside of a intermediate shaft and rear main seal issue that is easily sorted. Check auto trader nationally. One can find a low miles clean an well maintained Boxster or a Boxster S for a few grand more.

Z4 as was mentioned above is really fun to drive as well.

Why get a miata when you can get a porsche frr the same price. Dont get me wrong. I loved my miata and regret ever selling it..

If I was going to spend $12k+ I wouldn't get a miata either but in the $4k range they are hard to beat.

 

[Craig234]

I just checked KBB.com and came up with $23,999 as the suggested retail price for a 1998 Corvette Conv with 19,000 miles on it.

BTW-I hate what KBB did to their website.

I went to Kelly for basically the first time and didn't even see somewhere to put in the mileage. My mistake.

It is a little sad seeing the 'generic' 1998 excellent condition came only $10K from a private party, though.

Less if you're selling. Tempting though isn't it?

 

[Craig234]

Agreed on both. Not sure how the OP screwed up his KBB research so much.

ZV

Well, I went there and they have this process. Type of car? Convertible. Brand? Chevy. Model? Corvette. Year? 1998. Buy from dealer or private? Dealer. Pops up $12,500.

 

[T2urtle]

really, those SC430 are still worth $20k+ ( according to buy it now on ebay)

I think that would be a killer car for $15k right now.


I just passed up a supercharged 95 miata for $5000. Pretty tempting little car, but i didn't want/need the SC. It was a mint car with 76k.

 

[Mursilis]

Not in that league of a car, but I just bought a 99 Miata and I love it. It's my first "fun" car and first convertible. Not much beats a ride at night with the top down. If you still have access to another car, I'd say you should stick to a 2 seater.

What are you looking for? A fun car or a powerful convertible? I must say, if you haven't driven a Miata, it's definitely worth trying. They say the problem with driving one is that you'll want one

This. So very much this.

 

[Drako]

I still have a 2000 Z3 that I drive occasionally. It's been a relatively reliable for me - no mechanical issues. Probably worth 10K to 11K in good condition.

 

[manimal]

I still have a 2000 Z3 that I drive occasionally. It's been a relatively reliable for me - no mechanical issues. Probably worth 10K to 11K in good condition.

Nice!

I do love naturally aspirated two seaters with the engine in front. Feels like a modern successor to all those lovely small italian convertibles of the 60s.

Two seaters in general are so lovely to drive spiritedly. Their relatively low power allows you to enjoy winding it out and keeping the revs up at relatively sane speeds.


To get one near 10k to me feels like stealing.

 

[Zenmervolt]

Well, I went there and they have this process. Type of car? Convertible. Brand? Chevy. Model? Corvette. Year? 1998. Buy from dealer or private? Dealer. Pops up $12,500.

You did it wrong then. 1998, Chevrolet, Corvette, Convertible, Automatic, 19,588 miles, CD player, $23,835.

Here's a link to the page you get if you do that process correctly.

Now, if someone were a bit loopy and put in 148,000 miles, then that someone would get a value of roughly $12,285, but surely you're not that oblivious.

ZV

 

[ballmode]

s2000 if you want the hardcore vert

 

[jlee]

Why get a miata when you can get a porsche frr the same price. Dont get me wrong. I loved my miata and regret ever selling it..

Because you can fix anything on a Miata for $1.37?

 

[T2urtle]

hows about a mr2 sypder. This board loves mr2's. Most are in the $10k ball park. decent engine, could do a little engine swap and turn it into a poor man's lotus (even tho its close in stock form but you can add the engine)

 

[Craig234]

s2000 if you want the hardcore vert

What is vert? Car looks decent, not a ton sold?

 

[Craig234]

hows about a mr2 sypder. This board loves mr2's. Most are in the $10k ball park. decent engine, could do a little engine swap and turn it into a poor man's lotus (even tho its close in stock form but you can add the engine)

That's a nice looking car!

 

[ballmode]

S2000 I think is a better buy unless you buy a brand new Miata.

S2000 has the better motor, however the NC Miata has better brakes.
Compared to the NA/NB miata, unless you can find one that for less than 5000, youd spend close to what you would pay for to get a 2000-2001 S2000 equal performance wise.


Here is what I would consider doing to the miata to make it as fast as the S2000:

Forced Induction, Super/Turbo... with a safe boost and tune to get around 180hp
Full Suspension
Wider Wheels/Good Tires
Chassis Brace
Roll Bar (gotta have it, S2000 stock)
upgrade the pads/fluids/stainless steel lines
Sway bars


Once you do that, you have something as quick or quicker than a stock S2000.

However the Miata's cheaper to insure, cheaper to fix, and will wear out parts less frequently than the S2000 due to its lighter weight.

I like the fit and finish on the S2000 but hate having to pay for it on the insurance.
Now with the NC miata, that's a whole new ball game. It's a better platform than the S2000 and only lacks the motor. I like how you can get the folding hard top or a removable hard top as well.

 

[T2urtle]

That's a nice looking car!

indeed it is. Its treated like a bastard of the Mr2 world, manly because it didn't come boosted like the other gens.

You get a decent amount of roadster for the money, plus it should be cheap all around being a toyota, sharing a similar engine with a corolla/matrix. Its not as cheap as a miata (mainly because nothing changes on those chassis and there are SO MANY of them).

I think its a good car for the $10k range as a 2nd/ weekend car. I would of bought or a s2k if i didn't live in a snowy state.