What's the Best Convertible Summer Cruiser for Under $10,000?

"A3R0" (a3r0) 03/19/2014 at 18:00 • Filed to: Fun Conversations

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Well, warm weather is just around the corner for most of us. This brings up a great question; What is the best summer convertible on a budget? Now, there are some rules to this competition; Craigslist only, convertibles only, you can "build" a car (no "selling" parts off your car, though), under $10,000, and no Miata's. Yup, he just said that, NO Miata's.

After searching Convertible on Craigslist and going up to $10,000 I came up with !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! ;

Which looks like its in decent shape, manual, and what looks to be a great highway cruiser.

Now I will take off those RIMZZZ DAWG and put on !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! ;

Yes, some of you think "What the heck, those belong on a proper muscle car/drag car." Oh well.

Try to make this a little bit more fun, meaning don't pick the obvious. That means try not to use MG's and Alfa's for every single submission.

Brian Silvestro > A3R0 03/19/2014 at 18:04

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jkm7680 > A3R0 03/19/2014 at 18:05

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Miat... Oh.

http://washingtondc.craigslist.org/nva/ctd/438255…

http://washingtondc.craigslist.org/mld/cto/438114…

http://washingtondc.craigslist.org/nva/cto/438096…

Daas is gut.

Nice Del Sol I found, but not really a convertible.

http://washingtondc.craigslist.org/nva/cto/438268…

CAR_IS_MI > A3R0 03/19/2014 at 18:06

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http://lasvegas.craigslist.org/cto/4382208691…

This one is a bit over priced at $5300 but you can find these for around $4k. Id spend 2-k getting it all freshened up (wet sand and maybe a re-clear), nicer wheels. Save the rest for any repairs that may come, as it is an Alfa.

A3R0 > Brian Silvestro 03/19/2014 at 18:06

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I was looking for an e30, but there were none under $10k that were convertibles on my local list of Craig.

Dwhite - Powered by Caffeine, Daft Punk, and Corgis > A3R0 03/19/2014 at 18:09

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I found two really nice options first is this '63 Pontiac Lemans http://detroit.craigslist.org/okl/cto/431438… priced at $9,500.

Second Option is this 2007 Pontiac Solstice http://detroit.craigslist.org/wyn/cto/437944… for $7,995.

A3R0 > CAR_IS_MI 03/19/2014 at 18:10

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"WHAT U GOT?"
Nice pick, beautiful car!

Brian Silvestro > A3R0 03/19/2014 at 18:12

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Really? All of the ones I see are usually convertibles. I think it would be perfect.

A3R0 > jkm7680 03/19/2014 at 18:12

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I would definetly count the Del Sol! Some nice out of the box thinking there for sure. I'm jealous of everyone who found e30 convertibles near them.

jkm7680 > A3R0 03/19/2014 at 18:14

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Haha, Thanks.

I've always wanted an E30.

CAR_IS_MI > A3R0 03/19/2014 at 18:17

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Do targa tops count?

http://sandiego.craigslist.org/nsd/cto/437230…

$3,400 - initial

$3,000 - Body work and paint

$2,500 - replace engine seals, clean engine and bay, upgrade carbs

$the rest - minor details.

A3R0 > Dwhite - Powered by Caffeine, Daft Punk, and Corgis 03/19/2014 at 18:17

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More like Pontiac Lemons! Hah, get it? No? Oh... Because it's yellow...

davedave1111 > A3R0 03/19/2014 at 18:17

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Since you said cruiser...

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/adv…

1989 Jaaaag XJS 5.3 V12, £5000.

Well under budget for the purchase price, not so much for the running costs.

The engine bay on those is scary.

A3R0 > Brian Silvestro 03/19/2014 at 18:19

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Sadly I think there were no e30's at all. I didn't make it to the more results thing though, just the more local listings.

The Dummy Gummy > A3R0 03/19/2014 at 18:21

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'93 Fox GT Convertible $8k

http://longisland.craigslist.org/cto/4348699182…

Spend the extra $2k on getting it painted seafoam green because yea

BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires > A3R0 03/19/2014 at 18:22

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If you've set a budget of $10,000, I'd recommend trying to find something for $7000 or less. Just to give you some leeway if you need to fix anything.

There's little more gutting than having a non-functional summer car all the way through summer.

