I love the roadster as it's a great little car for anyone suffering from a mid-life crisis or whatever! Welcome to the Best Roadsters Ever. Vroom Vroom!
My hubby and I have debated what that next car of mine might be. So, I've been looking around at the best roadsters ever and am trying to find my next dream car.
There seems to be a good variety of roadsters. Vroom vroom ... ladies and gentlemen ... start your engines ... the best roadsters ever!
What technically is a roadster?
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A roadster, also known as a spyder or spider, is a two-seat car, traditionally without either a roof, side or rear windows.
Most modern day two-seaters have windows and feature retractable roofs (and are thus convertibles). While retractable soft-tops are nevertheless marketed as roadsters/spyders, retractable hard-tops are commonly designated as coupe roadsters.
The Best Roadsters Ever -- Mercedes-Benz SLK-230 Kompressor Roadster
This is definitely the hottest little roadster -- the best of the best ever!

The Top Five Reasons the Mercedes-Benz SLK Kompressor is the Best Roadster ...
Edmunds -- Editors' Rating: 7.9; Consumer Rating: 8.5
- The Mercedes-Benz SLK-230 Kompressor roadster is very stylish for a car its size.
- Roadsters come in the coolest colors; particularly sunburst yellow, fire-engine red, or that bright orange!
- The hardtop convertible roadsters are my favorite.
- Performance-wise, a roadster packs a lot of punch.
- They've got great resale value!
Mercedes-Benz SLK-Class Buzz
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More about the Mercedes-Benz SLK-Class
The SLK is a compact roadster manufactured by Mercedes-Benz in two generations, R170 and R171, since 1997.
As one of the first modern retractable hardtop convertibles, the SLK followed the 1995 Mitsubishi 3000GT Spyder and preceded other retractable hardtops such as the Peugeot 206cc, Lexus SC, Mercedes-Benz SL-Class, Pontiac G6 and the Chrysler Sebring.
The designation SLK derives from the company's design mission to create a roadster that was at once sporty, light and short — in German: Sportlich, Leicht und Kurz. The roadsters are back TIME'' William A. McWhirter / Detroit December 2, 1996
The term SLK-Class is a Mercedes marketing term referring to the vehicle in all its engine configurations across both design generations.
My Mercedes-Benz SLK-230 Kompressor Roadster
I keep this baby garaged
Mercedes-Benz SLK Books
Have I got your engines started???
Best roadster contender: Audi TT
Edmunds -- Editors' Rating: 7.3; Consumer Rating: 9.5
More about the Audi TT
The Audi TT is a sports car produced by Audi since 1998 in Gyor, Hungary. Hey, it's "made in Hungary!"
The TT was first shown as a concept car at the 1995 Frankfurt Motor Show. The design is credited to J Mays and Freeman Thomas of Volkswagen's California design studio, with Martin Smith contributing to the award winning interior design. The TT name does not indicate "twin turbo" as is sometimes assumed. The car is named for the NSU TT, a small rear-engine model with a formidable racing pedigree that NSU produced in the 1960s and was based on the NSU Prinz, although the modern TT shares next to nothing with that model's design concepts.
Audi TT Books
Best roadster contender: BMW Z4
Edmunds -- Editors' Rating: 7.9; Consumer Rating: 9.2
More about the BMW Z4
The BMW Z4 is a rear-wheel drive sports car by the German Car maker BMW. It follows a line of past BMW roadsters such as the BMW Z1, BMW 507, and the BMW Z3. The Z4 replaces the Z3. First generation production started in 2002 at BMW's Spartanburg, South Carolina plant, with production of both roadster and coupe forms. When debuted, it won Automobile Magazine "Design of the Year Award". Starting with the 2009 model year, the second-generation Z4 is built at BMW's Regensburg, Germany plant as a retractable hardtop roadster. In 2009, the BMW Z4 won the Red Dot Design Award.
BMW Z4 Books
Best roadster contender: Cadillac XLR
Edmunds -- Editors' Rating: 7.8; Consumer Rating: 10.0
More about the Cadillac XLR
The XLR is a retractable hardtop convertible marketed by the Cadillac division of General Motors, assembled in Bowling Green, Kentucky. Intended to be Cadillac's flagship sports car, the XLR was based on the Chevrolet Corvette's Y platform. The XLR featured its own unique styling, interior, and suspension, and power-retractable aluminum hardtop, along with the Cadillac Northstar engine.
Cadillac introduced the XLR at the 2003 Detroit Motor Show and began production in the 2004 model year — forshadowed by the Evoq concept vehicle.
