What convertibles have turned your eyes?

[Casio]

Mmmm.

Cheaper then a 350z too. Now which would you prefer....?

 

[L8 Apex]

Call me a masochist, but how can you discuss cheap convertibles and not include one of these:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1993...91QQihZ007QQcategoryZ6405QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

 

[Wolfe]

Mmmm.

*zOMG a porshuh!!*

Cheaper then a 350z too. Now which would you prefer....?

That's my second choice.

 

[exigeracer]

I'm not a fan of the e30 convertible, I find the boxiness of the natural roof compliments the rest of the car's shape.

This car doesn't make my head turn, it makes me yell and shout:

 

[SkylineObsession]

Screw the rules, i'm listing all the convertables i'd happily own.

Ferrari F50
Lamborghini Gallardo Spider (or whatever it is called)
RUF 3400S
Porsche Boxster S
Honda S2000
Last model Mazda MX-5 before they totally redesigned it (don't like the ones with pop-up lights)

I might have forgotten one or two. :s

 

[YSSMAN]

Let me think for a minute...

Chevrolet SSR Pace-Truck anyone?

Otherwise, the old standard works...

The 1969 Chevrolet Camaro SS Indy Pace Car

 

[GT4_Rule]

A few -

Mitsu Eclipse Convertible GT V6
BMW E46 325i
Volvo C70

 

[Famine]

I don't like convertibles most of the time. I prefer hard-tops if I have to have one because I don't think I've ever seen a good looking clothe top.

*cough, splutter, hack*

 

[TheCracker]

👍 TVR Griffith - game over, end of thread.

 

[Poverty]

*cough, splutter, hack*shame about the engine*cough, splutter, hack*

 

[Famine]

"Shame about the engine"?

Do you have your brain in the right way round today? You're talking about one of the nastiest-sounding V8s in existence, with 340hp and torques on tap as if it's a bad thing?

 

[Poverty]

"Shame about the engine"?

Do you have your brain in the right way round today? You're talking about one of the nastiest-sounding V8s in existence, with 340hp and torques on tap as if it's a bad thing?

manufacturer states 340hp, but in reality it was closer to 260hp

Google it.

 

[Famine]

Speaking of reality, which one are you in now?

There were three different engines - and a post-cat version makes four. 240, 280, 320 and 340hp.

Quite where you get "260" from I don't know - unless you mean wheel power, which in a late model, post-cat 500 would be about right.


AND, all that notwithstanding, it still pulls 4.1 to 60mph (as tested by AutoCar) and sounds like Judgment Day. I'm at a loss why this is a bad thing.

 

[Holdenhsvgtsr]

TVR chimera

 

[Poverty]

Speaking of reality, which one are you in now?

There were three different engines - and a post-cat version makes four. 240, 280, 320 and 340hp.

Quite where you get "260" from I don't know - unless you mean wheel power, which in a late model, post-cat 500 would be about right.


AND, all that notwithstanding, it still pulls 4.1 to 60mph (as tested by AutoCar) and sounds like Judgment Day. I'm at a loss why this is a bad thing.

I have no clue. All I know is that that when the 340hp griffs get dynoed they make around 260hp, and supposedly alot of TVR's fall short of their advertised power output, but not anywhere as drastic as the griffith.

 

[Famine]

I've seen post-cat Griffiths getting less than 300 - but they're rated at 320, not the 340 of the pre-cat (not to be confused with precat, which is a part of the catalytic converter system). Show me one cast-iron example of a <1995 Griffith 500 dynoing 260hp.


And you still need to explain to me why the engine is "bad" even IF it were to make 260hp - as it STILL pulls 4.1s to 60mph, as tested by AutoCar and is outlawed in Switzerland because it's an avalanche risk.

Looks good, sounds better, goes better still (and falls apart when you get there - or more likely in your driveway). You have to admit, it does fall into the category of "good-looking cloth top" as requested by xXSilencerXx.

 

[ExigeEvan]

And you still need to explain to me why the engine is "bad" even IF it were to make 260hp - as it STILL pulls 4.1s to 60mph, as tested by AutoCar and is outlawed in Switzerland because it's an avalanche risk.

 

[CAMAROBOY69]

I saw and heard a car yesterday that really caught my eye that was a convertible. I finally saw that it said Maserati on the rear of the car. It was quite nice looking and the exhaust tone was the first thing that caught my attention. Not sure of the year.
I also like the new Pontiac Solstice a lot. There is one about 1 block from my house and it catches my eye every time I drive by it.

 

[Poverty]

I've seen post-cat Griffiths getting less than 300 - but they're rated at 320, not the 340 of the pre-cat (not to be confused with precat, which is a part of the catalytic converter system). Show me one cast-iron example of a <1995 Griffith 500 dynoing 260hp.