Brian Silvestro > A3R0 03/19/2014 at 18:25

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Damn, I guess you're not the only one who realizes summer's coming up. The best (and cheapest) time to buy a car like this is when summer ends

ComradeApexx > A3R0 03/19/2014 at 18:29

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If you look hard enough I'm pretty sure you'd be able to find a clean Karmann Ghia for around 10 stacks.

daryl bowden > A3R0 03/19/2014 at 18:33

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I just bought this on ebay for 4k.

6k under budget and pure awesome.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1984-Merce…

A3R0 > jkm7680 03/19/2014 at 18:44

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My dad had an e30 M3. Awesome awesome car.

A3R0 > CAR_IS_MI 03/19/2014 at 18:45

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Of course! Have fun running 3 days of the year... soooo jealous.

CAR_IS_MI > A3R0 03/19/2014 at 18:46

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Keeps you in shape...

A3R0 > davedave1111 03/19/2014 at 18:46

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Talk about class

ZHP Sparky, the 5th > A3R0 03/19/2014 at 18:47

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Not what I thought I'd be nominating when I started browsing CL, but daamn...so pretty, and slow....perfect for appreciating the sunshine and a beautiful coastal road. Plenty of cash leftover for summertime fun and repairs too.

http://sfbay.craigslist.org/sby/cto/438282…

Or-

http://sfbay.craigslist.org/eby/cto/438274…

A3R0 > BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires 03/19/2014 at 18:48

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I can't even drive (to young). This was all hypothetical. Probably a great idea if the time ever comes, though.

A3R0 > Brian Silvestro 03/19/2014 at 18:49

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Buy RWD in the winter and 4WD in the summer. Sell the RWD car at the beginning of the summer and the 4Wd car at the beginning of the winter. It's all about resale!

Singhjr96 > A3R0 03/19/2014 at 18:50

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The 350z in a convertible could be had fur sub 10k. Here's one really close to 10k in my area, I didn't spend long looking since I don't have a lot of time. But you should be able to find some in your area.

https://seattle.craigslist.org/est/ctd/438277…

A3R0 > ComradeApexx 03/19/2014 at 18:51

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There was one on my local list of Craig, but it had no pictures. If it did I might have picked it. I REALLY want a baja Ghia.

A3R0 > daryl bowden 03/19/2014 at 18:53

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Sweet! Have fun with it. I would love to hear about it once you get it; do you have authorship?

A3R0 > Singhjr96 03/19/2014 at 18:55

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Wow, I love these; I forgot all about them. I don't think any popped up on my local list of Craig.

A3R0 > ZHP Sparky, the 5th 03/19/2014 at 18:57

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NOOOO IT WILL ORLOVE ITSELF IF YOU DON'T ORLOVE IT FIRST

(Yes, that is now a thing)

To be serious though, that is a quality candidate.

daryl bowden > A3R0 03/19/2014 at 18:58

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I don't yet but was actually going to compose a post about it and maybe a series about it depending on how much more shit is wrong with it than the ad said.

It was really an impulsive buy, but one that for that level of investment really can't be too bad. Luckily I have a 2013 E550 for my daily driver so I don't really need to depend on this thing for anything more than fun, which is what motoring should be about.

A3R0 > CAR_IS_MI 03/19/2014 at 18:59

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And your wallet empty. Lol

I've always loved 914's actually. It's a shame they aren't more reliable.

Singhjr96 > A3R0 03/19/2014 at 18:59

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I love the Z car in the coupe version but personally I don't like convertibles at all unless it's a super car. That's just me because where I live, we don't get enough sun.

CAR_IS_MI > A3R0 03/19/2014 at 19:01

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Ehh, Mostly everything I have owned has been called "un-reliable" which I have found to be an overstatement.

A3R0 > daryl bowden 03/19/2014 at 19:03

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Good thing you have that E550! Heads up, you won't be able to post to Oppositelock until you have authorship, just to your blog.

A3R0 > Singhjr96 03/19/2014 at 19:05

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I'm really not a convertible guy at all, but I feel like they would be fun on those nice summer days. I would take the coupe over the convertible 99 out of 100 times.

A3R0 > CAR_IS_MI 03/19/2014 at 19:06

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That quote should go down in history, Lol.

