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 -- SEE!!! 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!
Photo Credit: That's a picture of my new, "old" Chrysler Crossfire convertible roadster. vroom vroom!
The Best Roadsters Ever Poll
Have I got your engines started??? Which would be your pick for best roadster?
- Audi TT
- BMW Z4
- Cadillac XLR
- Chevrolet Corvette
- Chrysler Crossfire
- Dodge Viper
- Honda S2000
- Mazda Miata
- Mercedes-Benz SLK
- Pontiac Solstice
- Porsche Boxster
- Saturn Sky
The Best Roadsters Ever
Mercedes-Benz SLK-230 Kompressor Roadster
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!
What would be your Color Pick for a Roadster?
Can you pick just one?
- Black Onyx
- Bluestone
- Chili Pepper Red
- Forest Green
- Midnight Blue
- Pearl White
- Silver Pearl
- Sunburst Yellow
- Tangerine Orange
- Techno Gray
Best Roadsters Ever Contenders:
- Audi TT Edmunds -- Editors' Rating: 7.3; Consumer Rating: 9.5
- BMW Z4 Edmunds -- Editors' Rating: 7.9; Consumer Rating: 9.2
- Cadillac XLR Edmunds -- Editors' Rating: 7.8; Consumer Rating: 10.0
- Chevrolet Corvette Edmunds -- Editors' Rating: 7.8; Consumer Rating: 9.4
Best Roadster Contender: Chrysler Crossfire
Edmunds -- Editors' Rating: 8.2; Consumer Rating: 9.3
See that “best roadster ever” of mine? Look below! Ah, there it is. I traded in my 1999 bright yellow Mercedes-Benz SLK-230 Roadster [that I had just short of ten years]. I traded it for a 2006 Chrysler Crossfire Roadster! I love love love the Crossfire! Mine has the upgraded duotone leather interior. It’s so sporty. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve gotten compliments on this roadster convertible. In fact, the owner of a local paint dealer told me that he wants that car when I get ready to sell it! And, another guy that I met recently told me that the Crossfires are in hot demand! Yeah.
By the way … you should see that Crossfire zoom over the bridges with it air flap up!
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| The Best Roadster is a 2006 Blue Chrysler Crossfire : Mine! |
- Dodge Viper Edmunds -- Editors' Rating: 7.3; Consumer Rating: 9.3
- Honda S2000 Edmunds -- Editors' Rating: 7.9; Consumer Rating: 9.4
- Mazda Miata MX-5 Edmunds -- Editors' Rating: 8.0; Consumer Rating: 9.4
- Pontiac Solstice Edmunds -- Editors' Rating: 6.9; Consumer Rating: 9.1
- Porsche Limited Edition Boxster S Edmunds -- Editors' Rating: 8.1; Consumer Rating: 9.0
- Saturn Sky Edmunds -- Editors' Rating: 7.4; Consumer Rating: 9.1
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.
Roadsters: Fifty Years of Top-Down Speed
Quick, tight, and heaven on curves, the roadster provides a driving experience unlike any other. Car buffs will simply devour this tantalizing and unique history of top-down two-seaters, featuring a garage-full of nimble sports cars; automobiles born to go flat-out fast at Le Mans; and seemingly sedate sedans that secretly possess the souls of race cars.
More than 100 photos show off these beautiful classics, capturing the physical sensations of being in an open car, on the open road. British beauties, including the MG, Triumph, and the eternally glamorous Morgan. The sleek Alfa Romeos and Bugattis have the smooth, swift Continental style; these were built for speed, not comfort. Meanwhile, in the U.S., the luxurious Auburn and Duesenberg were the cars of the stars. Porsches, the MG-TC, Jaguar XKE, Ferrari: every car will make you hunger to get behind the wheel.
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.
History: The Best Roadsters Ever was originally created on Squidoo by JaguarJulie on November 9, 2007. Highest lensrank ever achieved: #2,129 overall. Lens #149 in the quest for Giant Squid 200 Club.
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