Dreaming of Summer: 7 Convertibles for Less than $30K
As the seasons change and rain clouds make way for fresh foliage and flowers, it’s easy to start daydreaming about open-air motoring. If you, like us, have been perusing the classifieds for a reasonably priced and fun convertible, these selections might broaden your horizon. Each can be had in #3 (Good) condition for less than $30,000, and offer a mix of performance, cruising capability, classic looks, or a blend of all three. Hopefully, there’s something here that gets your gears turning and conjuring up thoughts of top-down oceanside drives or aimless canyon exploration.
2009 Pontiac Solstice GXP
GM’s Kappa convertibles, sold in the U.S. as the Saturn Sky and Pontiac Solstice, were initially offered with a naturally aspirated, 177hp 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine. It wasn’t long, however, before Red Line and GXP trims, respectively, gave the twins GM’s first direct-injection engine, the 260hp 2.0L turbocharged LNF. GM even offered a tune and a 3-bar MAP sensor to manage more boost and net 290hp. The rare hardtop Solstice is a pricey collectible, but the convertible remains an affordable option. The car’s frequent criticism was its lack of luggage space. However, it does bring a solid chassis, sporty handling, and room for some serious rubber under those curvy fenders.
1998 Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder GS-T
The Eagle Talon, Plymouth Laser, and Mitsubishi Eclipse offered buyers three flavors of stylish, affordable sport compact as part of the partnership known as Diamond Star Motors (DSM), named for the combined brand logos of Mitsubishi and Chrysler. Unfortunately for Plymouth fans, the Laser never made it into the second generation of the cars, which lasted from 1994-1998, and arguably had the best design. In more bad news for fans of Mopar brands, the Eagle, while available with the same powertrains as the Mitsubishi, was not offered as a convertible. The sole DSM drop-top is the Eclipse, and the GS-T is the most potent, packing a 210hp 2.0-liter turbocharged 4G63 engine.
2012 Chevrolet Corvette
C6 Corvettes are a lot of car for the money, especially the later models that ditched the 400hp, cathedral-port LS2 for the bump in displacement and better breathing of the LS3. The Grand Sport trim, with its wider bodywork, dry-sump oiling system, and track-tuned suspension, is barely out of range for this list, unless you’re in the market for an automatic. For those that insist on three pedals, the standard Corvette convertible comes in well under our price cap, and that gets you a Tremec TR-6060 six-speed manual trans, and a 430hp LS3 V-8 for a fabulous top-down soundtrack.
1971 Volkswagen Karmann Ghia
Despite sharing its underpinnings and powertrain with the VW Beetle, the Type 14 Karmann Ghia managed to look special thanks to its hand-finished body and concept car styling. Marking the end of an era, the 1971 models were the last to use thinner, more elegant bumpers. Enjoy the simple, easy-to-service Beetle drivetrain and ample aftermarket to keep this curvy cruiser running in tip-top shape for very little money.
1957 Ford Thunderbird
The final year of the first-generation Thunderbird brought exclusive styling with subtle fins that make Ford’s Jet Age taillights seem even more appropriate. Inside, a new dash pod with round gauges gave the ‘Bird a sportier look to reflect its boost in power over the previous year’s offerings. The 292-cubic inch, two-barrel V-8 base engine in 1957 is even more affordable, but we picked the 245hp four-barrel 312 version for our list. Both the dual-quad 312 and the supercharged 312 demand a lot more money, but a resourceful hot-rodder could tune up any of the Y-block V-8s to be plenty of fun, fun, fun.
1969 Mercury Cougar XR-7
In 1967 and 1968, Mercury’s upscale pony car still had obvious Mustang roots. In 1969, things changed. Despite sharing a platform and powertrains with the Mustang, the Cougar looked like a different beast entirely, particularly in convertible form. As opposed to the Mustang’s quad-headlight front end, the Cougar’s hidden headlights were a preview of the 1970 Montego. The Cougar is a rare sight compared to a Mustang and its sweeping lines and muscular haunches make it an underappreciated example of Mercury’s muscle car-era styling. We picked a four-barrel, 351-powered example, which should provide ample power for top-down cruising. Both the 390 and 428 engine options fall outside our price range, but that’s OK, as we’re not drag racing with the top down anyway.
1987 Morgan 4/4
Speaking of drag racing, aside from the air-cooled VW, this Morgan is the least likely to show up at your local NHRA test-and-tune to go heads up against the local hotshots. That’s just not its scene. Packing 96hp, this minimalist machine is hand-built for the kind of top-down motoring exemplified by Pre-War British roadsters. Morgan just kept making them that way. Narrow, close to the road, and with the wind whipping around you and the engine buzzing, normal speeds will feel like race pace. The Ford Kent 1599cc crossflow engine was produced for decades and was used in several forms of motorsport worldwide, so there’s no shortage of knowledge and parts available.
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The Fiat 124 Spider is high on my list. I love my 2018 Spider.
