The Ever Project

The Best Roadsters Ever

1 - I can do better 2 - Jury's out 3 - Pretty darn good 4 - Splendiferous 5 - Awesometastic (by 10 people)   Your rating: 1 - I can do better 2 - Jury's out 3 - Pretty darn good 4 - Splendiferous 5 - Awesometastic

I love the roadster as it's a great little car for anyone suffering from a mid-life crisis or whatever . . .

Yes, I must admit that I've owned a couple of roadsters in my life and currently have driven a sunburst yellow Mercedes-Benz SLK-230 Kompressor roadster for five years.  As my hubby and I have debated W-H-A-T that next car of mine might be, I've been looking around at other roadsters and am trying to find my next "dream car."  Here's a few shots of the SLK-350 ... it's cool, but for me I need a bright color, maybe sunburst yellow?

A little background info ... throughout my life, I've pretty much always driven a sports car before I opted, during my mid-life crisis, to try that first roadster.  It was the Mazda Miata in a fire-engine red.  Today, there seems to be a pretty good variety of roadsters to test-drive ... vroom vroom ... ladies and gentlemen ... start your engines!!!

What technically is a roadster? 

Roadster is the North American term (spyder in England) used for a 2-seater lightweight car without a permanent top. The term was also used for a light carriage, synonymous with "buggy".

Even with the soft top convertible raised and deflecting "windows" (if existing) snapped in, the driver and passenger remain somewhat exposed to the elements. "Convertible" is an abbreviation of "convertible coupe" or "convertible sedan" which in 1920s-30s parlance indicated that the top of the car can "convert" the car from a car with the passenger habitacle covered into a car without having the passenger habitacle covered, transforming vehicle into a "cabrio". Thus, the term is used for describing also vehicles with more that two seats for which the roof can transform the general aspect of the car from coupe / sedan into a "cabriolet".

Most modern day production roadsters do not meet all of the above criteria. Here, the use of the name "roadster" is more of a marketing gimmick than a technical label, recalling the feeling of an open-top machine for enjoyment, like those of the past.

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 

Review: 2009 Mercedes-Benz SLK350
In the ten years since it was first introduced, the Mercedes-Benz SLK has seen constant refinement....
The New-Generation SLK
STUTTGART ? June 26, 2008: The Mercedes-Benz SLK-Class Roadsters have long captured the hearts of...
2008 Mercedes-Benz SLK - First Drive
Set the way-back machine to 1996 and we find Mercedes-Benz introducing its SLK roadster, Swabian foi...
Juffali launch the new SL, CLS and SLK models
The Mercedes-Benz SLK-Class Roadsters have long captured the hearts of sports car enthusiasts. Follo...

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 and the Mercedes-Benz SL-Class.

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 02, 1996

The term SLK-Class is a Mercedes marketing term referring to the vehicle in all its engine configurations across both design generations.

Links that prove the point 

Mercedes-Benz SLK videos 

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Mercedes Benz SLK 200 Kompress...

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Mercedes-Benz SLK 200 Kompress...

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Mercedes Benz SLK 200 Kompress...

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Mercedes Benz SLK 200 Kompress...

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1997 MERCEDES BENZ SLK KOMPR...

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MERCEDES BENZ SLK 200 Kompress...

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Get a cool SLK-230 

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Mercedes-Benz SLK Books 

Road & Track Mercedes-Benz SL-SLK-CLK (Road & Track Series)

Amazon Price: $19.95 (as of 07/05/2008)

Mercedes-Benz Slk

Amazon Price: (as of 07/05/2008)

Mercedes-Benz Technical Companion

Amazon Price: $26.37 (as of 07/05/2008)

Buy Me a Mercedes-Benz

Amazon Price: $41.25 (as of 07/05/2008)

Enduring Passion: The Story of the Mercedes-Benz Brand

Amazon Price: $32.97 (as of 07/05/2008)

Have I got your engines started??? 

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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 videos 

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2007 Audi TT tested by Fifth G...

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Test - Audi TT Mk2 3.2 VS BMW ...

Runtime: 8:50 | 177941 views | Comments

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Audi TT 3.2 VR6 S-Tronic - ABT...

