Learn me two-seat, RWD convertibles!

In the next year or so, I would like to buy a convertible as a fun daily driver slash weekend car. Only three stipulations- RWD, two seats, and not domestic.

I'm looking at around 10k or less for budget, not scared to wrench on weird stuff, and I can fabricate parts.

Soooo, what's out there?

Any and all recommendations are welcome!

Hmmm. I can't imagine what the consensus will be around here

If you're looking for an answer, this is the place to ask. Just don't know what the answer will be.

I wish I had an answer for you, but I'm really drawing a blank.

There's happens to be a car that's name works out as an acronym for it always being the answer. Can't think of the name though.

Hmmm, what to get, what to get....

I'm stumped.

Anyone else got an Answer for him?

Gosh, you guys have a short memory...

Miata Is Always The Answer.

Hello?

NA, NB, NC. The answer is out there for those who seek the truth of such things.

Lol at the responses...

Since you seem to be relatively new here, we call the Miata "the answer" to literally every question. And it is the exact answer to this question.

Other options are MR2 Spyder, Boxster, Z3/Z4, S2000, 350/370Z...

But really, in your budget you can draw that down to the Miata very quickly. A case can be made for the MR2, but you want the Miata.

Maybe we could do it like Jeopardy, The Answer should be in the form of a question...

EDIT- Aww man, I was hoping we could keep this going for a while longer.

For instance: "What is the name of the best selling sports car.....in the world?"

What, no old Fiat or Alfa love? Triumphs? Sprites?

LOL, I knew Miata was gonna be high on the list, but I like unusual stuff. Does that help out more?

Recon1342 wrote: What, no old Fiat or Alfa love? Triumphs? Sprites? LOL, I knew Miata was gonna be high on the list, but I like unusual stuff. Does that help out more?

Hmmmm. A pink miata perhaps?

What are your goals? What does it need to be good at? Canyon twisties? Autocross, weekend cruises, fighting zombies?

How about a Porsche 944S2 or 968 Cabrio? I think there were some aftermarket 924 conversions as well for a true oddball.

A 2nd-gen RX-7 vert?

The thing about the Fiat/Alfa/LBC (Sprite, Spitfire, MGB, etc.) is that the Miata took many of the good things from those (except styling perhaps, but that's a personal thing) and made them better with more reliability.

The fact that you can practically make the Miata whatever you want is a bonus, so if you don't like the stock Meotter, change it to be closer to what you want. The biggest limitations are simply the interior room for some.

Recon1342 wrote: I knew Miata was gonna be high on the list, but I like unusual stuff. Does that help out more?

Try looking at Fiat or Alfa. Also maybe Triumph or Sprite.

Sorry I can't be of much help, as I've owned 2 Miatae and none of the others on your list.

When I was a pre-license teen my dad had a TR-6...My memories of that are the lovely noises its I6 made, the attention it got, his ability to expertly coast it into the nearest parking lot half the times it died on us, and me pushing it the other half.

If you like the wrenching/fab part, maybe a Locost?

What about an MGB? $10k would buy a nice one. They're simple, parts are cheap and plentiful. They're fun. They need more love and upkeep than a modern Japanese car, but I'd argue they have much more character than a Miata.

Or a Fiat 124 Spyder. Again $10k would buy a nice one. Probably a better car a lot of ways than the MGB. But not quite as classic looking (unless you remove the bumpers)

Want unusual? Fiat X-19. Parts will not be so easy to come by. But women who wear orange will :)

Ive owned multiple miatas and a mg midget and a few different corvettes.

For a dd/weekend car, id go c5 all day every day. No contest on comfort, mpg, etc.

Second runner up would be a miata in nb or nc flavor.

Was not impressed by the old alfas ive driven.

Mg midget was just too small. Mgb may be a better choice after some modernizing.

Or, say screw it, and get a 60s caddy drop top on bags with efi.

Mercedes SL of some flavor?

You didn't mention how much actual ability you wanted your fun car to have but you can find them for pretty cheap for what they are.

Not domestic. Geez c5 under 10k isn't hard when they're an auto convertible.

But you can get a nice boxster or xk8. Have you thought about a MIATA?

Recon1342 wrote: What, no old Fiat or Alfa love? Triumphs? Sprites? LOL, I knew Miata was gonna be high on the list, but I like unusual stuff. Does that help out more?

If you are willing to live with Vintage personalities, the 10k puts you near the top of the MGB food chain. Probably the most well supported classic you can find. Biggest virtue is that is is dead simple to work on and the crappy spares that are abundantly available are cheap to purchase.

I happen to love the body style of the MGB. Prefer the looks of the GT to the convertible though.

Need for speed?...Engine swaps are well documented in three main categories 215 Rover V8, 302 Ford or GM 3.4 V6.

You could do the MG Midget for even less money and maybe more adventure.

The MG mother-ship is parked here:http://www.mgexp.com/phorum/list.php?1

If you are hardcore, go with a Locost build or purchase. Keith will hook you up with the book on that subject matter.

Unusual??

How 'bout a VW Karmen Ghia?

Compared to a Miata, it's half the car at 3X the price, but it's unusual.

Still some nice FC verts out there.

No, the answer is two miatas. But, also,

Early 2000ish z3, C5, MR2. Maybe 350z if you can live with the weight penalty of convertible vs. coupe (also, the looks, but that's a personal thing).

240SX Vert, totally unloved. But anything you put on a regular one will go on the vert.