The XLR features as standard equipment heated and cooled leather seats, wood interior trim, remote keyless access, 18 inch alloy wheels, side airbags as well as a navigation, audio, and DVD system sharing a 7-inch dashboard screen. The retractable hardtop itself is constructed of aluminum (i.e.,lightweight), requires 6'-10½" of vertical clearance during retraction, and is manufactured by a supplier joint venture between Mercedes-Benz and Porsche.
The engine is Cadillac's 4.6 L Northstar tuned for , mated as of the 2007 model year to a 6-speed automatic transmission.
The XLR is the second roadster offered by Cadillac in recent years. The first was the Cadillac Allanté, produced from 1987 to 1993.
The XLR was nominated for the North American Car of the Year award for 2004.
Engine:
* 2004 Northstar 4.6 L (280 in³) V8
Cadillac Books
Best roadster contender: Chevrolet Corvette
Edmunds -- Editors' Rating: 7.8; Consumer Rating: 9.4
More about the Chevrolet Corvette
The Chevrolet Corvette is a sports car manufactured by General Motors under the Chevrolet brand. The first model was designed by Harley Earl and introduced in 1953. Myron Scott is credited for naming the car after the Corvette; a small, maneuverable war ship. It has been produced in six generations in coupe, convertible, t-top coupe, and targa coupe body styles. Originally built in Flint, Michigan and St. Louis, Missouri, it is currently built at a GM assembly plant in Bowling Green, Kentucky. The National Corvette Museum and annual National Corvette Homecoming, also located in Bowling Green, celebrate the car's worldwide history.
Chevrolet Corvette Books
Best roadster contender: Chrysler Crossfire
Edmunds -- Editors' Rating: 8.2; Consumer Rating: 9.3
More about the Chrysler Crossfire
The Chrysler Crossfire is a rear-wheel drive sports car marketed by Chrysler as both coupé and roadster and built for Chrysler by Karmann of Germany.
Chrysler Crossfire Books
Best roadster contender: Dodge Viper
Edmunds -- Editors' Rating: 7.3; Consumer Rating: 9.3
More about the Dodge Viper
The Dodge Viper (sold as the Dodge SRT-10 in the United Kingdom) is a V10-powered sports car manufactured by the Dodge division of Chrysler. Production of the two seat sports car began at New Mack Assembly in 1992 and moved to its current home at Conner Avenue Assembly in October 1995. The car, as well as numerous variations of it, has made countless appearances in TV shows, video games, movies, and music videos.
Dodge Viper Books
Best roadster contender: Honda S2000
Edmunds -- Editors' Rating: 7.9; Consumer Rating: 9.4
More about the Honda S2000
The Honda S2000 is a roadster manufactured by the Japanese automaker Honda Motor Company. It was launched in April 1999 and was created to celebrate the company's 50th anniversary. The car was first shown as a concept at the Tokyo Motor Show in 1995, following which it was launched in world markets in 1999. The S2000 is named for its engine displacement of 2 L, carrying on in the tradition of the S500, S600, and S800 roadsters of the 1960s.
Several revisions were made throughout the car's lifetime, including changes to the engine, gearbox, suspension and interior and exterior. Officially two variants exist: the initial launch model was given the chassis code AP1, while the AP2 designation was given to vehicles produced from mid-2003 onwards. Though cosmetically similar, the AP2 incorporated significant changes to the drivetrain and suspension. Production of the S2000 ceased in June 2009.
Honda S2000 Books
Best roadster contender: Mazda Miata MX-5
Edmunds -- Editors' Rating: 8.0; Consumer Rating: 9.4
More about the Mazda MX-5
The Mazda MX-5, also known as Miata () in North America and Roadster in Japan, is a two-seater roadster sports car built by Mazda in Hiroshima, Japan. The model was introduced in 1989 and is now in its third generation.
Mazda Miata Books
Best roadster contender: Pontiac Solstice
Edmunds -- Editors' Rating: 6.9; Consumer Rating: 9.1
More about the Pontiac Solstice
The Pontiac Solstice was a small sports car from the Pontiac division of General Motors. Introduced at the 2004 North American International Auto Show, the Solstice roadster began production in Wilmington, Delaware, starting in mid-2005 for the 2006 model year. The exterior styling of the production Solstice is similar to that of the 2002 Solstice concept that preceded it. Production of the Solstice was to be running before summer 2005, but delays at the Wilmington plant pushed volume production to the fourth quarter. The new hardtop targa 2009 model was announced in mid 2008. The Solstice uses the GM Kappa platform, which also underpins the Saturn Sky, Opel GT, and Daewoo G2X.
The Solstice was nominated for the North American Car of the Year award and Design of the Year award from the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada (AJAC) for 2006. It was a runaway hit for Pontiac, with 7,000 orders in the first 10 days of availability and 6,000 more orders before winter. Although first-year production was planned at 7,000, GM apologized to customers for delays and increased production, delivering 10,000 by March 1.