Runtime: 1:48 | 157212 views | Comments

Get a cool Audi TT 

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Audi TT Books 

Audi TT

Amazon Price: $26.56 (as of 07/05/2008)

The Audi Tt Story

Amazon Price: (as of 07/05/2008)

You & Your Audi TT: Buying,enjoying,maintaining,modifying (You & Your)

Amazon Price: $19.77 (as of 07/05/2008)

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 automaker BMW, known as the E85 in roadster form and E86 in coupe form. Production started in 2002, and thus replaced the BMW Z3. The design addresses many criticisms of the Z3; the Z4 is larger, and has a significantly stiffer chassis. It is built in Spartanburg, South Carolina. Initially, the Z4 was available only as a roadster, but in 2006 a coupé version was officially launched.

The Z4 was designed by Chris Bangle and began the controversy over his "flame surfacing" design and aggressive styling choices, which can also be seen on most modern BMW cars, most noticeably the 7 Series and 5 Series. As of 2007, the entire BMW car line, including the BMW 3 Series and X5 SAV, had incorporated Chris Bangle's design theme.

The Z4 features a strut type front suspension like its predecessor, the Z3. The rear suspension, however is considerably different from that of the Z3, which was based on that of the E30 BMW 3 Series. Instead of a semi-trailing arm suspension, the Z4 uses a more advanced multi-link suspension.

It is due to be complemented by a new model, the Z2, in 2009.

BMW Z4 videos 

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Top Gear BMW Z4 vs Boxter

Runtime: 8:24 | 59429 views | Comments

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2005 BMW Z4 Roadster

Runtime: 4:52 | 43307 views | Comments

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2010 BMW Z4 Spy Video

Runtime: 1:23 | 19926 views | Comments

Get a cool BMW Z4 

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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 marketed by the Cadillac division of General Motors, assembled in Bowling Green, Kentucky. It is based on the Y-body platform shared with the Chevrolet Corvette. The XLR uses the Cadillac Northstar engine rather than the GM LS2 engine found in the Corvette — along with its own styling, interior, and suspension, and power-retractable aluminum hardtop. The engine is Cadillac's 4.6 L Northstar tuned for 320 hp, mated as of the 2007 model year to a 6-speed automatic transmission.

Cadillac introduced the XLR at the 2003 Detroit Motor Show, and it entered production in the 2004 model year. Prior to production the XLR appeared as the Evoq in auto shows. It has a base price of US$76,650. Sales have been below expectations. Rather than reaching 6,000 per year, Cadillac had sold just 4,745 in 18 months as of March 2005. According to Cadillac, 3,730 were sold in the United States in all of 2005.

Designed for both performance and luxury, the XLR comes with heated and cooled leather seats, wood interior trim, 18 inch alloy wheels, and side airbags. Navigation, audio, and DVD are all displayed via a 7-inch dashboard screen, and Remote Keyless Access is included. All of these features are standard.

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.

Competitors include the Mercedes-Benz SL-Class, Lexus SC, BMW 6 Series, Jaguar XK, Porsche 911 and Maserati Spyder.

Engine:

* 2004 Northstar 4.6 L (280 in³) V8

Cadillac XLR videos 

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my bosses 2006 cadillac XLR

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Review: 2006 Cadillac XLR-V

Runtime: 2:34 | 1891 views | Comments

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2007 Cadillac XLR-V/ Quick Dri...

Runtime: 2:32 | 13525 views | Comments

Get a cool Cadillac XLR 

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Cadillac Books 

Cadillac XLR

Amazon Price: (as of 07/05/2008)

Cadillac: 100 Years of Innovation

Amazon Price: $19.79 (as of 07/05/2008)

Standard Catalog Of Cadillac 1903-2005, 3RD EDITION

Amazon Price: $18.47 (as of 07/05/2008)

The Cadillac Story: The Postwar Years (Stanford General Books)

Amazon Price: $28.84 (as of 07/05/2008)

2005 Cadillac XLR Owners Manual

Amazon Price: (as of 07/05/2008)

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 that has been manufactured by Chevrolet since 1953. Today it is built at a General Motors assembly plant in Bowling Green, Kentucky, but in the past it was built in Flint, Michigan and St. Louis, Missouri. The National Corvette Museum and annual National Corvette Homecoming are also located in Bowling Green, Kentucky.

Chevrolet Corvette videos 

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2007 Chevrolet Corvette Conver...

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2007 Corvette Callaway Edition

Runtime: 2:32 | 27303 views | Comments

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1961 Chevrolet Corvette Resto ...

