The Volvo C70 sport convertible is an awesome sports coupe that will be easy at the gas pump. It is not the least expensive (MSRP $39,985 US) but it is definitely one of the better looking sports cars on the market. The gas mileage is also very good; 18 City/ 27 Hwy.

Unlike some of the other sports cars on the market the C70 will comfortably seat four adults and their gear. The convertible model is sleek and feels extremely light on its feet. Not that it is really light, or that it really has feet.

The convertible also sports a nice retractable hardtop that makes this sports coupe even more attractive. The C70 is awesome when cruising, and is an excellent choice in a luxury sports car.

There are two only two basic models for the Volvo C70; the Automatic Transmission or the 5 speed Standard Transmission, the engine is the same 2.5 litre turbo charged engine with five cylinders. There are some reports it can be sluggish when accelerating, especially since the metal hardtop is heavier than either a regular coupe or a cloth top. and will be slower on the close.

If you want a sports car experience but want the safety and space you need for a couple of kids or to take your whole family to the beach in the summer, the C70 is for you. The C70 rides very smooth and the handling is very nice. As with any Volvo, the safety of this vehicle is top notch. The Volvo C70 rates number one against the other sports cars in its class in safety as well as one of the best in luxury and performance. Another nice security feature is the engine immobilization/anti-theft system.

The convertible 350Z costs substantially more than the Mazda Miata or Honda S2000, but it’s still thousands of dollars cheaper than rival German two-seat convertibles as the BMW Z4, the Audi TT, and the Porsche Boxster.

The 350Z Roadster comes in three packages and two bodies

How much extra are you willing to pay for a convertible top? The hardtop 350Z , which Nisan calls the Coupe sells for an average of just $31,586, and the convertible 350Z called the Roadster averages about $7000 more at $38,755.

The Enthusiast is a well equipped base model starting at $36,940 with a six-speed manual transmission (Sixth gear is overdrive to provide better fuel efficiency on the highway. and a five-speed automatic is a popular $1,000 option). It has power seats, a power-operated convertible soft top, 18-inch cast aluminum alloy wheels, bi-xenon headlamps, anti lock disc brakes with electronic assist, traction control, and front and side air bags, and automatic climate control.

The Touring model, starting at $39,290, which adds a seven-speaker Bose sound system and heated and leather-trimmed seats.The Grand Touring model starts at $41,640 and adds big Rambo brakes and a dynamic stability control system. On the Touring and Grand touring models you can also get a optional navigation system for $1,680, as well as a grey cloth top instead of the standard black top.

Whether hardtop or Roadster, the 350Z only comes with one engine, a 3.5-liter, 306-hp V6 that delivers plenty of power at just about any speed. Nissan raised the power rating of the 350Z’s engine as of the 2007 model year, and the car also gets better mileage now than pre-2007 models. The ‘08 350Z Roadster is rated at 17 mpg in the city, and 24 mpg on the highway with a stick shift with overdrive; 17/23 mpg with an automatic).

The 350Z Roadster with a manual transmission will accelerate from zero to 60 mph in just under six seconds, a bit quicker than the BMW Z4 3.0i at 6.6 seconds, and matches or surpasses the handling, and road-hugging capabilities of the BMW Z4. However, the 350Z can’t come close to matching the tight feel and excellent handling of the admittedly far more expensive Porsche Boxster. However, the 350Z Roadster handles hard cornering very well. Its steering is well balanced and responds instantly and precisely, as does the suspension. The suspension is sport-tuned, so you will feel every bump on back roads and every imperfection in the road surface at highway speeds, but can slide through twisty roads without coming unglued on a bump.

