The Best Roadsters Ever
Ranked #414 in Cars, #24,225 overall
I love the roadster as it's a great little car for anyone suffering from a mid-life crisis or whatever! Welcome to the Best Roadsters Ever. Vroom Vroom!
I've owned a couple of roadsters in my life. There was a red Mazda Miata ... then the yellow M-B SLK-230 ... and finally a blue Chrysler Crossfire. So, vroom vroom ... I am a roadster-authority! Most of the cars that I've owned in my adult life have been two-seater sports cars!
Do you know that I recently traded in my 1999 sunburst yellow Mercedes-Benz SLK-230 Kompressor roadster? Yep! I drove that beautiful car for just short of 10 years.
My ex-hubby was always BEGGING me and PLEADING with me to let him have MY roadster to drive. But, I resisted -- you see, I like to park my baby in the boonies and walk -- he likes to cram the car into the tiniest parking spaces and then look for DINGS. Well, we are now divorced, you know? Oh, and I have debated what that next car of mine might be. So, I've been looking around at the best roadsters ever for actually several years. I was trying to find my next dream car.
Drum roll ... In August 2011 I took the leap and traded in my SLK-230 on a 2006 Chrysler Crossfire -- convertible roadster. No, it is not yellow, but it is a pretty blue. I'm telling you that I suffered through a terrible case of separation anxiety in giving up my baby. I had pampered that SLK-230 and kept the mileage low at 58,600 miles. Now, I do seriously hope that somebody else is taking GOOD care of my former baby.
There seems to be a good variety of roadsters. Vroom vroom ... ladies and gentlemen ... start your engines ... the best roadsters ever!
===> I love the roadster as it's a great little car for anyone suffering from a mid-life crisis or whatever! Welcome to the Best Roadsters Ever. Vroom Vroom!
Do you know that I recently traded in my 1999 sunburst yellow Mercedes-Benz SLK-230 Kompressor roadster? Yep! I drove that beautiful car for just short of 10 years.
My ex-hubby was always BEGGING me and PLEADING with me to let him have MY roadster to drive. But, I resisted -- you see, I like to park my baby in the boonies and walk -- he likes to cram the car into the tiniest parking spaces and then look for DINGS. Well, we are now divorced, you know? Oh, and I have debated what that next car of mine might be. So, I've been looking around at the best roadsters ever for actually several years. I was trying to find my next dream car.
Drum roll ... In August 2011 I took the leap and traded in my SLK-230 on a 2006 Chrysler Crossfire -- convertible roadster. No, it is not yellow, but it is a pretty blue. I'm telling you that I suffered through a terrible case of separation anxiety in giving up my baby. I had pampered that SLK-230 and kept the mileage low at 58,600 miles. Now, I do seriously hope that somebody else is taking GOOD care of my former baby.
There seems to be a good variety of roadsters. Vroom vroom ... ladies and gentlemen ... start your engines ... the best roadsters ever!
===> I love the roadster as it's a great little car for anyone suffering from a mid-life crisis or whatever! Welcome to the Best Roadsters Ever. Vroom Vroom!
The Best Roadsters Ever was originally created on November 9, 2007.
Contents at a Glance
The Best Roadsters Ever Poll
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Ferrari Barchetta Roadster Giclee Print
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What technically is a roadster?
A roadster, also known as a spyder or spider, is a two-seat car, traditionally without either a roof, side or rear windows.
Most modern day two-seaters have windows and feature retractable roofs (and are thus convertibles). While retractable soft-tops are nevertheless marketed as roadsters/spyders, retractable hard-tops are commonly designated as coupe roadsters.
The Best Roadsters Ever -- Mercedes-Benz SLK-230 Kompressor Roadster
This is definitely the hottest little roadster -- the best of the best ever!
The Top Five Reasons the Mercedes-Benz SLK Kompressor is the Best Roadster ...
Edmunds -- Editors' Rating: 7.9; Consumer Rating: 8.5
- The Mercedes-Benz SLK-230 Kompressor roadster is very stylish for a car its size.
- Roadsters come in the coolest colors; particularly sunburst yellow, fire-engine red, or that bright orange!
- The hardtop convertible roadsters are my favorite.
- Performance-wise, a roadster packs a lot of punch.
- They've got great resale value!
Mercedes-Benz SLK-Class Buzz
- 2012 Mercedes-Benz SLK 55 AMG And SLK 250 Pricing Announced
- Mercedes-Benz has announced the arrival of the powerful SLK 55 AMG, as well as the new mid-spec SLK 250....
- The new Mercedes Benz SLK 55 AMG (2012)
- This is the most powerful Mercedes Benz SLK to date ? the new SLK 55 AMG is powered by a new naturally...
- Nissan's berko Juke-R a spectacular one-off
- Nissan said it would film the Juke-R taking on other street-legal supercars in the Dubai International...