Got my 1987 MB 560sl for under $5,000 with 85,000 miles on it, after 8 years have over 110,000 miles and have invested in about $10,000 to get it dependable, but I do my own work. It is a classic and old enough people come up all the time at gas stations and smile lots of thumbs up when driving because they don’t think you are a snob in a new one. Top-down cruising – PRICELESS
Where is the Alfa Romeo Spider???
A 67 in blue ($450 barn fine) next to 72 Chevelle SS ($950 left in ditch after unauthorized joy ride). Both now in a graced home. Time to cruise w/ top down.
Had a Malibu SS convertible, Even with upgrades to suspension and brakes it was still an old car. Now gone, don’t miss it. BUT, that’s why the world goes round in circles
A ’70 Kharmann Ghia was my first car back in High School. Despite a number of mechanical/electrical glitches while I had it, that car was an absolute blast to own and drive all the way through college!
I paid $6000 for a 2007 Saab 9-3 2.0t convert 7 years ago. I’m going on to my 8th summer. Pretty good bang for the buck.
1. Car guys love all of these because we just do. 2. (first wife, banging gears, beat SS396 s on the way home from community college; her gf ratted her out. cancer was the only thing ever slowed her down,rip) 3. Now for the new wife, school teacher, this is the challenge. Saw her looking ovr my shoulder at BAT sale, rare, for an almost new Prowler. Bought it. Going to show her car next week at car show, top down, and she’s excited!! Life’s full of twists and turns, Prowler wins.
Great story.
Miata is always the answer to this question!
We had an original year Miata. It was a great car, unless you drove through a puddle. But even that was fixed with a rubber boot and silicone spray on the distributor. But I have to say, it isn’t as much fun, or stand out as much as our ’63 Morgan 4/4. The Miata was “more” practical. (Neither are exactly winter cars.) But the bloody Miata windows roll down! You can’t take them off. And you can’t touch the road by just putting your hand out above the door and down. And what a wimpy front end. Then there is that funny door across the rear deck? It is even hard to open with the suitcase on the luggage rack.
But Yeah, the Miata is a great car. No question from me (And I don’t even try to drive the Morgan in the rain.)
Miata never had a distributor. The first generation had a pair of ignition coils to fire two cylinders at a time, with a crank position sensor.
Not sure how the obvious choice was missed, but hands down its a Porsche Boxster. For a $30k budget you can get into a fairly current model that will provide Porsche level of driving experience at a budget price. We have a 2001 S with 206k miles and of all the Porsche’s we’ve owned, its the only one my wife and daughters won’t let me sell. Well, that was until I finished the restoration on the 1972 911 E, but that is a much different budget.
Hi Tom,
I, too, have a 2001 Boxster S and wrote about it this time last year: https://www.hagerty.com/media/market-trends/hagerty-insider/porsches-first-gen-boxster-is-affordable-top-down-fun/ It’s a forever car for me, too. Since there is a lot to choose from, and since I’d written about the Boxster in the recent past, it didn’t make the list this time. Have fun with yours this spring! I know I will.
Took them all out for a ride yesterday. The Boxster just says “let’s go!!” and is ready for fun at any time. Easy to live with as a DD (my wife’s choice in the summer) or for a Sunday run.
“Took them all out for a ride yesterday.” Where did you put them?
Just kidding.
Absolutely! I was wondering how long before I read a comment suggesting the Boxster. Mine’s a 2002 (built in mid-2001) 6-speed S. I bought her in August, 2018, so nearly 6 years ago, and paid $11,000. I certainly wouldn’t sell her for that!
Came here to say this. I have a 2001 base Boxster that I paid $9500 for (from a used car dealer no less) with only 81k on it a couple of years ago. Yes, I had the IMS bearing done just in case, but even adding that in it’s still cheap fun. It handles extremely well on-track even with all-season Pilot Sport 4S tires.
uh…..2002-2006 4.2 Jaguar XK-8?
To the list I would add the Jaguar XK convertible, particularly the series with the 5 litre V8 (2009 – 2013).
I’ve had a lot of great convertibles through the years but one of my favorites was the 73 Olds Delta 88. Avacado green with a black top/interior. Funky fun!
I had a ’75. The only good malaise-era car I ever had, and it was shockingly great.
I really enjoy driving my 2011 Infiniti G37 6 speed manual convertible. Style & security of a coupe with the top up. 325 HP keeps up with with traffic and room for groceries or a bag of grass seed in the rear seat. Just don’t ask about the trunk!
If you want to turn heads, nothing beats a Cadillac convertible from the 1970’s and earlier. Even people driving those fancy sports cars watch when you drive by. I had a 1974 Eldorado convertible for nearly 30 years. People who never knew me say they recall the car driving through the area.
1973 was a pace car year for the El Darado. So yeah,that makes it a sports car. Termenious.
They were great cars to be seen in, that’s for sure. I didn’t enjoy the driving experience (“drives like a boat” might have been invented for them), but the ’76 certainly turned heads.
I’ve owned a few ragtops. Last one was a ’76 450SL, paid $4500 for it, put about $1000 and some work into it. Drove it for a year while fixing it, then sold it for &7500 about three years ago. Most fun was my ’74 1/2 Jensen Healey I had in the late ’70’s.