Stan P.
Looking for a sport touring roadster for seasonal use. Have driven sporting vehicles most of my life and value good handling and reasonable performance. My current go car is an 05 Passat TDI which is the best overall vehicle I have ever owned. My warm weather car is an 03 Toyota MR2 Spyder which excells in fun but is short on touring
qualities. I bought it for the mid-ship engine placement and go cart handling but 50 miles is it's comfort limit. I was thinking Honda S2000 for a while but that's long on sport and short on touring comfort too. My current focus is on late model Mercedes SLK 350 and BMW Z4 retractable hard tops. Had a Z3 a while back and found it uncomfortable. Audi TT is too small and Porsche Boxter, too expensive. I would appreciate suggestions and comments about the SLK 350 and the Z4 or possible alternatives. Stan Payson
7/1/15- Have searched, thought and re-thought the above issue for months while awaiting good weather for road tests. After examining my total needs, I've added a 2nd car to the mix. My daily driver 05 Passat tdi has 125k on the clock and will be facing a new exhaust system, shocks replacement and tires in the forseeable future. Current worth is between 6-8 K, so $2000 spent updating will benefit longevity but do nothing for the value of a 10 yr. old vehicle with a limited future. Logic would make a fun daily driver a priority with the sporty cabreolet a lesser obsession except on a sunny day. Long distance travel will be accomplished in my wifes 2015 Accord. So the updated search is for 2 vehicles, a new or near new fun car daily use and a moderately new drop top warm weather vehicle both to be used for local and regional drives only. Am thinking a hatchback such as a GTI for the DD but also considering BMW 128i/135is coupe as possibilities. Am in more of a quandry about the convertable. Nothing has a greater "fun factor" than my 03, MR2 for except for the other mid engine powered Boxter and Ferraris. Unfortunately, the seats are killers. I enjoy small engines and great shifters and don't want/need big power. Options appear to be very limited. Maybe the new Miata or a Z4 roadsters or a late model BMW 328/335, Audi A5 or Infinity cabriolets. Am daunted by the questionable reliability reflected in the True Delta data on many of the options.
Thanks all for your thoughts and suggestions. I have broadened my search with a greater emphasis on creature comfort for touring and am rethinking soft top as well as retractible hard top converts and roadsters. Reviewing the True Delta reliability data was eye opening and removed Audi and Mercedes from my "possibles" list. Reasonably priced older 911's with moderate number of miles driven are fewer than "hens teeth" as well. My search keeps circling back to Nisson/Infinity offering a pair of contenders on both the reliability and performance fronts plus a decent price structure for preowned vehicles. What has been the experience with the late model G37 Infinity converts and the 370Z roadsters? These vehicles were designed for different drivers, with the G37 being a luxury 4 passenger retractible hard top and the 370 Z being a 2 seat roadster.
Preferred Bodystyle(s): Convertible
Car Needs: Fun toy / Long trips / Errands about town
Primary Driver(s): Senior driver
Need minimum of 2 seats
Will consider both new and used cars
Maximum mileage: 25000
Maximum age: 5 years
Maximum price: US $ 30000
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