- Mercedes-Benz Picks Up the iF Product Design Award 2012 for Four Models
- A top-class specialist jury has bestowed the award on the Mercedes-Benz M-Class, the SLK, the SLS AMG...
More about the Mercedes-Benz SLK-Class
My Mercedes-Benz SLK-230 Kompressor Roadster
I kept this baby garaged until I traded it in August 2011 for another "best" roadster -- Chrysler Crossfire Limited Convertible.
Get a cool SLK-230
Mercedes-Benz SLK Books
Best roadster contender: Audi TT
Edmunds -- Editors' Rating: 7.3; Consumer Rating: 9.5
More about the Audi TT
The Audi TT is a sports car produced by Audi since 1998 in Gyor, Hungary. Hey, it's "made in Hungary!"
The TT was first shown as a concept car at the 1995 Frankfurt Motor Show. The design is credited to J Mays and Freeman Thomas of Volkswagen's California design studio, with Martin Smith contributing to the award winning interior design. The TT name does not indicate "twin turbo" as is sometimes assumed. The car is named for the NSU TT, a small rear-engine model with a formidable racing pedigree that NSU produced in the 1960s and was based on the NSU Prinz, although the modern TT shares next to nothing with that model's design concepts.
The TT was first shown as a concept car at the 1995 Frankfurt Motor Show. The design is credited to J Mays and Freeman Thomas of Volkswagen's California design studio, with Martin Smith contributing to the award winning interior design. The TT name does not indicate "twin turbo" as is sometimes assumed. The car is named for the NSU TT, a small rear-engine model with a formidable racing pedigree that NSU produced in the 1960s and was based on the NSU Prinz, although the modern TT shares next to nothing with that model's design concepts.
Get a cool Audi TT
Audi TT Books
Best roadster contender: BMW Z4
Edmunds -- Editors' Rating: 7.9; Consumer Rating: 9.2
More about the BMW Z4
Get a cool BMW Z car
BMW Z4 Books
Best roadster contender: Cadillac XLR
Edmunds -- Editors' Rating: 7.8; Consumer Rating: 10.0
More about the Cadillac XLR
Get a cool Cadillac XLR
Cadillac Books
Best roadster contender: Chevrolet Corvette
Edmunds -- Editors' Rating: 7.8; Consumer Rating: 9.4
More about the Chevrolet Corvette
Get a cool Chevrolet Corvette
Chevrolet Corvette Books
Best roadster contender: Chrysler Crossfire
Edmunds -- Editors' Rating: 8.2; Consumer Rating: 9.3
More about the Chrysler Crossfire
Get a cool Chrysler Crossfire
Chrysler Crossfire Books
Best roadster contender: Dodge Viper
Edmunds -- Editors' Rating: 7.3; Consumer Rating: 9.3
More about the Dodge Viper
Get a cool Dodge Viper
Dodge Viper Books
Best roadster contender: Honda S2000
Edmunds -- Editors' Rating: 7.9; Consumer Rating: 9.4
More about the Honda S2000
Get a cool Honda S2000
Honda S2000 Books
Best roadster contender: Mazda Miata MX-5
Edmunds -- Editors' Rating: 8.0; Consumer Rating: 9.4
More about the Mazda MX-5
Get a cool Mazda Miata
Mazda Miata Books
Best roadster contender: Pontiac Solstice
Edmunds -- Editors' Rating: 6.9; Consumer Rating: 9.1
More about the Pontiac Solstice
Get a cool Pontiac Solstice
Pontiac Solstice Books
Best roadster contender: Porsche Limited Edition Boxster S
Edmunds -- Editors' Rating: 8.1; Consumer Rating: 9.0
More about the Porsche Boxster
Get a cool Porsche Boxster
Porsche Boxster Books
Best roadster contender: Saturn Sky
Edmunds -- Editors' Rating: 7.4; Consumer Rating: 9.1
More about the Saturn Sky
Get a cool Saturn Sky
Saturn Books
What would be your color pick?
For the sake of this poll, let's pretend that you have decided to buy one of the best roadsters. What would be your pick of colors?
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Editors' Most Wanted Vehicles for 2007: Edmunds
Roadster Convertible Under $60,000
Winner: 2007 Porsche Boxster. Now in its 10th year, the entry-level midengine Porsche still delights. With its 245-horsepower flat-6 engine, nearly perfect weight distribution and those legendary Porsche brakes, the Boxster carves up canyons like nothing else on the road. Fit and finish is typical Porsche solid, the power top goes up and down quickly and easily, and the usual leather seats and Bose stereo system make it feel great even when you're not running through the canyons. If that's not enough, the upmarket Boxster S offers a higher-output version of the same flat-6 with 295 hp and 251 pound-feet of torque. Add in the slick-shifting six-speed and there's not much more you could ask from a convertible.Honorable Mention: 2007 Mercedes-Benz SLK-Class. Mercedes' little boulevard cruiser doesn't get the respect it deserves. It may look like a Sunday cruiser, but start throwing it around some turns and it'll impress you with its performance. Go for the 3.5-liter V6 and you get more than just 268 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque, you get one of the best sounding six-cylinder on the market. If that's not enough, there's always the 355-hp AMG version. Regardless of which engine you choose, all SLKs have a retractable hardtop that turns the diminutive coupe into a full-blown convertible at the touch of a button. And of course, all models feature plenty of safety features and luxury appointments, including a nine-speaker CD stereo. While problematic sight lines keep it from the brass ring, the SLK-Class is still a great choice in the stylish two-seat roadster class. --Edmunds.com.