Singhjr96 > A3R0 03/19/2014 at 19:10

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Agreed. But hey, even if you don't have a convertible, that's what those big giant sun roofs are for.

Brian Silvestro > A3R0 03/19/2014 at 19:12

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3. ???

4. Profit!

A3R0 > Brian Silvestro 03/19/2014 at 19:16

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Exactly! How you go from a car for $500 to a car for $50,000 in 10 years. Never buy a new car is a big one. Disclaimer: I can't drive yet because of age, so I'm not a reliable source.

Brian Silvestro > A3R0 03/19/2014 at 19:17

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I second that, even though I've never bought a car.

A3R0 > Brian Silvestro 03/19/2014 at 19:19

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The best I've done was find a Saab for my dad. It's actually my avatar. It didn't take much convincing, but I still found it.:p

Brian Silvestro > A3R0 03/19/2014 at 19:24

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Well Saabs are pretty cool so I assume it's easy to convince someone to get a car like that.

A3R0 > Brian Silvestro 03/19/2014 at 19:39

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I more meant he had 4 9000 Aero's before this one, but still. Haha

Brian Silvestro > A3R0 03/19/2014 at 19:39

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Better someone then no one owns it

mjswee > A3R0 03/19/2014 at 19:42

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I picked up this 1962 Austin Healey Sprite in November for $2500. There is body filler and some rust, but the engine runs good and it drives great. Being a MKII, its a bit more unique than most Sprites on the road since it doesn't have windows or door handles and the 948cc engine. There are a multitude of 60s and 70s British roadsters that can be had under $10k: Sprite/Midget, MGB, Spitfire, TR6 (though going up in price it seems). If those are a bit too obvious, I've even seen some Sunbeams, TR4s, and Bugeye Sprites go under $10k too. For something a bit more modern, I'd consider a XK8 or if you're lucky and can find one under $10k, a XKR.

All that said, I'm trying to figure out where to find some extra money and storage space for this: http://cincinnati.craigslist.org/cto/4316929455…

A3R0 > Brian Silvestro 03/19/2014 at 19:52

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That Saab had 225 horsepower and 220 foot pounds of torque. In 1994. It also had Front Wheel Drive and a big turbo. It was said to be underrated and have around 270 for horsepower and torque. Because of the Front Wheel Drive, it was impossible to launch, but once you launched it it's very fast. In its day one of the main advertisements was that it did 50-75 faster than a Ferrari Testarossa, and a Porsche Carrera 4. My dad has had a number of cool cars over time ('79 Trans Am to E39 M5 to Maserati Coupe) and I can passenger seat butt dyno tell you it's very fast. There was this one time he went to merge onto a highway and forgot he was in 4th instead of 5th (so it was already on boost) and hit it; I thought we were taking off. It pulled sooo hard. It accelerated very fast, too.

A3R0 > mjswee 03/19/2014 at 19:55

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I love me some rat rod! I don't think you understand just how jealous I am of your Sprite, though. NP for sure, too.

Brian Silvestro > A3R0 03/19/2014 at 20:00

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Damn that sounds like such a great car. I need to own a Saab one day.

A3R0 > Brian Silvestro 03/19/2014 at 21:30

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I would highly recommend it.

Hopefully I'll get one as a first car soon!

Brian Silvestro > A3R0 03/19/2014 at 21:32

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LongbowMkII > The Dummy Gummy 03/23/2014 at 08:53

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Lay the top back so your hair can blow

LongbowMkII > A3R0 03/23/2014 at 09:07

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http://lexington.craigslist.org/cto/4385411736…

Because fuck you, thats why. No miatas, psh.

http://lexington.craigslist.org/ctd/4387172861…

it comes with a warranty.

http://lexington.craigslist.org/cto/4344051610…

im not even a jeep guy but I can see a few adventures in this.

JGrabowMSt > A3R0 03/24/2014 at 10:11

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1990's R129 SL500. Many can be found for under 10k. The 500 is cheaper and easier to maintain and run on a daily basis compared to the 600, and easier to find than the 320SL or 300SL of the same body style.

Many are only 1-2 owner cars, they look incredible, drop the top, and come with a hardtop for the lesser weathers. Full featured, electronic everything (may or may not be a positive), and are wonderful head-turners. eBay is your friend for these, but you'll want a benz mechanic to be a better friend once you buy.