Going to need a new convertible

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Author Message   Zak Posted on Monday, July 08, 2002 - 12:29 pm:    Like Eric, my wife and I are also expecting a child. She's not due until March, so i have a little time to decide, but we need to get a different convertible. We love them, we've had one for many years. Our current one is a 92 Miata, which is our commuter car. I'm not going to part with it, we'll jsut use it as our 3rd car/commuter. So, any ideas as to a 4 passanger convert.? I think we're going to go used, and try to stay under 15K. Preferable under 10K. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated. Thanks, Zak   94Rover Posted on Monday, July 08, 2002 - 03:42 pm:    SAAB! The best and only real full size four seater convertible... For real fun-Saab 9-3 Viggen Convertible- You should be able to find a nice 93-97,(a tad higer for the 98-99 9-3 conv's.) in your price range.... Like Land Rover, Saab is a vehicle that you must first drive to really appreaciate- and the creature comforts are amazing.....If you do decide, opt for the hard to find a very rare models like Green with Beige interior with a Green soft top, or Black with Beige interior with black soft top etc..... Saab was the only convertible with "before the times" options in the eighties- Car manufactures are just now installing some of the options that were standard in Saabs dating back to the early 80's- I could go on for days about SAAB, but thats for the Saab owner message board- http://www.saab.com http://www.autotrader.com 94Rover   Zak Posted on Monday, July 08, 2002 - 03:46 pm:    94, Thanks for the info, I've forgotten all about Saabs. That's one of hte few car brands I've never owned. And they are easy to find in a stick!!!   Eric N (Grnrvr) Posted on Monday, July 08, 2002 - 04:02 pm:    Congrats ZAK!!! If you want some thing small and can seat 4 you could also look at the VW cabrio. They are actually pretty roomy considering it's size. Not to pricey either.   Kyle Posted on Monday, July 08, 2002 - 04:38 pm:    Skip the Slaaab and get the Dub... Kyle   Zak Posted on Monday, July 08, 2002 - 05:58 pm:    Kyle, Just what exactly is a Dub??   Paul D. Morgan (V22guy) Posted on Monday, July 08, 2002 - 06:11 pm:      Robert Sublett (Rubisco98) Posted on Monday, July 08, 2002 - 06:38 pm:    Just from my friend's mother owning a Chrysler Sebring I would say avoid those at all costs. I'd go with the SAAB myself.. Later.. RS   94Rover Posted on Monday, July 08, 2002 - 07:32 pm:    "I'm a Saab Lover so please forgive my praises and opinions about Saabs if the sight of them are unappealing to any of you" The VDub Cabrio? "for the ladies", and single female college students(my opinion)-We all know that car is a scooter and was not designed to seat four/five comfortably- Try sitting in the back seat with another adult passanger for more than an hour in a Cabrio- it ain't going to be cozy- My opinion only, and I'll just ignore the virtual arguments- Now I'm not going to spend countless minutes praising the Saab 9-3 convertible but it's the only thing on the market currently(aside from the Bentley Azure)that I'm going to sit in the back seat with the top down on a short road trip not fighting to be a back seat passanger- It was designed to seat four or five passengers and that was the subject of Zaks concerns right? Like Land Rovers, the general public likes to spend time making silly comments about the make and quality of Saab vehicles, but more than half haven't taken the time to get inside and reach down to the gear box to turn the key and take one for a spin- And make sure you bring along three other adult passangers when testing the 9-3 with the top back- Or you can opt for the Volvo C-70, but again any back seat passangers aren't going to be too happy spending more than an hour in the back seat with the top down- and I doubt you'll find one currently on the market for under $15K.   