Preliminary stages of finding a convertible

"Yowen - not necessarily not spaghetti and meatballs" (yowen) 11/04/2013 at 11:41 • Filed to: None

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I have a question guys! I really want a convertible in the next few years. But they only thing I've decided so far is that I'd prefer to spend as little as possible to get myself a running, decent looking vehicle, it doesn't have to be show quality and I am perfectly willing to work on it to get it up to snuff.

With that being said, I'd also like the thing to look classy, so to that end, I am a fan of quite a few 60's and 70's American "barges", I came across some neat looking Cadillacs, Pontiacs, Buicks and Fords. But I also happened across a '75 450SL that I quite liked. To give you an idea, the 450SL was going for $6200 and the barges it seemed could be had within my budget. I'm looking to spend no more than maybe $8k.

Are there any other neat convertibles I am overlooking? What in your eyes is the best compromise between class, reliability and value?

ConnorW > Yowen - not necessarily not spaghetti and meatballs 11/04/2013 at 11:51

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'98 Boxster - $7900 - This seems like a great idea, but I would love to hear, from guys who know these cars, if there's a reason they're so damn cheap now: http://sfbay.craigslist.org/sby/cto/415006…

Demon-Xanth knows how to operate a street. > Yowen - not necessarily not spaghetti and meatballs 11/04/2013 at 11:51

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http://www.ebay.com/itm/Chevrolet-…

Someone Else's Projects > ConnorW 11/04/2013 at 11:54

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Google "Porsche IMS". Catastrophic engine failure is the risk you get with early water-cooled Porsches. Also, the ones with the 2.5L engine are very slow, and that entire generation of Boxster came with a plastic rear window that is a wear item. At that price point you're better off getting an MR2 Spyder.

Mr. Ontop, No Strokes, No Smokes...Goes Fast. > Yowen - not necessarily not spaghetti and meatballs 11/04/2013 at 12:06

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Seems that Miata is the answer now, too. Or maybe BMW Z3 if you don't mind the high expense or repairs.

ConnorW > Someone Else's Projects 11/04/2013 at 12:25

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Is the IMS an inherent flaw in the design, or can it be updated? This car in particular had it's engine replaced at 40k, which sounds like an IMS failure. Did Porsche sort this out, or were they replacing engines with the same potential issue?

Yowen - not necessarily not spaghetti and meatballs > Demon-Xanth knows how to operate a street. 11/04/2013 at 12:32

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Haha I looked at some Corvairs, but I don't think I am a big fan of them. I think they are a very neat piece of automotive history, just not the car for me.

Yowen - not necessarily not spaghetti and meatballs > Mr. Ontop, No Strokes, No Smokes...Goes Fast. 11/04/2013 at 12:33

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Not a big Miata or BMW fan. If I had to pick between the two, I would go miata... I think.

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > Yowen - not necessarily not spaghetti and meatballs 11/04/2013 at 12:46

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You can go 80s/90s mustangs for real cheap and you can get v8 and stick shift

http://detroit.craigslist.org/okl/cto/416218…

or

Some sharp old ford convertibles that no one thinks to look up:

http://annarbor.craigslist.org/cto/4163898299…

http://detroit.craigslist.org/okl/cto/416088…

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > Yowen - not necessarily not spaghetti and meatballs 11/04/2013 at 12:46

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or in that situation, you could walk lol

Yowen - not necessarily not spaghetti and meatballs > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner 11/04/2013 at 12:51

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The situation of wanting neither of those = walk? It would be if that were the only options!

Yowen - not necessarily not spaghetti and meatballs > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner 11/04/2013 at 12:52

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whoops didn't see this post! Now your other one is making a lot more sense!

That Galaxie looks pretty darn awesome!

Mr. Ontop, No Strokes, No Smokes...Goes Fast. > Yowen - not necessarily not spaghetti and meatballs 11/04/2013 at 12:57

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Here's a little different direction for you, then.

http://www.ebay.com/sch/Cars-Truck…

Someone Else's Projects > ConnorW 11/04/2013 at 13:12

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It can be updated, but that is an expensive engine-out operation. No idea if this particular car got the updated IMS when the engine was replaced; the aftermarket has come up with its own solutions, but I don't know if they are superior to the factory fixes, or if the factory even had any fixes apart from putting in the same (flawed) design.

Textured Soy Protein > Yowen - not necessarily not spaghetti and meatballs 11/04/2013 at 13:30

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Suicide-door Lincoln Continentals are the best (IMHO) American luxo-barge convertibles. But probably out of your price range.

When I was in high school a buddy of mine's dad got an old Chrysler 300K convertible. That thing was gigantic. Probably can still be had for cheap?

Yowen - not necessarily not spaghetti and meatballs > Textured Soy Protein 11/04/2013 at 13:32

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Oh yeah... That's what I'd have if I could, but they are indeed out of my price range or in terrible state of disrepair.

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > Yowen - not necessarily not spaghetti and meatballs 11/04/2013 at 13:46

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Well you said if you HAD to pick one...

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > Yowen - not necessarily not spaghetti and meatballs 11/04/2013 at 13:47

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Mid 60's Galaxies are reallllyyy cool. You can get some monster motors in them too.