Production ended with the closure of the Wilmington Assembly plant in July 2009.
Pontiac Solstice Books
Best roadster contender: Porsche Limited Edition Boxster S
Edmunds -- Editors' Rating: 8.1; Consumer Rating: 9.0
More about the Porsche Boxster
The Porsche Boxster is a mid-engined roadster built by Porsche and designed by Harm Lagaay. The Boxster is Porsche's first road vehicle since the 550 Spyder that was originally designed as a roadster.
The first-generation Boxster (the 986) was introduced in late 1996 as a 1997 model; it was powered by a 2.5 litre flat six-cylinder engine. In 2000, the new Boxster S variant was introduced with a larger 3.2 litre motor, and the base model received a more powerful 2.7 litre engine. In 2003, styling and engine output was upgraded on both variants.
In 2005, Porsche unveiled the new generation of Boxsters: the type 987. The 987 is more powerful than its predecessor and featured styling inspired by the Carrera GT. Engine output increased in 2007, when both Boxster models received the engines from their corresponding Porsche Cayman variants. In 2009, the Boxster models received several new cosmetic and mechanical upgrades, further increasing engine output and performance.
Production of the 986 began at the former Porsche 928 facility in Stuttgart, Germany in 1996. Valmet Automotive also manufactures Boxsters under contract to Porsche at a facility in Uusikaupunki, Finland. The Boxster was Porsche's biggest volume seller from its introduction in model year 1997 until the company introduced the Cayenne sport utility vehicle in model year 2003.
The Boxster's name is a portmanteau of the word "boxer", referring to the vehicle's horizontally-opposed or "boxer" engine, and the word "roadster", referring to the vehicle's two seat capacity and convertible top.
Porsche Boxster Books
Best roadster contender: Saturn Sky
Edmunds -- Editors' Rating: 7.4; Consumer Rating: 9.1
More about the Saturn Sky
The Saturn Sky was the first sports car from the Saturn marque of American automaker General Motors. It was released in the first quarter of 2006 as a 2007 model. It uses the Kappa automobile platform shared with the Pontiac Solstice and Opel GT. The Sky concept was shown at the 2005 North American International Auto Show, with the production version following at the 2006 show. It was built at GM's Wilmington, Delaware plant, alongside the Solstice and the Opel GT. The Sky features 18 inch (457 mm) wheels and a 2.4 L Ecotec LE5 straight-4 engine that produces as well as a new straight-4 2.0 L direct injected turbocharged engine that makes . Both five-speed manual and automatic transmissions are available.
The styling for the Sky, penned by Franz von Holzhausen, is based on the Vauxhall VX Lightning Concept's design. It is available in some European markets as the Opel GT. A rebadged version named the Daewoo G2X was unveiled as a concept vehicle for the South Korean market in 2006. The production version was released in September 2007. The Solstice, Sky, and GT are built in Delaware, as was the G2X until 2008. The aggressive styling garnered praise as a welcome departure from traditional Saturn design.
The Wilmington Assembly plant closed in July 2009, ending production as both the Pontiac and Saturn nameplates were retired..
Saturn Books
What would be your color pick?
For the sake of this poll, let's pretend that you have decided to buy one of the best roadsters. What would be your pick of colors?
Editors' Most Wanted Vehicles for 2007: Edmunds
Roadster Convertible Under $60,000
Winner: 2007 Porsche Boxster. Now in its 10th year, the entry-level midengine Porsche still delights. With its 245-horsepower flat-6 engine, nearly perfect weight distribution and those legendary Porsche brakes, the Boxster carves up canyons like nothing else on the road. Fit and finish is typical Porsche solid, the power top goes up and down quickly and easily, and the usual leather seats and Bose stereo system make it feel great even when you're not running through the canyons. If that's not enough, the upmarket Boxster S offers a higher-output version of the same flat-6 with 295 hp and 251 pound-feet of torque. Add in the slick-shifting six-speed and there's not much more you could ask from a convertible.Honorable Mention: 2007 Mercedes-Benz SLK-Class. Mercedes' little boulevard cruiser doesn't get the respect it deserves. It may look like a Sunday cruiser, but start throwing it around some turns and it'll impress you with its performance. Go for the 3.5-liter V6 and you get more than just 268 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque, you get one of the best sounding six-cylinder on the market. If that's not enough, there's always the 355-hp AMG version. Regardless of which engine you choose, all SLKs have a retractable hardtop that turns the diminutive coupe into a full-blown convertible at the touch of a button. And of course, all models feature plenty of safety features and luxury appointments, including a nine-speaker CD stereo. While problematic sight lines keep it from the brass ring, the SLK-Class is still a great choice in the stylish two-seat roadster class. --Edmunds.com.
