4 seat, RWD, MT, ~300hp, <$25k, convertibles

What would you choose for a daily driven, >10k mile per year, sporty, family, convertible, meeting the title specifications, and why? Feel free to include any not listed.

.

2011-2014 Mustang V6-

Pro: Fuel economy, mileage at the price point, maintenance requirements/costs.

Con: Mods required to get desired look/sound/dynamics, common, depreciation curve.

.

E46 M3-

Pro: See Mustang con.

Con: See Mustang pro.

.

996 Porsche-

Pro: See M3, but not on common chassis.

Con: See M3, but better fuel economy.

.

E90 335?

Oddly enough, the V6 Mustang convertible with manual trans actually seems to be the unicorn of the bunch...LOL.

Why not an earlier Mustang (05-10) with the 4.6 v8? Same pros more torque and fewer gearbox issues.

E46 M3. $15-19k and then sock the rest away for maintenance.

Please, someone has to buy up all the friggin' convertibles clogging the market.

In reply to sanman:

Sure torque, but also all the cons of an 11-14 V6, while moving fuel economy from a pro to a con without a significant performance gain in exchange. Are serious 'gearbox issues' really as bad and prevelant as the internet would have us believe? I know there are also upgrades that can address some of the more common MT82 shifting complaints. Although from what I've heard, the old 5 speeds weren't exactly great shifting cars either.

AMG CLK

I know you said RWD but have you considered AWD? The S4 is a kinda nice place to sit with the top down and have room for kids in the back seat.

Not trying to ignore your requirements, just wondering if you had thought of that one.

In reply to Driven5:

Not sure if the issues are overblown or not, but I know the 4.6 and stick is a proven reliable combo. I generally prefer to lean in that direction, but I may just be turning into a luddite.

Mustang

Camaro convertoble

My current lust is third gen.

S4: Interesting addition. Less fuel economy and less panache than the M3, and a VAG...But still a solid entry.

Camaro: Maybe in a few years when the upcoming smaller/lighter ATS based chassis hits the used market...Hopefully with a little less Hot-Wheels inspired proportions too.

135i technically would work, but not many of these have USEable backseats...

Something like this? ($18k with 50k miles)

G37 Convert

Pros/cons of 135 or G37 vs above?

Interesting, and good timinig for me. I'm looking at the exact same market. My top contenders have been newer V6 Mustang and 330cic. I've considered Cooper S (though I've already had one), 135i, G37. For me, reliability and fuel mileage are king.

Same answer as the last thread. I voted with my wallet:

$17k w/45k miles, manual, installed a Clarion double DIN BT stereo, the wheels and tires, axleback Pypes exhaust, scoop, mirror caps, etc. Great DD. I'd have another one if I weren't looking at the Jag XKR convert as the next version (I don't care about rowing my own gears as a DD requirement)

You say 300hp but then list the Coyote Mustangs. The original 05+ S197 V8's all started at least 300hp. The 2011 Coyote engines have 415hp. The V6's from 11 up have 305hp. As for torque, the 305hp V6 isn't a V8, but it has more torque than similar power engines from BMW and Porsche. The only issue with the V6 is that it's not a V8. Also the transmission issues of the Coyote cars are blown way way way out of proportion on the internet compared to reality. Working at Ford (Not in Transmission) I know dozens and dozens of people with V8 MTX Mustangs and combined they've had exactly zero issues between them, I've never met a person who's had an issue.

As for the V6, we've had 2 convertibles, as I've said on here many times the only reason we don't have a Mustang now as a DD is that I'm 6', my midget wife is only 5'8" and my daughter is 5'9", we just no longer fit for long trips in real comfort.

Just to whore out my own pics again, here is some 4 seat inspiration.

Practical pick up truck for picking up Mulch at Home Depot.

Mustang in the spring

Silver one on early spring day

You said family. Unless your kids lack legs, none of these really provide 4 passenger comfort.

P.S. gas mileage with the V6

Yup, that's right 29.9mpg, do the math on the journey, the average speed for the whole trip was 77.5mph over that 138 miles. Not bad at all I don't think.

Driven5 wrote: Pros/cons of 135 or G37 vs above?

Both are more luxury oreinted than performance oreinted (in my mind) but i have to say; the 135i has one of the best steering feels of any car (once you replace the runflats). BUT, it's got a short wheelbase, and strong torque when boost hits, so if you're planning on driving in anger it's more of a handful than say, a longer wheelbase car.

Also; the 135i/335i are just $1k in tune and parts away from more like 350hp/350lb-ft

maj75 wrote: You said family. Unless your kids lack legs, none of these really provide 4 passenger comfort.

We were using the Mustang to car pool to and from school. My wife was driving three teenage girls 20+ mins each way. Our family of the three of us and the dog took it up North camping on weekends. If you subscribe to the American ethos that you need a Suburban or Expedition as soon as you have two kids to haul you and your stuff then yes it's too small. But for average sized people a Mustang is fine. I'm 6' and the wrong side of 230lb's and I've sat in the back seat for over 2 hours at a stretch. As I said above, now my youngest os 5'9" it is a bit too impractical as the main family car, but as a second car I see it as perfect. I'm sure we'll be back in another Mustang convertible in the next 12-24 months.

Can't argue with you as to the mustang. But I know when I have the front seat adjusted all the way back for me, only a legless dwarf could sit behind me in the BMW or Porsche. I'm willing to bet a leg that you couldn't sit behind me in the Mustang either

Unless your sitting side saddle and that doesn't count. And you can't sit on the trunk either.

Besides you said that you don't use it because it doesn't have enough room for three of you to travel in comfort. My point exactly.

I drive a 330ci vert as a dd. Other than not having 300hp, it meets all the requirements. On my commute, I don't use a fraction of the power it has, so it wouldn't matter if it had more.
I also own an '01 Mustang Bullitt. Fun car, but I vastly prefer the 330 for dd duties.

maj75 wrote: Can't argue with you as to the mustang. But I know when I have the front seat adjusted all the way back for me, only a legless dwarf could sit behind me in the BMW or Porsche. I'm willing to bet a leg that you couldn't sit behind me in the Mustang either Unless your sitting side saddle and that doesn't count. And you can't sit on the trunk either. Besides you said that you don't use it because it doesn't have enough room for three of you to travel in comfort. My point exactly.

If I set up the drivers seat for me, I can't sit in the back either. But with either my wife or daughter in the front I can and did sit in the back. Please note our heights. Is this the main family hauler? it was for us, we put over 30K miles on each of ours in one year each.

Adrian_Thompson wrote: You say 300hp but then list the Coyote Mustangs...The only issue with the V6 is that it's not a V8.

Sorry, I meant to specify "V6" in my original post and have now updated it. The Cyclone is the one that most closely matches the HP and price range, while also having fuel economy as a pro compared to the other cars being considered. Personally, I have absolutely no issues with a V6 not being a V8 either. I love the sound that sixes can make, the power is there on the new ones, and for >10k miles per year I have no qualms trading a bit of torque for noticeably better fuel economy. Now if it was more like a diesel where the extra torque also translated into further improved fuel economy, then it would be a no-brainer.

Regarding the 'family' aspect and rear seat space, as long as 2 adults and a small child count as a family, that should cover things into the foreseeable future.

I'm a BMW fanboi, so I've got to vote for a BMW convertible. They truly are a 4 seat car. Your budget would find you a SUPER nice one, with still a lot of money left over. I found a few in a 30 second search on e46fanatics.com.

Black over cinnamon - 62k - $19k
Grey over cinnamon - 88k - $14k