Consumers' Most Wanted Vehicles for 2007: Edmunds
Roadster Convertibles
Convertible Under $25,000: Saturn Sky. Saturn boldly dropped its top and went speeding off in a new direction this year with the launch of its first-ever convertible, the Sky. The people have spoken and they clearly think Saturn's turn was a wise one: The sleek-looking Saturn Sky soaked up the sunshine in the No. 1 spot, with 34 percent of the votes. A perennial favorite, the Mazda MX-5 Miata trailed in 2nd place with a 30 percent showing, while last year's surprise winner, the Pontiac Solstice, had to settle for 3rd place, with 19 percent of the votes. The Mini Cooper convertible was next with 13 percent, followed by the Volkswagen New Beetle (2 percent) and the Chrysler PT Cruiser (2 percent).Convertible Under $35,000: Honda S2000. A year ago the Honda S2000 lost by a bumper to the BMW Z4, after claiming the cup in this segment the previous two years. Honda's high-revving drop top got its groove back for 2007, scoring a win with a 30 percent showing. Lurking in the S2000's rearview mirror was a familiar name, the Ford Mustang, which rode the wave of the 500-hp Shelby GT500 version to get a respectable 27 percent of the love. Twenty-one percent of the voters picked the Pontiac G6 and its retractable hardtop, while another hardtop convertible, the Volkswagen Eos (12 percent), struggled to play catch-up, along with the Toyota Camry Solara (5 percent) and Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder (3 percent).
Convertible Under $45,000: BMW Z4. Behold the juggernaut that is the BMW Z4. Its hard-edged beauty and commanding performance made it a winner in the "Convertible Under $35,000" category last year. A slight price increase placed it in a loftier class of competitors on this go-round, but these new challengers were not mighty enough to topple this conquering Teuton, which claimed the top spot with a 20 percent showing. The solid credentials of the Saab 9-3 were enough to take the silver (19 percent), and the Swede was followed by the feisty Lotus Elise and elegant Audi A4 (both at 18 percent). The tail end of the caboose consisted of the Nissan 350Z roadster (15 percent) and the Volvo C70 four-place hardtop (9 percent).
Convertible Under $60,000: Chevrolet Corvette. Value may not be the first thing that springs to mind when you consider the 400-hp Chevrolet Corvette, but that's exactly what this classic roadster promises to bring to your garage. Chevy's singular drop top offers iconic good looks and world-class performance, all for a surprisingly affordable price. It's little wonder, then, that the Corvette was miles ahead of the competition in this race, with a staggering 50 percent of the vote. Porsche's graceful Boxster was a mere silhouette on the horizon with a distant 2nd-place finish with 20 percent, and it was followed closely by the redesigned BMW 3 Series, now a hardtop convertible at 17 percent. The Mercedes-Benz SLK-Class (9 percent) and Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class (5 percent) brought up the rear.
Convertible Over $60,000: Cadillac XLR. In an upset of World Series' proportions, Cadillac's XLR, with its chiseled styling and retractable hardtop, took the win in the top-end convertible category. With 29 percent of the votes, the Caddy clipped the Porsche 911 (25 percent) and soundly trounced another pair of highly qualified drop tops, the athletic BMW 6 Series four-seater (including the M6) and the always elegant Mercedes-Benz SL-Class, which earned 14 percent each. The Jaguar XK (11 percent) and Lexus SC 430 (6 percent) weren't even in the XLR's rearview mirror. --Edmunds.com.
Your turn: Am I right? What's the best roadsters ever?
Are you into roadsters? Got a favorite???
Do you love roadsters? Did I include your pick? Have you owned one or plan to buy? I'd love to hear from you.
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arnold most
Jan 3, 2012 @ 2:47 pm | delete
- I own a 2004 350z roadster. Thousands less than the BMW or Porsche in 2004.
Lots of fun, flawless, always attracTs attention.
I also own a 79 fiat spyder. Beautiful Italian styling
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hibbity
Nov 16, 2011 @ 10:06 am | delete
- Miata FTW!
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Hey Monkeybrain ... get in on the debate!
About the Author of the Best Roadsters Ever! Jaguar Julie
Yes, Jaguar Julie knows a LOT about the best roadsters ever!!
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The Best Roadsters Ever was originally created on November 9, 2007.
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