Consumers' Most Wanted Vehicles for 2007: Edmunds
Roadster Convertibles
Convertible Under $25,000: Saturn Sky. Saturn boldly dropped its top and went speeding off in a new direction this year with the launch of its first-ever convertible, the Sky. The people have spoken and they clearly think Saturn's turn was a wise one: The sleek-looking Saturn Sky soaked up the sunshine in the No. 1 spot, with 34 percent of the votes. A perennial favorite, the Mazda MX-5 Miata trailed in 2nd place with a 30 percent showing, while last year's surprise winner, the Pontiac Solstice, had to settle for 3rd place, with 19 percent of the votes. The Mini Cooper convertible was next with 13 percent, followed by the Volkswagen New Beetle (2 percent) and the Chrysler PT Cruiser (2 percent).Convertible Under $35,000: Honda S2000. A year ago the Honda S2000 lost by a bumper to the BMW Z4, after claiming the cup in this segment the previous two years. Honda's high-revving drop top got its groove back for 2007, scoring a win with a 30 percent showing. Lurking in the S2000's rearview mirror was a familiar name, the Ford Mustang, which rode the wave of the 500-hp Shelby GT500 version to get a respectable 27 percent of the love. Twenty-one percent of the voters picked the Pontiac G6 and its retractable hardtop, while another hardtop convertible, the Volkswagen Eos (12 percent), struggled to play catch-up, along with the Toyota Camry Solara (5 percent) and Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder (3 percent).
Convertible Under $45,000: BMW Z4. Behold the juggernaut that is the BMW Z4. Its hard-edged beauty and commanding performance made it a winner in the "Convertible Under $35,000" category last year. A slight price increase placed it in a loftier class of competitors on this go-round, but these new challengers were not mighty enough to topple this conquering Teuton, which claimed the top spot with a 20 percent showing. The solid credentials of the Saab 9-3 were enough to take the silver (19 percent), and the Swede was followed by the feisty Lotus Elise and elegant Audi A4 (both at 18 percent). The tail end of the caboose consisted of the Nissan 350Z roadster (15 percent) and the Volvo C70 four-place hardtop (9 percent).
Convertible Under $60,000: Chevrolet Corvette. Value may not be the first thing that springs to mind when you consider the 400-hp Chevrolet Corvette, but that's exactly what this classic roadster promises to bring to your garage. Chevy's singular drop top offers iconic good looks and world-class performance, all for a surprisingly affordable price. It's little wonder, then, that the Corvette was miles ahead of the competition in this race, with a staggering 50 percent of the vote. Porsche's graceful Boxster was a mere silhouette on the horizon with a distant 2nd-place finish with 20 percent, and it was followed closely by the redesigned BMW 3 Series, now a hardtop convertible at 17 percent. The Mercedes-Benz SLK-Class (9 percent) and Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class (5 percent) brought up the rear.
Convertible Over $60,000: Cadillac XLR. In an upset of World Series' proportions, Cadillac's XLR, with its chiseled styling and retractable hardtop, took the win in the top-end convertible category. With 29 percent of the votes, the Caddy clipped the Porsche 911 (25 percent) and soundly trounced another pair of highly qualified drop tops, the athletic BMW 6 Series four-seater (including the M6) and the always elegant Mercedes-Benz SL-Class, which earned 14 percent each. The Jaguar XK (11 percent) and Lexus SC 430 (6 percent) weren't even in the XLR's rearview mirror. --Edmunds.com.
Your turn: Am I right? What's the best roadsters ever?
Are you into roadsters? Got a favorite???
Do you love roadsters? Did I include your pick? Have you owned one or plan to buy? I'd love to hear from you.
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Reply
- Don Thorpe Don Thorpe Mar 23, 2009 @ 5:24 pm
- I BOUGHT A USED BOXSTER DROVE IT FROM CALIF TO MASS AND IT IS THE BEST CAR EVER .SO SO NICE A 1998 ARENA RED. CAN NOT WAIT TO DRIVE IT BACK HOME TO CALIF ,AT THE END OF THE MONTH. LIKED YOU CAR INFO PAGE.tHANKS -don
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Reply
- AndyPo AndyPo Jan 14, 2009 @ 3:21 pm
- Great lens. Thanks for the comments on one of my Jaguar lenses. I have had two Alfa Romeo Spider roadsters (The car in "The Graduate" film) and a Ferrari 308 GTS (The Magnum PI car) I'm probably due a new (old) car this year, but what shall it be?
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Hey Monkeybrain ... get in on the debate!
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