BMW and Infinity both have hard-top convertibles that look great. IDK much about quality - other than the general bagging people do on the Bimmers.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1499037745.jpg

If me: Lexus Convertible with a hardtop for winter. YMMV.

But it is Italian. sexyyyy:D

More S2000-ish. I've seen a few in person. Very nice looking car and has a lot of the original 124 features, hopefully not the rust issues.

Those who have memories of the old Fiats and their issues are not living in present time.
My 2013 Fiat 500 Abarth has almost 9k miles and is built like a pit bull.
Zero defects...not one rattle.
Corners like a snake down a rat hole, brakes that will suck your brains out through your forehead, amazing acceleration (in 'sport' mode), and loves to hum along at 90+ mph...solid as a rock while doing so. And 36 mpg at road speeds.
.
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1499041809.jpg

Boss Hogg or Sheikh from the Casbah?!!!

That's because it is a miata. It's a Mazda miata with a Fiat motor and apparently, quite different suspension tuning.

Sounds like you want a decent sized GT convertible. Having nixed the Mustang and Camaro, here's some others:

Jag XKR/XK8
Audi A5/S5
BMW 6-Series
Cadillac XLR
Corvette
Mercedes E-Class
Infiniti Q60
Lexus IS
Volvo C70

Why not another Targa? I see you had one before. Also, though its too new for my taste, 996 cabs are a lot of car for the money (well within your budget). My sister in law has an '04 and it is really quite a pleasant car to drive. Some of the earlier 997 cabs are getting close to your price range too.

DG

I have a 1988 560SL I drive around 3000 miles a year.

Everything works, I change the oil every six month or so and keep driving. It pulls well and handles just ok.

It is a great cruiser and every time I think about selling it I drive it and it stays.

If you buy a jag you need to get two so you can have something to drive while the other is in the shop.
If you buy a fiat you need three.

Make good sound logical decisions is more impressive than driving a flashy POS.

[QUOTE=sammyg2;9648417]If you buy a jag you need to get two so you can have something to drive while the other is in the shop.

^^^^^^^

At least if it's an XJS. I oughta know cuz I'm betting I have THE most expensive one in the country, if not the world. Bought an '89 in 2013 w/42km from the orig owner. Beautiful car (imho) but it was in the shop 12 out of the first 15 months I owned it.
It runs great now, after 10's of 1000's of dollars poured down the jag hole. Stay away.

One of my brothers bought an XJS new.
After 40,000 miles he donated it and took the $500 tax write-off.

Ok, no jag. So Porsche, Mercedes, or BMW.

Are there any chance one of these in the 10 yr or older models might hold their value?

I of coarse now wish I had kept my 72S, but no way I would pay what they seem to be bringing today. Plus I still want something with a decent air conditioner, can't have the top down all the time.

With regards to the Jag, that's good advice circa 30 years ago. The Ford ownership in the late 1990s really improved their reliability. I had a 2000 XJR that was a fantastic car. Based on what I've read about new Fiats, you might be spot on.


You can get a really nice 996 cab for $20k, and it will freeze you out in a heartbeat.

Fiat 124 Spyder Abarth
 

+1

E46 M3
E92 M3 vert
E92 335i vert
w209 clk55
w209 clk63

That is true. I am not living in present time with the Fiats. I don't know them past a sighting on the road. I am not all that crazy about the 500 but I do like some of the throw back colors A-la Vespa.

I do like the styling of the new 124, much nicer in my opinion than the miata. I did have a 124 back in the day. Under powered, rattler, leaky, rusty, AC sucked. Loved it. It was fun.

As an owner of a Miata NC I would stick to the rock solid reliability of the Miata. Fiat has not really got over its reliablity issues although I agree the new 124 has good lines.
The old Fiat 124 from the 1970's I had rapidly rusted. I agree though the latter was fun.