Runtime: 1:46 | 2433 views | Comments

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Chevrolet Corvette Books 

Chevrolet Corvette 1984 thru 1996 (Haynes Repair Manual)

Amazon Price: $16.47 (as of 07/05/2008)

Chevrolet Corvette Restoration Guide (Motorbooks Workshop)

Amazon Price: $19.96 (as of 07/05/2008)

The Real Corvette: An Illustrated History of Chevrolet's Sports Car

Amazon Price: (as of 07/05/2008)

Best roadster contender: Chrysler Crossfire 

Edmunds -- Editors' Rating: 8.2; Consumer Rating: 9.3

More about the Chrysler Crossfire 

The Crossfire is a rear-wheel drive, sports car marketed by Chrysler as both coupé and roadster and built for Chrysler by Karmann of Germany.

The two-seater arrived in 2001 as a concept car designed by Eric Stoddard with further refinement by Andrew Dyson before production in 2003.

The name Crossfire refers to the two character lines that run from front to rear along the body sides — crossing each other midway through the door panel. Conceived during the period of Chrysler's ownership by Daimler-Benz, the name also refers to the collaboration of the two companies.

Chrysler Crossfire videos 

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Chrysler Crossfire - Road Test...

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top gear chrysler crossfire

Runtime: 4:34 | 29570 views | Comments

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VIDEO TEST DRIVE: Chrysler Cro...

Runtime: 6:34 | 40604 views | Comments

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Chrysler Crossfire Books 

2007 Chrysler Crossfire Owners Manual

Amazon Price: (as of 07/05/2008)
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2006 Chrysler Crossfire Owners Manual

Amazon Price: (as of 07/05/2008)
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2005 Chrysler Crossfire Owners Manual

Amazon Price: (as of 07/05/2008)
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2004 Chrysler Crossfire Owners Manual

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Best roadster contender: Dodge Viper 

Edmunds -- Editors' Rating: 7.3; Consumer Rating: 9.3

More about the Dodge Viper 

The Dodge Viper is a V10-powered sports car manufactured by the Dodge division of Chrysler LLC. 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 videos 

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Street Dodge Viper twin turbo ...

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Ferrari vs Dodge Viper - See W...

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Top Gear - Dodge Viper

Runtime: 9:38 | 87882 views | Comments

Get a cool Dodge Viper 

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Dodge Viper Books 

Dodge Viper

Amazon Price: (as of 07/05/2008)

Dodge Viper (Blazers)

Amazon Price: $17.63 (as of 07/05/2008)

Dodge Viper : Performance Portfolio 1990 - 1998

Amazon Price: (as of 07/05/2008)

Road & Track Dodge Viper Portfolio 1992-2002 (Road & Track Series)

Amazon Price: $16.16 (as of 07/05/2008)

2002 Service Manual Dodge Viper Roadster/Coupe (2002 Service Manual Viper Roadster/Coupe)

Amazon Price: (as of 07/05/2008)

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.

Honda S2000 videos 

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Honda S2000 F1 exhaust....

Runtime: 2:27 | 720990 views | Comments

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Honda S2000 on Top Gear

Runtime: 2:06 | 207892 views | Comments

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Honda S2000

Runtime: 2:09 | 61985 views | Comments

Get a cool Honda S2000 

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Honda S2000 Books 

Honda S2000

Amazon Price: (as of 07/05/2008)

Honda / S2000 4th Edition (Japanese Magazine) (Hyper Rev., Volume 112)

Amazon Price: (as of 07/05/2008)

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 sports car built by Mazda in Hiroshima, Japan — introduced in 1989 and now in its third generation.

According to a 2003 Edmunds.com article, "the Miata deserves credit not only for reviving a dormant passion for roadsters, but for emboldening other manufacturers."

Mazda MX-5 videos 

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Fifth Gear Mazda MX-5 Shootout

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2007 Mazda MX-5 Miata PRHT vs....

Runtime: 6:02 | 81011 views | Comments

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2007 Mazda MX-5 Miata PRHT Roa...

Runtime: 2:06 | 33448 views | Comments

Get a cool Mazda Miata 

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Mazda Miata Books 

Mazda MX-5 Miata: The Book of the World's Favourite Sportscar

Amazon Price: $26.37 (as of 07/05/2008)

Mazda MX-5 Miata 1.8: Enthuasiast Workshop Manual

Amazon Price: $32.97 (as of 07/05/2008)

Mazda Miata Performance Handbook (Motorbooks Workshop)

Amazon Price: $18.21 (as of 07/05/2008)