Blue (Bluegill) Posted on Monday, July 08, 2002 - 07:44 pm:    oooh ooooh 9-3 Viggen....muy bien   Paul D. Morgan (V22guy) Posted on Monday, July 08, 2002 - 08:00 pm:    I Love the Saab's very much for their style and ergonomics. Hell, there is still a place in my heart for the older Peugot (sp) 505 turbos. Besides my Disco, I own a VW Golf. That car is incredibly dependable and a blast to drive. Paul   Kyle Posted on Monday, July 08, 2002 - 08:25 pm:    Hmm , the Saab is a flaming hunk of shit.... I have bad nightmares over the Slaab...... Granted , they may have inproved but we once had to buy a Slaab from am owner because the bastard just kept haunting us.... Not a single good Slaab trans case to be found on the planet that wasnt hosed.... Freaking turbo heat melting shit,,,on and on and on..... Kyle   Paul D. Morgan (V22guy) Posted on Monday, July 08, 2002 - 08:46 pm:    No, really Kyle, please don't hold back about how you feel. Paul   Kyle Posted on Monday, July 08, 2002 - 08:50 pm:    Paul , you dont understand , I had to yank the motor 15 times because it had to come out to get the trans out.. (This is a true story) once we finally found a good case for it and built it the god damn thing wouldnt start... I finally found a bad wire in the harness and one morning we took it for a ride... Oh the joy!!! That is until it stalled at a light as it just went green and we got nailed in the ass by someone looking at the light and not the little cripple slaab..... Nightmares I tell ya...... Kyle   Paul D. Morgan (V22guy) Posted on Monday, July 08, 2002 - 09:06 pm:    Yeah Man, Even though I am LOL, that must have really blown big time. My very dependable '97 VW Golf has 65k on the ODO and all I have done is routine maintenance. However, I am getting ready to buy a muffler due to corrosion issues. That's the bad part about living so close to the beach. Oh Yeah, I forgot to mention that I feel cheated. My VW is not really German. I found out 2 years after purchase the damn thing was built in Mexico. Go figure, a VW sweat shop! Paul   Kyle Posted on Monday, July 08, 2002 - 09:13 pm:    The little V Dubs are hard to beat...... Even if they are "Made in Mexico" (Calm down Jay, Mexico isnt an Island) Kyle   Robert Sublett (Rubisco98) Posted on Monday, July 08, 2002 - 10:23 pm:    It was just nice to see that Kyle admitted "got nailed in the ass " in one of his posts. Sorry Kyle, couldn't refuse. I'm sure you'd do the same for me if you could. Peace.. RS   kyle Posted on Monday, July 08, 2002 - 10:27 pm:    Yeah , kinda thought I was gonna hear it over that one . I was caught up in the moment ok ??? No , really , I was. Please dont cunfuse me with Rob.. Kyle   Rob Davison (Pokerob) Posted on Monday, July 08, 2002 - 11:22 pm:    shuddup   Ron Posted on Monday, July 08, 2002 - 11:35 pm:    Jag V12 Does it have four seats? I dunno. does it matter. nope, won't run anyway. Four seats? Convertible? D90 or series rover Ron   Glenn Guinto (Glenn) Posted on Monday, July 08, 2002 - 11:36 pm:    Vdubs are indeed fun little cars. I own a 1990 VW corrado, and owned a 97 Jetta before the Disco. Very good cars indeed. The corrado is bone stock with 90K miles and it still pins you down when you floor the "joy" pedal. The saabs are nice although I've never driven/own one for me too comment on it... But I think I'd go with the Cabrio for that price range or if you don't mind tinkering on it all the time, buy a BMW e30 convertible. Although if I have 10-15K to spend on a "toy" car, it'll either be an e30 M3, a circa 1980 Porsche (928S4, 911, or 944Turbo), a Datsun 240Z, an A2 VW Golf with a VR6 swap and some change for a series rover, or hell, just dump all that money into making the disco "more badder-er!" -glenn   94Rover Posted on Monday, July 08, 2002 - 11:58 pm:    Kyle what year was the Saab? Was it a model year 93-99 9-3 Convertible, full size that seats 4 adults? My neighbor talks excessively about the poor quality build of Land Rovers the same way you speak on older Saabs(if in fact an older Saab is the model year