WWYR: Fast European Droptops Edition

"sm70- why not Duesenberg?" (sm70-whynotduesenberg)
06/10/2016 at 11:30 • Filed to: None

If you want to look sophisticated, go fast, feel the wind in your hair, and go broke on repair bills, it’s hard to beat a used European convertible. All three of these beautiful vehicles are cars that Tavarish would no doubt recommend. First up, we have the oldest, a BMW Z3M. As cool as the coupe is, I prefer the proportions of the roadster. The 240hp straight six and fix speed manual meant that this was one Z3 that drove as fast and as well as it looked.

This example is finished in Oxford Green with a black quilted leather interior with green stitching. Quite the combination. But if it’s style you’re after, this next car is hard to beat. Finished in Copper Black with an Ivory leather interior, this 2006 Jaguar XKR convertible features a supercharged 4.2 V8 pumping out 390 horses. Sometimes it will even start! As modern convertibles go, few are as sophisticated and classy as either generation of XK. This one also had a friend!

Yes, that’s an all-wheel drive F-Type.

Perhaps you want something newer, though. Something more powerful, more showy, and possibly even more expensive to keep running. Well want no more, because this Storm Red 2009 Mercedes-Benz SL63 AMG has answered your prayers. If the looks of the car somehow don’t turn heads, the sound from the 518 horsepower naturally aspirated 6.2 V8 will do the job. So we come to the question: If you could have one of these three hairdryers, which would it be? And no cheating, I know some of you love to hate on convertibles, but we’ll have none of this “BMW/Jaguar but only if it was the coupe version” nonsense.

DISCUSSION (19)

FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com > sm70- why not Duesenberg?
06/10/2016 at 11:39

Were these all in the same lot on the same day?

Stapleface > sm70- why not Duesenberg?
06/10/2016 at 11:49

I'll take the Jaaaaag. It'll be a hell of a ride to the mechanics shop at least.

Galileo Humpkins (aka MC Clap Yo Handz) > sm70- why not Duesenberg?
06/10/2016 at 11:49

Of these 3 I’d have to say the AMG. The Z3 never appealed to me much. My uncle has a 2007 XKR convertible, it’s nice but has not aged well aesthetically. The AMG has the looks and the power to please me - as long as it’s not red.

If I can’t change the color, I’ll go for the XKR.

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > sm70- why not Duesenberg?
06/10/2016 at 11:50

It depends on how you define fast, but the Mercedes SLK250 convertible I had as a rental was pretty quick. I just enjoyed that the paddle shifters didn’t make me hate the transmission and the hard top was quick to go up/down. Having that with a super loud exhaust and a manual could actually be quite fun.

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com
06/10/2016 at 11:59

They were all in the same parking lot at the same time. If you look in the photo from the rear of the SL you can see the Z3 sticking out.

Ash78, voting early and often > sm70- why not Duesenberg?
06/10/2016 at 12:01

I'm actually more impressed by the trees. I've been to Nebraska :D I'll take the Merc. Both the Bimmer and Jaaaag have been ruined by stereotypes for me (ie, they too closely resemble their common base models)

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > Ash78, voting early and often
06/10/2016 at 12:04

What about the trees?

Galileo Humpkins (aka MC Clap Yo Handz) > Galileo Humpkins (aka MC Clap Yo Handz)
06/10/2016 at 12:05

Whoops, meant 2006 XKR.

misfitmascots > sm70- why not Duesenberg?
06/10/2016 at 12:07

SL63, V8 and an actual hard top even though it’s a convertible.

Ash78, voting early and often > sm70- why not Duesenberg?
06/10/2016 at 12:09

Their mere existence, followed by their apparent age :D

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > Ash78, voting early and often
06/10/2016 at 12:15

What part of Nebraska did you visit? This is the view up and down my street.

Kinja'd!!!

Berang > sm70- why not Duesenberg?
06/10/2016 at 12:16

XKR. Even though I’ve made fun of its bloopy soft-serve late 90's derived styling, it’s still the better looking and cooler of all three pictured here.

Ash78, voting early and often > sm70- why not Duesenberg?
06/10/2016 at 12:22

Nice! I was in the Lincoln suburbs, my folks were looking at some new construction and it was pretty desolate (partly due to the fact that developers tend to clearcut everything and buy their land from ex-farmers). We didn't move...Funny thing is a couple years later, they ended up in Kansas, which was 10x worse (as far as forestation). We learned all about the settlers going crazy from the nonstop wind because they had cut all the trees down :D

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > Ash78, voting early and often
06/10/2016 at 12:25

Yeah, the newer the development the less you will see of the big old trees. Our neighborhood is over 60 years old, so plenty of trees.

And yeah, the problem you mentioned is why stretches of interstate running through particularly flat, desolate stretches of land (such as western Nebraska) often have trees planted alongside them. It’s to reduce wind.

Tatanko > sm70- why not Duesenberg?
06/10/2016 at 12:33

Tough choice, as I do like all 3 cars for different reasons. I’d probably have to say the Z3M, because I’ve had a crush on those since I was about 12 years old (they were still in showrooms then).

CaptDale - is secretly British > sm70- why not Duesenberg?
06/10/2016 at 13:26

Out of those 3 I would chose the Mercedes, but properly sinister

Kinja'd!!!

RT > sm70- why not Duesenberg?
06/11/2016 at 07:48

The Z3 doesn’t suit me, and the SL is the best car here but it isn’t one I’d choose.

The Jag just feels right.

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > Ash78, voting early and often
06/11/2016 at 18:44

http://oppositelock.kinja.com/guess-the-car-…

Turns out that car actually belongs to one of my dad’s friends.

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > Wrong Wheel Drive (41%)
06/11/2016 at 18:45

http://oppositelock.kinja.com/guess-the-car-…

Can confirm exhaust is super loud.