The 350Z convertible actually has slightly more headroom than the Coupe, as well as a surprising amount of legroom. The seats move back and forth and the seat backs adjust via two little toggle switches; however, rearward visibility is terrible, even by sports car standards. The back window is small and narrow, and the cowling behind the passenger seat creates a major blind spot. In lieu of a glove box, there are several cubbyholes scattered around the cabin, but if you have a briefcase it’s still probably going to have to be stowed in the tiny trunk if two people are riding in the car with the top down. Trunk space is limited to just 4.1 cu. ft., even though the convertible top automatically folds down into in a separate space under a hard tonneau behind the passenger cabin. There’s even a sticker explaining how to fit a golf bag into the trunk…after first removing the spare tire.

Crossfire Coupe Convertible in Silver

Chrysler has only one of it’s three unique convertibles still in production, and only one of the three models is actually a good used vehicle buy as a second or collector car - the so called coupe. Chrysler refers to the convertible crossfire as a coupe while the hardtop is called a roadster. Who knows why? This car is based on the previous model Mercedes SLK and shares the design, many parts, and also lacks any usable storage space with the top down.

The Chrysler Crossfire Coupe MSRP: $34,735 is a two seater with either a 6 speed manual (standard) or 5 speed automatic transmission,ABS and Traction Control standard, and a 3.2L V6, 18 valve, 215 hp engine that gives this tiny two seater vast amounts of power, and gets about 19 mpg city / 25 mpg hwy.

Chrysler introduced race-inspired SRT6 editions of both the coupe and Roadster for 2005. Rather than the usual 215-hp V-6, SRT6 Chrysler introduced new race-inspired SRT6 editions of both the coupe and Roadster for 2005. Rather than the usual 215-hp V-6, SRT6 models are equipped with a supercharged 3.2-liter V-6 that produces 330 hp and 310 pounds-feet of torque. That’s enough power for a 0-to-60-mph acceleration time of about 5 seconds - scary super car class.

The others

The PT Cruiser had an MSRP of $19,255 for the base model and the $30,000+ Chrysler PT Cruiser convertible model is reto-stylish, unique, and incredibly fun to drive, It comes with a 2.4 Liter engine with turbo charger. and In spite of it’s truck based chassis, the new Cruiser Convertible drives like a bit like a sports car. The 180 hp turbo engine provides all the zip and fun you could want, even loaded with luggage.

A roomy backseat and a large trunk (even with the top down) will carry four adults and their carry on luggage to and from the airport or for a weekend roadtrip. Front and side airbags and a smooth five speed manual transmission are standard, but most are sold with air conditioning and automatic transmission at the minimum.

The Chrysler Sebring Convertible: MSRP $25,840 for the LX to $32,055 for the Limited

Chryser’s “Everything under the Sun” Sebring convertible is still in production and the four cylinder model is still the most popular convertible in the USA. The car is available as either a standard cloth top or a retractable hardtop that you can leave at the airport. The all steel convertible roof retracts into the trunk by simply pressing a button. and leaves enough room for carry on luggage or golf clubs. The Sebring design cuts through the air well and looks good on the road, but you will get wet even with the top up in bad weather, and the resale value is poor.

All these very different cars, the Crossfire, the PT Cruiser, and the Sebring offer exceptional style and exceptional engineering, All look spectacular in the convertible model. However, the PT Cruser has too poor a repair record for me to recommend it, the Sebring has it’s problems with leaky roofs and old style dashboard shimmy, while the coupe’s lack of storage space makes it a single person only car. The Crossfire, PT Cruiser and the Sebring convertibles are all available on eBay or at your local dealer.

Ragtops

Originally a ragtop was a synonym for a convertible; a slang term that referred to any car with a cloth top that could be folded down. The convertible era in the US reached peaked in the 1950s before air conditioning became a common fixture in modern cars.

Although there have always been a few new convertibles produced every year, sales declined steadily and significantly until 1990 when Mazda introduced the Miata/MX5 - a tiny fun to drive 2 seat convertible with roadster style and Japanese reliability at a price that almost anyone could afford.