that gave you headaches). He had a 94 Land Rover Discovery, and sometimes when he comes over to chat on Saturdays, I have to really walk away from his constant dribble about how he can't believe my 94 Range Rover still runs- He too is crafty with a wrench, but he could no longer take the troubles that his 94Disco caused him(it was a piece of sh*t), and he spits on the thought of any Land Rover product being decent- Anyway, I often get the same comments(the ones you formed re: Saab) whenever folks come over and see the Audi 5000s in the garage. Especially about how awful the model was, and how they still think it will take off and run them over without anyone behind the wheel. Heck that Audi couldn't even fetch $3000 today, and it hasn't been driven since 1991- and it has the snow package options- anyway, I try not to form an overall opinion about anything that probably has improved over the years...Except for one vehicle that I owned... A 1987 VW Scirocco, purchased in 1989- It was TRUE CRAP! If you let me tell you about VW's then I have nothing good to say about the entire model lineup, based 100% on the troubles that car gave me- Are the VW's of today any better? Sure they are, ya right! But I own an Audi, go figure- I'm surprised nobody bashed me for calling the VW Cabrio, which was not designed for backseat riders, a "FEMALE SCOOTER MOBILE"   Warren Posted on Tuesday, July 09, 2002 - 01:58 am:    Just go all out and cut the top if your disco off. Thats a free convertible!   Zak Posted on Tuesday, July 09, 2002 - 07:33 am:    I'm not a big VW fan. Love the TDI's, bugs are ok, and I like the golfs. I just can't get over the teen age girl image of the cabrio's. Plus my wife really hates them. I keep telling her we can get a D90!! But I'll be hard pressed to find on for 15K. We'll most likely use the D1 for the general people moving, and keep the Miata as our run around car, errand, and my commuter, but we love to take Sunday night drives, and just love to drive, so we really want/need another larger car. We're just not the minivan and a taurus type. Thanks for all the info. Love the debates. I'd really like to get a 67 GTO convert. but that's not going to happen. I already have to many toys. See ya   gp (Garrett) Posted on Tuesday, July 09, 2002 - 09:03 am:    Buy now.....Saab later.   Sanderskog Posted on Wednesday, July 10, 2002 - 10:44 am:    Have you considered a BMW 3 series? You can get a 318 or a 325 in that price range. Like the Disco you need to stay on the maintenance but they are great cars. Todd   Zak Ruck (Zak) Posted on Wednesday, July 10, 2002 - 10:48 am:    Thought about the Bimmers. I had a 93 525i, loved it. My wife isn't crazy about the 3's. I like the old E30 line, late 80's converts. I'll have to try to find some. Thanks, Z   Jeff Posted on Wednesday, July 10, 2002 - 04:10 pm:    Well, we went out and bought my wife a 97 Cabrio about a 2 months ago. We drove it from Houston to Kansas City in one day. As we pulled into KC we both realized that at no time during the 16 hour drive did we feel cramped or underpowered. You will find 95-98 Cabrios for under $10K, we got a good deal on ours ($9K with about 49K miles). It gets about 350 miles to a tank, if i remember correct. They didn't make many automatics, auto was optional, plus the manual really helps add the extra kick a 4cyl needs. The 98s upper model had optional automatic top, but my wife never has a problem with putter the top up and down at stop lights. We have taken our friend out in it twice, and no its not a spacious back seat but its comfortable, I sat back there because I knew someone would ask some day. The truck space is awesome. Just two weekends ago I drove it from Topeka to KC, about an hour drive on the highway, with top down the whole way at 80-90mph (I was late to meet some people) and the thing just runs like a champ. If you have any more questions let me know, I spent about 2 months researching these things before we bought one.   