Learn Me: "Convertible" SUV's

I was thinking the other day that something like this would be a fun summer buggy (I live near the beach), especially since I'm having trouble finding a car that I really want. 4wd, manual trans would be desirable. Here's the SUV's I can think of, let me know if you have any suggestions about any of them!

Suzuki Vitara

Suzuki Sidekick/Geo Tracker

Suzuki Samurai

Isuzu Amigo (kinda partial to these, my uncle had one when I was a kid and I thought it was the cat's pajamas)

1st gen Kia Sportage (don't these have a good Mazda motor?)

1st gen Rav4 (not a real 4wd, so it's down on the list--plus I never see them)

Any that I'm missing? Anybody have history with any of them? Thanks in advance for indulging my automotive ADD!

Uh... Jeep?

Pretty sure there was a Dakota vert at some point. Early 4runners as well.

The old Bronco and Suburban were pop-tops as well. You could get convertible tops for them.

foxtrapper wrote: The old Bronco and Suburban were pop-tops as well. You could get convertible tops for them.

I think you mean Bronco and Blazer. I don't recall seeing a Suburban in that config.

International Scout.

Samurai if you can find one. I've had three and wish I could have a 4th!

Jeeps are so common in my area... Unless it's a CJ or an MB Willys, no thanks.

If I had the $$$ I'd have a CJ-6 or 8.

A little bigger but early K5 Blazers/Jimmys were full removable hardtop up until '75 (the "newer" ones were rear section removable only).

RossD wrote:

Please remove as their is no "Puke" emoticon on this website for me to post. Don't put up a Juke for the same reason.

More rare than a Blazer:

did someone say soft top dakota? this, lowered, with a built 360 would be a good time

I guess I totally forgot Jeeps...oops! I'm not a huge fan of them, I guess I prefer/was thinking of the obscure stuff. Everyone and their mom has a Jeep around here.

And that Murano Cross Cabriolet rivals the Pontiac Aztek for ugliest vehicle ever!

NGTD wrote:

foxtrapper wrote: The old Bronco and Suburban were pop-tops as well. You could get convertible tops for them.

I think you mean Bronco and Blazer. I don't recall seeing a Suburban in that config.

Ug, you're right. Blazer not Suburban.

Wasn't there a 4Runner body style that could open the top?

sethmeister4 wrote: I guess I totally forgot Jeeps...oops! I'm not a huge fan of them, I guess I prefer/was thinking of the obscure stuff.

Isuzu Amigo seems the answer then.

szeis4cookie wrote: Wasn't there a 4Runner body style that could open the top?

Yep.

I love those 4Runners...hard to find in 1 piece around here. One of my favorites though!

if you can find one (for a decent price)

Land Rover Defender (or the earlier 1 through 3 series Land rovers)

The first gen Ford Broncos are cool. Small body, big motor. Late 60s to 77. The removable hardtop rigs like the 4Runner, 78-95 Bronco etc are a hassle to pull the top on. I took a Sawzall to my 84 4Runner and had a soft top made. That was awesome until rust killed it.

It was a two piece to for the open air feeling. Simple ribs so I could throw a motorcycle in the back.

There is the Land Rover Freelander SE3, but from what I gather, they puke cylinder linings. LR never came up with a fix, and sold the tooling to another manufacturer who is making replacement blocks with the same flaw, but without LR's quality control.

It's a shame, because I really want one.

Another might be Daihatsu Rocky.

I vote for one of the Zukis. The X90 is like an evolved Samurai, so I'd add it to the list.

They buy in for the Scouts and Commandos is far less that an early Bronco or Blazer.

My vote would be a VW Thing with beach tires...

H1?

PS122 wrote:

szeis4cookie wrote: Wasn't there a 4Runner body style that could open the top?

Yep.

It always seemed to me that the rear wheel wells of early 4Runners didn't rust out nearly as fast as the pickups did.