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?f=23&t=259651

And you still need to explain to me why the engine is "bad" even IF it were to make 260hp - as it STILL pulls 4.1s to 60mph, as tested by AutoCar and is outlawed in Switzerland because it's an avalanche risk.

Looks good, sounds better, goes better still (and falls apart when you get there - or more likely in your driveway). You have to admit, it does fall into the category of "good-looking cloth top" as requested by xXSilencerXx.

The cars performance is good, but because the engine doesnt do what TVR claims its bad.

My mistake on thinking it was the 340hp version.

At first I was pretty disappointed with the result for the Griff and was going to post on here as soon as I got back, to find out how I could get the power back up. The people running the road looked at the dyno curves and couldn't locate a problem. The curves were nice and smooth and the engine was putting out loads of torque (just shy of the cerbie in fact). So I started to panic even more.

However a quick dip into the Steve Heath 'Bible' when I got home confirmed what vixpy posted earlier. The figure of 260bhp is what you can expect from the factory quoted 320bhp version of the 500.
As mongoose says, I didn't do my homework before I took the car and I scared myself by expecting to see the factory figure.

That helped explain why the car doesn't struggle when it&#8217;s out hooning against the Loti gang (and it stopped my high blood pressure) but it doesn't help explain why or how TVR overstate their figures in the first place.

 

[Famine]

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?f=23&t=259651

Well hey, something some guy posted on an internet forum! That's cast-iron enough for me (and I already read it)!

The engine may not "do" what TVR claims, but it still lays down exactly the same performance figures as claimed. So it does, in fact, "do" what TVR claim, regardless of some showpony figure.


That all aside, xXSilencerXx asked for a "cloth top" which was good looking. Fits the bill, hmm?

AND it's within "common-man"'s budget.

AND it lays its smack down mightily.

 

[TheCracker]

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?f=23&t=259651

The cars performance is good, but because the engine doesnt do what TVR claims its bad.

My mistake on thinking it was the 340hp version.

And how do we know that 'Tim' hasn't been home-tuning his engine, or whether his engine is in good health?

I've never heard anyone ever say they were disatisfied with a TVR's performance.

 

[Poverty]

Heres what the owner had to say.

At first I was pretty disappointed with the result for the Griff and was going to post on here as soon as I got back, to find out how I could get the power back up. The people running the road looked at the dyno curves and couldn't locate a problem. The curves were nice and smooth and the engine was putting out loads of torque (just shy of the cerbie in fact). So I started to panic even more.

However a quick dip into the Steve Heath 'Bible' when I got home confirmed what vixpy posted earlier. The figure of 260bhp is what you can expect from the factory quoted 320bhp version of the 500.
As mongoose says, I didn't do my homework before I took the car and I scared myself by expecting to see the factory figure.

That helped explain why the car doesn't struggle when it&#8217;s out hooning against the Loti gang (and it stopped my high blood pressure) but it doesn't help explain why or how TVR overstate their figures in the first place.

 

[Jim Prower]

They always looked better than the 'Cudas, in my opinion. I still prefer Closed-roof cars, though.

But.....

.....If Dirt is your thing......

 

[CAMAROBOY69]

They always looked better than the 'Cudas, in my opinion. I still prefer Closed-roof cars, though.

I agree with you there. I really dont care for older convertibles at all and I am sure I will never own one. I liked T-Tops in my 96 Formula. I just never cared much for convertibles.

 

[Holdenhsvgtsr]

Heres what the owner had to say.

thats only one car,wheres the rest?

and if you read further on in the thread you will read that the cars werent being cooled properly

 

[Danny]

Some say it looks like a whale but I think it's nice.

Also, the used price tends to fall quickly due to lack of people actually buying them.

Cheap as you like (around &#163;13,000 is it's still being made)

Surprisingly pleasing on the eye. Well proportioned and nicely sculpted.

The Sebring would turn my head too.

 

[Poverty]

thats only one car,wheres the rest?

and if you read further on in the thread you will read that the cars werent being cooled properly

proper cooling wouldnt have made the rest of the 60hp magically re-appear and other cars were bang on the buck, with some pushing figures greater than the manufacturers claim.

And if you read what the guy said its been published in books that griffs HP levels are way overrated.

 

[TheCracker]

proper cooling wouldnt have made the rest of the 60hp magically re-appear and other cars were bang on the buck, with some pushing figures greater than the manufacturers claim.

And if you read what the guy said its been published in books that griffs HP levels are way overrated.

I'd rather have a car with over rated power figures but performed exactly as quoted than having a car with as much power as quoted yet under performs.

 

[Famine]

I'd rather have a car with over rated power figures but performed exactly as quoted than having a car with as much power as quoted yet under performs.

...while looking and sounding just like that...

 

[xXSilencerXx]

*cough, splutter, hack*

Well I knew I could count on Famine to show me one that does look good.