Marc Gonzalez (Marc) Posted on Wednesday, July 10, 2002 - 06:01 pm:    I'm with Todd BMW 325i,late 94-on had the rollover pkg,v6,22mpg mix use,abs,etc.They are heavy cars and can take a hit. A gf had one. I got one of those 2am phone calls back in Dec.99 to came get her at an accident. I pulled up to see this Mitsubishi Mirage with its trans/engine drop on the ground,it hit so hard that it broke the mounts. It rear end the bmw at around 45-50 mph (based on the DWI report) and the gf walked away. The other driver in the mits was carted away. If she had not been in that car she would not walked away that night. The bmw took the hit well had towed that night,but then drove it to the body shop the next monday.You should be able to find one in the teens, just check the service records.   Sanderskog Posted on Thursday, July 11, 2002 - 02:24 pm:    If you opt to go with the BMW a good forum for quesitons is www.roadfly.com. They also have a good for sale section. Get the BMW. It's safer, more reliable, and has more style (IMO) than the Saab and the VW. Todd   Zak Ruck (Zak) Posted on Thursday, July 11, 2002 - 04:00 pm:    I know roadfly quite well. I actually sold my 525i on there. I'll see if i can find some nice E30's around me. I also had a 96 Sebring. I liked it. Needs more power, and different trans. American trans are so mushy. My wife loved it. We actually traded it for a 91 Jeep Grand Wagoneer. That thing was awsome. Terrible mileage. Around 9 city and 10 highway, and back to 9 at speed over 75. Thanks for all the input. If the VW's didn't have that image, I might be able to look at them better, but just can't get taht valleyh girl image out of my head. I'm leaning towards looking at a Saab, BMW, maybe another Sebring. Any other ideas?????   Sanderskog Posted on Thursday, July 11, 2002 - 05:21 pm:    Well, my boss is considering selling his '68 Camaro convertible. Triple black and fully restored. Not the best baby mobile but a hell of a lot more fun than a Sebring. Todd   Zak Ruck (Zak) Posted on Thursday, July 11, 2002 - 07:30 pm:    You just had to mention that. What does he have under the hood, 327, 350, 396, 454??? I'd love to get a nice 68 or 69 Z28 with the double pumping 302!!! I know i would have NO trouble getting one of those for the baby mover. My wife loves muscle cars, and the 67-69 camaro is her farovite., and one of mine as well. Now you ahve me looking at ebay's classic cars.   Brian Fransson (Brian) Posted on Friday, July 12, 2002 - 07:25 pm:    How about a Mercedes-Benz E320 Cabrio. The last year they made them was '95 or '96, not quite sure. It's one of the only true convertibles that can comfortably fit four adults that I can think of.   Al Oliveira (Offroaddisco) Posted on Friday, July 12, 2002 - 11:36 pm:    Zak, I traded in a M Roadster (snifle) when my second was born last December. If the market ever picks up I hope to get a M3 cabro to fill the empty void. I would go for the BMW E30 or E36 if I was looking for a ragtop in that price rage and seating. That is if a SIII couldn't cut it   94Rover Posted on Saturday, July 13, 2002 - 03:04 pm:    Brian, the E320 is a sweet cabrio, but I doubt very seriously that there is one available for under $15K...if you know of one please, please inform me---- To have one of those in green with a light green top...ah man!   Brian Fransson (Brian) Posted on Saturday, July 13, 2002 - 09:43 pm:    94Rover...That's the color to have. Haven't been following what they are going for these days, but today I saw one in the paper. A '95 with 73,000 miles for $35,995...ouch...sticker shock! Zak...an Audi would be another option.   Zak Ruck (Zak) Posted on Sunday, July 14, 2002 - 11:10 am:    haven't seen to many Audi drop tops. Did they make A4's in conv. a while back? Now i have my wife wanting a 68 camaro convert!!!!!   Brian Fransson (Brian) Posted on Sunday, July 14, 2002 - 03:14 pm:    The Audi Cabriolet's are around, here and there. They were made from '94 to '98. Audi didn't make A4 convertibles, at least not for our market.