Modern Roadsters

The Miata’s sales success sparked a crowd of competitors from Europe, America, and Japan - the Audi TT, BMW Z3 and Z4, Porsche Boxster, Chrysler Crossfire, Pontiac Solstice, Saturn Sky, Honda S2000, Toyota MR2, and Nissan 350Z are all called modern roadsters, are all influenced by the Miata.

Originally a ‘roadster’ was a lightweight, front engine, rear wheel drive, two seat convertible car: a purist’s sports car, epitomized by the British sports cars of the 1950s that didn’t even have side windows to keep the rain out. Even today, a sports car purist’s definition is ‘no roof, no back seat, no trunk, no automatic transmission, and no damn cupholders’, but today a roadster is mostly a marketing term for any sporty two seater - ‘T’ tops and fastbacks with automatic transmissions, air conditioning, and power everything are called roadsters, to the annoyance of the above purists.

Retractibles

The first popular example of a hardtop convertible was the late fiftys Ford Galaxy - a large expensive six seat sedan with a single piece roof that folded into the spacious trunk and left room for no more than a bachelors grocery order in top down mode.

Today true ‘cloth tops’ are disappearing again since the technology required to make a hardtop that folds away into the trunk or behind the seats is now inexpensive enough to use on most cars. The tiny roof on the new Miata MX-5 folds away in under 12 seconds at the push of a button and weighs about fifty pounds.

A small price to pay for being able to leave the car parked at the airport or golf course without worrying about a theif cuting your thousand dollar top open to steal a fifty dollar GPS or radio.

In pleasant weather, there is no need to run the air conditioner as the cabin stays cool if given a bit of shade with the top and the windows down.And a top down drive on back roads out to the lake will cool off even a Georgia summer in August

Such a small car doesn’t waste much power- Even a modest 1 litre engine like you see in a motorcycle or tractor will easily outperform many larger cars and still average as much as 30 to 40 miles per gallon; on the highways anyway.

GM plans to revive the Camaro - out of production since the 2002 model year. The new Camaro SS convertible will have an available 6.2-liter V8 engine, as expected from it’s muscle car heritage, but even the V8 will get about 23 mpg on the highway; V6 versions, which GM expects will be the biggest sellers, are expected to get 26 miles per gallon on the highway, the same as a V6 Ford Mustang, while boasting the same horsepower as a V8 Mustang.and the V8 is expected to match the V8 Mustang GT with up to 40% more power.

Although very much a rumor so far, this car looks to be a hit with the younger buyers.

The Honda S2000 has an MSRP of $34,300, which makes the Honda S2000 one of the most least expensive true sports cars on the market. The Honda S2000 convvertible is s sheer dream to drive and holds the road like a race car.
The Honda S2000 was rated the number two affordable sports car by U.S. News and World Report. This analysis was based on reviews of performance, reliability and safety data.

The S2000 not only looks like a racecar, it drives like one. The word “pocket rocket” was invented for a car like the S2000. The suspension comes right from the race track and you will notice this while driving the S2000. This means you should be cautious of road conditions at high speeds, and expect a rough ride on rough roads. The Honda S2000 is a true track racer. You could drive right off the street and onto the track if you wanted to. The performance is rated at the highest level for an affordable sports car. This performance is provided by an engine that packs a wallop.

Performance:
2.2L DOHC SMPI Engine.
237 horse power at 7,800 RPM (!)
162 foot lb’s of torque.
Sports a 6 speed manual transmission with overdrive.
The S2000 is a rear wheel drive sports car that will give you 18/25 MPG - on premium gas only.

This performance at high RPMs will knock your socks off. The Honda S2000 roadster convertible has the Honda double wishbone suspension. The suspension is the reason why this sports car holds the road so well. The Honda S2000 roadster now has a limited edition CR trim that provides better performance on the race track. Also new, is the new tire pressure monitor that comes standard.
The Honda S2000 has to be one of the best choices in a sports car today. The S200 has great affordability, performance, and oh yea, the sleek fantastic race car look.
No one can touch this kind of performance for less than 35k but Honda.

