It’s summer in the city — time to put the top down
These convertibles under $5,000 help you make the most of the season
The first day of summer has finally arrived, and what better way to honour the sun’s climax in our hemisphere than with a cruise in a convertible. Thankfully, there’s a veritable rainbow of cheap convertibles for sale — many for $5,000 or less.
We’re not promising endless hours of carefree motoring with any of these topless cars, many of which have racked up high mileage, but if you’re halfway handy with a crescent wrench and multibit driver, and you search hard for one that’s never seen winter or has been meticulously cared for by its owner, you’ll quickly find a cheap way to savour our all-too-brief summer.
Here are some of the more enjoyable convertibles you can buy today for less than $5,000:
EARLY 2000s FORD MUSTANGS
Plenty of used Mustang convertibles of this vintage come with manual transmissions and 3.8-litre V6 engines with 190 horsepower. While the power might underwhelm, the five-speed manual can be fun. Lots of fourth-generation Mustangs (1994-2004) list odometers in the 150,000-km neighbourhood, which isn’t much for these cars. Rear-wheel drive and a solid rear axle are certainly old school, but make for a proper driving experience.
MID-1990s TO EARLY 2000S MAZDA MX-5 MIATAS
Many a second-generation Miata with 150,000 to 200,000 kilometres can be found across Canada seeking new homes. Few cars rival the pleasure that comes from this open-top sports car, thanks in part to four-wheel independent suspension and light weight, but the Miata delivers decent reliability to go with the fun. Early Miatas cost little more than $20,000 new and were powered by a 1.8-litre in-line four. Choose your colour and hunt for one with the lowest mileage.
EARLY 1990s TO EARLY 2000s BMW 3 SERIES
Both third- and fourth-generation BMW 3 Series convertibles, ranging in years from 1993 to 2005, are selling at or below $5,000 today, though few at the later years. That’s a whole lot of car for the money, though repairs and parts can be expensive. The two-door convertibles are rear-wheel drive and most will have the deliciously smooth straight-six cylinder that made driving the 3 Series one of the most rewarding experiences behind the wheel. Watch for rust and look for cars never winter driven.
MID-2000s VW BEETLES
Introduced in 1997, the “new Beetle” picked up where its historic predecessor left off. Unlike the original, however, the new Bug had an engine in the front with space in the rear for luggage. The Convertible debuted in 2003 to replace the Volkswagen Cabrio, and 2004 examples in a variety of colours are now selling with safety certificates in and around the $5,000 mark.
MID-1980s TO MID-1990s PONTIAC FIREBIRD, CHEVY CAMARO
What could be cooler than a thirdor fourth-generation Firebird with T-top roof or fully retractable top to spend the summer in? Many of these older GMs are selling below $5,000 and are easy and inexpensive to fix should something break. Even a few IROC editions with a 5.7-litre V8 have come available. Do not, however, mistake these rides for the Pontiac Sunbird or Chevy Cavalier convertibles.
MID-1970s MG MGBS
As the value of older MGs continues its upward march, now might be the summer to make a move on one of these low-riding, small British sports cars. Sure, they’ll need lots of fussing over (like most things from Britain) and rust can be a major issue, but nothing beats the sound and feel of an early English roadster on a sunny Sunday morning.
LATE 1990s TO EARLY 2000S SAABS
If you’re a wizard with electrical wiring and harbour a penchant for Swedish design, a Saab anywhere between the years 1993 and 2004 is going to bring you a summer of love. Older 900 or later 9-3 models remain strikingly good-looking. The convertible usually had a turbocharged in-line four-cylinder, and commemorative versions came in 1994 featuring special paint, a wood dash and higherperforming engines.
1993 TO 1997 HONDA DEL SOL
The Honda del Sol, a two-seat roadster that succeeded the Honda CR-X, is a front-wheel-drive, targatop car that was built in Japan. The top had to be stowed in the trunk, however, which made the trunk almost useless, but its Civic-like reliability led to a sales march that ended in 1998.
MID-2000s PT CRUISERS
Like strawberries in season, dozens of Chrysler PT Cruiser convertibles have come up for sale. Two-door convertibles debuted for the 2005 model year and most came standard with a 2.4-L four-cylinder. The PT Cruiser was updated for 2006 and it remains a car with a distinctly unique look, if not the most compelling of drives.
THE WILD THINGS
The wild mix of convertibles currently for sale under $5,000 ranges from the royalty-like Cadillac Deville to the AMC Rambler. A clutch of higher-end Mercedes models can be found, though they could quickly cost more to fix than purchase, but a few Audis, Jeeps — even a well preserved Ford Bronco — can be bought at this price point, too. And with the summer days already getting shorter, isn’t now the time to throw caution to the wind?