USED CARS - Convertibles Reviews

Updated June 2005

The following report was originally published on ConsumerSearch to cover new cars manufactured and sold in the 2006 model year, and so can offer a good guide as to which cars from past model years are good bets as used vehicles. We are keeping this report on our site as a convenience to our readers who may be shopping for a used car.

Many car owners keep convertibles as second vehicles, ready to pull them out of the garage and put the top down in the summer months and then put them away for the winter. Unfortunately, instead of being placed in a special category, many convertibles are simply plugged into other classes based on engine size and mileage, etc. Due to this, reviews that focus specifically on convertibles rank higher on our All Reviews chart. We also appreciate reviews that make it easy to find the convertibles on their page with pictures, linking, etc.

The best review for convertibles comes from Car and Driver, which annually chooses ten vehicles to be the "Top Ten of the Year." While there was not a specific category this year for convertibles, two convertibles win in the categories of best performance car and best luxury sports car. Further reading reveals that Car and Driver performs exhaustive testing on each of the vehicles considered, making their choices some of the best and most accurate in the market today.

Next in the listing of best reviews is Edmunds.com, which annually lists the cars that the editorial staff would most like to own. There is no better way to determine which car is the all-around best than to ask a professional reviewer which he or she would want to take home. Edmunds has a specific category for convertibles, which makes researching a prospective purchase very simple. In addition to the cars in the convertible category, Edmunds also named the Pontiac Solstice their "Most Significant Vehicle of the Year," proving that convertibles can be more than just secondary, summer vehicles.

Consumer Reports and Autobytel.com round out the four best reviews we found for convertibles. Both have specific categories for the cars, and both perform extensive research before posting results. In addition, both Autobytel and Consumer Reports are geared more towards the average car buyer than the automotive enthusiast, so the reviews are less technical, with more information on safety and space than engine specs.

The main trend for model-year 2006 is the reign of the affordable convertible. Car makers are proving that a convertible does not have to run upwards of $60,000 to be an enjoyable car, and it seems that the reviewers are in agreement, as all but one of the vehicles in our ConsumerSearch Fast Answers have starting prices below $30,000. Keep in mind that many sports cars are available as convertibles, so if you want something higher-end (like a Corvette or a BMW M3 ), read our report on sports cars.

The two-seat Pontiac Solstice (*est. $19,915 to $22,000) is a 2006 newcomer, along with the redesigned two-seat Mazda MX-5, formerly called the Miata (*est. $20,435 to $26,700) . The two cars compete head-to-head price-wise. Car and Driver compares these two convertibles directly. While the Solstice is a terrific, new, affordable convertible, it finishes just behind the Mazda convertible overall. Editors say that while the Mazda feels like an affordable sports car, the Pontiac feels more like a sedan -- a distinction that's important depending on the drive experience you want. The Pontiac's handling is sharp, predictable and confident, while the Mazda has a looser, more aggressive feel.

The Pontiac Solstice scores points in reviews for road feel and a quiet interior, especially on the highway, even though it's a beat or two behind the Mazda in terms of acceleration. One difference is in the two cars' soft drop top. While the Mazda comes standard with a powered soft-top, letting you raise and lower the top without getting out of the car, the Pontiac's top is a little more complicated, and you'll have to pull over and get out of the car in order to raise it. While the Mazda's soft top folds on itself, the Solstice's drop top folds into the trunk, reducing trunk space significantly.

All reviews say the Pontiac Solstice is a car to watch, and demand for the 2006 model has already outstripped supply. In some regions, you'll be waiting for months for delivery. While the Pontiac Solstice and Mazda MX-5 are close competitors, most give the slight edge to Mazda for now, but the story could be different in 2007, depending on improvements.  ... Continued

Our Consensus Report shows how many times products are top-ranked by reviewers included in our
All The Reviews Reviewed chart.

# of Picks	Model (With Retailer Links)	Prices from Shopping.com
4	Mazda MX-5 Miata	(*est. $20,435 to $26,700)
4	Ford Mustang	(*est. $23,940 to $31,145)
3	Mini Cooper	(*est. $21,950 to $25,000)
2	Pontiac Solstice	(*est. $19,915 to $22,000)
1 each	BMW Z4 , Porsche Boxster , Chevrolet Corvette

As fuel prices rise, so does the concern about vehicle costs. While the winners for 2005 were mostly priced at about $35,000, there is only one vehicle in the top rankings for 2006 that even breaks the $30,000 mark, and that’s with all added options. The rankings were close this year, but the winner is the Mazda MX-5 , with four top marks. In the middle are the Ford Mustang , Mini Cooper and Pontiac Solstice , each coming in with an impressive three top scores in the best reviews. The BMW Z4 , Porsche Boxster and Chevrolet Corvette receive only two top marks each; interestingly, these three are more premium vehicles.