Daughter number one had some pretty specific needs for her first car. Had to be a red convertible with tan canvas top and tan interior. She also wanted a back seat, map pockets behind front seats, should be safe, reliable, and cheap to operate. Bought her a Solara. She couldn't be happier. Daughter number II is coming up on driving. She also wants a convertible, preferably blue with a dark grey interior and top. Back seat is a requirement and it can't be the same car as daughter number I. I think I've narrowed my search down to Saabs althou I'm still holding out for a Jag XK8 to fall into my lap. How are the Saabs? They seem almost too cheap to be true. There must be a dozen of them under $4k at any point in time on CL including one that went for free on Saturday. Called but couldn't get there because of a wedding I had to attend. It was gone this morning. I'm scared of Audis. Don't want to deal with a VW. BMWs hold there value too well, but I'd love to have a nice E36 or E46 vert. Not many Volvos to consider but I'm searching them as well. I won't even consider anything built by Chrysler. What else am I overlooking? Everyone knows the fall is the best time to buy a convertible, so I would rather buy one now than try and find one in the Spring when she will have her license.
Keep looking for Volvo’s or get her to change her mind on the Solara.
Want to stay away from anything sports car related because of insurance reasons. Daughter number I added about $2K to my premium with the Solara. She dislikes Jeeps. She likes Minis. Would like to keep the car under $4k. I can handle that kind of write off if she wrecks it, but I'd go higher if the right car came along. At least she offered to help out and said she would be willing to drive my green TR8 convertible until I find her something better. No way of changing her mind on the Solara. Teenage girls can be very competitive. Don't need that drama.
Maybe a Pontiac G6 hard lid convertible.
Sample (in the wrong color)
Lexus SC430, Celica, Eclipse
But I think Saab or Volvo V70 is the right choice. (Edit:C70)
fly & drive? https://atlanta.craigslist.org/atl/cto/d/bmw-330ci-convertible-very/6328429304.html
From what I understand, teenage girls occasionally travel with a fair amount of Stuff. Before you get excited about one of the hard-lid convertibles, see if there's enough room for her things in the trunk with the top down. (For example, are there band instruments involved?) I looked at an Infiniti G convertible at the auto show once, and from what I recall you could fit a cheese sandwich and MAYBE a folded T-shirt in there. It was ridiculous.
Do they make that fugly Juke as a convertible? If so get a black one with pink accents...
I saw a black Juke with orange parts in a driveway last week and thought Halloween Fugly... 
mndsm
MegaDork
10/1/17 8:10 p.m.
Damn, you're a lot nicer than me. I'd have heard that list and drawn a picture of it on a bus pass. Good o you sir.
No sports car- so no camaro/mustang.
I echo the Volvo c30 or whatever it was, drove one and it's a nice place to be.
Is the Blue/grey color combo more important that what car it actually is?
Blue/ Grey #1
Blue/ Grey #2
Is it okay if you appear to favor Daughter #1 over #2?
The Volvo version is the C70
In reply to tr8todd :
You just have to make her think it's her idea.
spitfirebill said:
In reply to tr8todd :
You just have to make her think it's her idea.
FYI: This also works well with bosses or other people of authority.
In reply to tr8todd :
"map pockets behind front seats" -- I have never in my life heard someone make that a priority in choosing a car. I'm impressed.
mndsm
MegaDork
10/1/17 10:10 p.m.
John Welsh said:
Is the Blue/grey color combo more important that what car it actually is?
Blue/ Grey #1
Blue/ Grey #2
Is it okay if you appear to favor Daughter #1 over #2?
The Volvo version is the C70
Thanks. The c30 is the 2 door Mazda 3 with the better ass. I get them mixed up.
FYI, the back seat in a Jag XK8 is useful for purses and backpacks but not really for human beings.
Yea the Jag would be more for me in a thinly veiled disguise as my daughter's car. Showed her a PT Cruiser and she said no way. As far as map pockets go, you have to remember that their entire life thus far has been spent in the back seat. Kids have books, iPads, etc. they need to stash on long road trips. Map pockets are essential in a teenagers mind. Does anybody have any personal experiences with those 9-3 turbo 4cyl convertibles? They seem like a good deal. Never worked on one. I see lots of them in the wealthier towns around here but not many in my working class cranberry harvesting town. Here the wealthier residents drive nice pickups. I see those Ford era Volvos at the garage down the street often and the mechanic doesn't like them. When I asked him about the Solara, he said in the 15 years he has been a mechanic, he had never worked on one and only remembers doing brakes on Camrys. That right there was a good enough reason to buy the Solara.
Appleseed said:
spitfirebill said:
In reply to tr8todd :
You just have to make her think it's her idea.
FYI: This also works well with bosses or other people of authority.
Bonus points if it's the wife.
My answer would be to let them do the leg work and find a car or three. There is a learning opertunity here.
The Solara is a great choice. There was a Solara body style change between '03 & '04 model years. Could that be enough to meet the "not the same" requirement?
The headlights and tail lights as well as the dashboards would be different from each other.
Solara Wiki
dculberson said:
In reply to tr8todd :
"map pockets behind front seats" -- I have never in my life heard someone make that a priority in choosing a car. I'm impressed.
They're very handy in my Samurai, but mine are aftermarket strap-on types.
GameboyRMH said:
dculberson said:
In reply to tr8todd :
"map pockets behind front seats" -- I have never in my life heard someone make that a priority in choosing a car. I'm impressed.
They're very handy in my Samurai, but mine are aftermarket strap-on types.
That phrase taken out of context...
Aspen
Reader
10/2/17 3:44 p.m.
The Saab's can be OK. 2004 or newer 9-3 2.0T would make for a nice car. The newer chassis is A LOT better than the earlier one. Blue/dark grey is a possible colour combo, but most tops were black.
Very safe for the time. Not expensive. Some parts finding issues are possible.
an 04/05 Aero gets you all the bells and whistles and the good 2.0T motor. The V6 has more problems and uses lots o gas.
dean1484 said:
My answer would be to let them do the leg work and find a car or three. There is a learning opertunity here.
This is what I did, with a maximum $$$ and two specifications. I had veto rights to anything selected, and it had to be a manual.
