Another what car thread....

This is probably the 16th what car thread I've made on this site, and I've never actually bought any of the cars discussed, but it's fun anyway right?

The wife is on board with getting rid of my GTI (I got a new daily, and it really doesn't make sense as a "toy" car), but she has some fairly awesome requirements.

First, no roof. Targas and sunroofs need not apply, we're talking real convertibles here.

Second, four seats. We have a kid that's going to be in a car seat for a while and if I get a new toy it has to work for the whole family.

Third, manual transmission. Special exceptions will be made for automated manuals (think BMW SMG)

Fourth, it needs to be fun. Sebrings and G6s need not apply. Realistically, anything FWD is out as a toy.

I've narrowed the list down to 911, Mustang, Camaro, Firebird, and M3. Lets put the arbitrary price cap at $20k. What did I miss?

For newer models:

BMW 3 series non-M cars. Note that 3 series back seats are pretty cramped. You can get a kid in a car seat in there, but there are easier cars to wrangle it into. A 6 series 'vert probably isn't in your price range.

Audi A4 Cabrio.

Jeep Wrangler could be great if your definition of fun extends to the unpaved.

Jaguar XK convertibles appear to have something resembling a back seat.

If you're willing to go back further into the past, there's a lot of them:

• Chevy Corvair or Nova
• Dodge Dart
• Fiat Spyder (yes, it's got a back seat)
• Ford Falcon
• Mercury Comet
• Plymouth Barracuda
• Toyota Celica, although good luck finding one
• VW Beetle / Thing

And quite a few others.

Porsche 968 'Vert, Porsche 944 (S, S2, Turbo) 'Vert, Mustang Cobra 'Vert (probably my favorite choice here, think 94-95 5.0 or even better the 03-04 Supercharged SVT if you can swing it, mmmmm IRS ), and the aforementioned F-Bodies (though they are really floppy in convertible form, not that the fox isn't).

My ideal solution would be a GTO and a sawzall though.

Oh, and FC RX-7 2+2 'Vert.

MadScientistMatt wrote: For newer models: BMW 3 series non-M cars. Note that 3 series back seats are pretty cramped. You can get a kid in a car seat in there, but there are easier cars to wrangle it into. A 6 series 'vert probably isn't in your price range. Audi A4 Cabrio. Jeep Wrangler could be great if your definition of fun extends to the unpaved. Jaguar XK convertibles appear to have something resembling a back seat. If you're willing to go back further into the past, there's a lot of them: - Chevy Corvair or Nova - Dodge Dart - Fiat Spyder (yes, it's got a back seat) - Ford Falcon - Mercury Comet - Plymouth Barracuda - Toyota Celica, although good luck finding one - VW Beetle / Thing And quite a few others.

Vert celica:

http://indianapolis.craigslist.org/cto/2392923261.html

Celica Sunchaser:

http://indianapolis.craigslist.org/cto/2323879241.html

Other than how much worse all these cars are as convertibles? Lol. Lebaron? Cavalier/Sunfire/Sunbird? Shadow? Capri? All kidding aside, the 911 is the only one I like that you listed.

VW Cabrio

How is the safety for the little guy back there in the cars you listed? Some of them may not have room for it to properly fit if you're comfortable in the front.

Some of the Mustang variants are not bad. I got to drive a Saleen Mustang convertible from the late '90's some years ago and it was a blast. They'd probably be in your price range by now. They did make E36 M3 versions as well. I saw one recently for $7,500 in pretty good shape, at least it look great from the outside.