The Z4 is moderately priced for a luxury sports car and gets very good fuel economy. With rising cost of fuel prices this feature is important for everyone.

The MSRP of the BMW Z4 is $36,400 to $42,400 depending on options.

The gas mileage is very good at 20 MPG in the city and 29 on the highway. The Z4 offers excellent value compared to higher priced sports cars. It is a very sexy car that also has fantastic cargo space.

Performance is provided by an I6 3.0 Liter gasoline engine. This engine is the same in both the standard and the SI Z4 versions.

The transmission options are a 6 speed standard or 6 speed automatic transmission. The gas mileage is the same for both models.

Make no mistake; the BMW Z4 is a luxury sports car through and through. The Z4 will turn head where ever it is driven. The Z4 is one of the best values on the market. Plus, it is incredibly fun to drive.

If you want a performance oriented, luxury, sports convertible the BMW Z4 is a perfect choice. If a convertible is not your choice then you can get the standard coupe. Drivers who have test-driven the Z4 love the responsive rigid body and the performance of the engine.

Overall, the Z4 rates very well in the affordable luxury sports convertible market. The BMW Z4 will get you there in style and in a hurry. It will go from 0 to 60 MPH in 5.6 seconds. This power is drawn from the massive 6 cylinder 3 liter engine that provides 255 horse power at 6,600 revolutions per minute.

The BMW Z4 is power, performance, and affordability in one sleek package.

Elon Musk, founder of Telsa Motors makers of the first modern all electric roadster, talks about cars and the environment. When asked “Do you think biofuel will be able stand a chance against electric?”, he said:

“My motivation behind Tesla is really to do as much good as possible for the environment and the electric-vehicle revolution.”.

I think for high-value applications like jet fuel, it ( biofuel) makes a lot more sense than it does for cars. Biofuels such as ethanol require enormous amounts of cropland and end up displacing either food crops or natural wilderness, neither of which is good. The current cultivated land is what’s needed to provide food for about 6 billion people. The energy used by a car is much greater than a person. A person might use 3,000 calories in a day, but a car would use 300,000. Cars take a lot more energy than people do.

It’s obviously tricky to convert waste cellulose to a useful biofuel. I think actually the most efficient way to use cellulose is to burn it in a co-generation power plant. That will yield the most energy and that is something you can do today.

But in general, crops are not a very efficient way of turning sunlight into mobile energy. A solar panel from SunPower is probably 20 to 22 percent efficient, but if you look at the actual efficiency of plants, if you take the sunlight incidence and then how much of that gets converted into plant matter and then what it takes to take that plant matter and convert it into ethanol or some other energy source, it actually ends up being well under 1 percent efficient.

Most carmakers today display hybrid models, where conventional engines are coupled with electric batteries that are always getting smaller and lighter, thus increasing the possible range travelled by electric cars.

Some shows feature biofuel powered diesel, some show all-electric powered commuter cars, some hybrids, some feature a $100,000 electric roadster. It’s all over the place just like it was over 100 years ago when Henry Ford’s assembly line annihilated all his hand built competition and created the automobile age that is just now ending.

Is it a car or a super trike? The Alé two-seater has two wheels at the front, one at the back, carbonfibre bodywork, and is fitted with a turbocharged SOHC 1.5-litre Honda VTEC engine that makes over 175 horsepower. Zero to 100km/h takes just five seconds and top speed is limited to 225km/h.

Based in Canada, FuelVapor Technologies Inc developed the Alé concept as a high performance yet frugal, super low emissions vehicle . The company says the front-wheel-drive vehicle runs on fuel vapour rather than normal liquid petrol and is capable of doing about 30km/l. The company website says that while most petrol engines run a 14.7:1 air-to-fuel ratio, the Alé runs a ratio of over 20:1, without compromising on performance.