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Convertibles have at all times sparked sturdy opinions—however for individuals who love them, they provide an expertise no hardtop can match. Certain, they’ve picked up a couple of clichés through the years, however as Rob Margeit of Drive Australia rightly identified, a lot of the criticism comes from outdated stereotypes.
Drop the roof, and all of a sudden you’re extra linked to the street, with solar in your face, wind in your hair, and, relying on the mannequin, a complete lot extra engine sound. The 2000s had been an amazing period for convertibles, however some stood out greater than others. These are the drop-tops that weren’t simply enjoyable to drive; in addition they regarded like 1,000,000 bucks doing it.
The Choice Course of
We selected these convertibles based mostly on private opinions about their designs. Clearly, they needed to be out there from 2000 to 2009 to be thought-about, and so they should both have a full-folding roof or a detachable targa high.
Every time we talk about the driving expertise, we depend on opinions from revered automotive journalists. What are the best-looking drop-tops to come back out of this beloved decade? Let’s have a look.
Audi TT (Second Technology)
Whereas the first-gen TT receives a lot of the glory, the second-gen model, launched in 2006, refined all the pieces that made the unique nice. It stored the curvy, Bauhaus-inspired silhouette however added sharper strains, a bolder grille, and sleeker tail lamps.
This was additionally the primary TT out there as a hardcore RS variant, which is a serious bonus in our books. As Matt Saunders of Autocar famous, it provided a unbelievable mix of favor and efficiency, proving Audi knew the best way to evolve a design with out ruining it.
Opel Speedster / Vauxhall VX220
What do you get when Lotus lends its Elise chassis to GM? The Opel Speedster and Vauxhall VX220, two sharp-edged, mid-engined rockets that look as wild as they drive.
Ditching the Elise’s curves for angular aggression, the Speedster/VX220 stood out with chunky wheel arches, stacked exhaust suggestions, and a design that surprisingly echoed on a regular basis Vauxhalls, however within the coolest means doable. In case you bear in mind Want for Pace: Sizzling Pursuit 2, this automobile probably lived rent-free in your storage.
Alfa Romeo Spider (939)
Right here’s a bit of forbidden fruit for Individuals. Based mostly on the gorgeous Brera coupe, the Spider was Alfa’s open-top heartthrob of the 2000s. It carried over the Brera’s signature triple-headlight setup, flowing strains, and quad tailpipes, however now with a folding mushy high.
Though the expertise behind the wheel wasn’t the most effective, as Ross Pinnock of Evo Journal came upon, who actually cares when a automobile appears to be like this good standing nonetheless?!
Plymouth Prowler
It might have debuted within the late ’90s, however the Prowler lived nicely into the 2000s, and it continues to show heads immediately. A retro-futuristic sizzling rod with uncovered suspension arms, a V-shaped physique, and wild staggered wheels, the Prowler was Mopar’s wild baby.
Certain, it solely had a V6 and an automated, as Christian Seabaugh of MotorTrend lamented, however simply take a look at it. Particularly in purple, it’s the automotive equal of displaying up in a velvet tux.
Mercedes-Benz CLK
The second-generation Mercedes CLK dates again to a time when Mercedes’ two-door vehicles had utterly completely different naming conventions, and it was additionally a precedence for these fashions to look beautiful.
The second-gen CLK blended the class of the W211 E-Class with the sleekness of a coupe-convertible, making it considered one of Merc’s most swish two-doors. In truth, it appears to be like good in any specification, however the varied shades of blue and gold gave it an much more stylish look. It may not be as fancy because the flagship CL-Class, however the CLK is a fairly good wager, and it’s a stunner.
Ford Mustang GT Convertible (S197-1)
The S197 Mustang nailed the retro revival development of the 2000s higher than almost every other automobile. With its throwback grille, fog lights, and tri-bar taillights, it screamed muscle automobile nostalgia.
Whereas it wasn’t the sharpest handler within the bunch, it nonetheless delivered a enjoyable, laid-back driving expertise that matched its daring design.
Pontiac Solstice
A Miata fighter from Pontiac? You wager. With a brief wheelbase, RWD, and a deal with dealing with, the Solstice punched above its weight. The GXP model, with turbo energy and aggressive bodywork, took it even additional.
Dave VanderWerp of Automobile and Driver praised its responsiveness, however even when parked, the curvy physique and vast stance spoke volumes. Proof that GM might make a roadster look critically good.
Honda S2000
The S2000 didn’t simply look good — it sounded unimaginable. Its high-revving, 240-hp 2.0-liter engine might scream to 9,000 RPM, as proven off by AutoTopNL and confirmed by Larry Webster of Automobile and Driver. That redline additionally meant it had one of many highest particular outputs of any manufacturing automobile.
And but, it was additionally an aesthetic triumph. Low, glossy, completely proportioned, the S2000 is well considered one of Honda’s finest-ever designs. No frills. No fluff. Only a pure, stunning driver’s automobile.
Mercedes-Benz SL (R230)
If the aforementioned CLK was trendy, the SL was outright glamorous. The R230 SL carried the legacy of the R129 into the twenty first century with softer curves and a retractable hardtop. It’s particularly fascinating with the enduring dialpad wheels.
It had all the correct powertrains and presence to match. Whether or not you went for the V8, the V12, and even the AMG model, this SL regarded each bit the manager dream convertible.
Mazda Miata (NB)
Inside the world of Miatas, it’s simple to see why the NA Miata, with its pop-up headlights, would get all the eye. We get it; it’s cute, and the pop-ups will steal your coronary heart each time. It’s time for its successor to obtain just a little extra consideration.
The NB Miata arrived within the early 2000s, and instantly, it utterly eradicated the pop-up headlights. Is sensible, as rules had been getting tighter by this level, however that doesn’t imply we should always shun the NB Miata. It’s nonetheless tiny, drives exceptionally nicely, as Patrick Bedard of Automobile and Driver can verify, and appears wonderful. Nearly as good as it’s in inventory kind, the Mazdaspeed model, which Barry Winfield, additionally of Automobile and Driver, liked, with its bigger wheels and floor results, is even higher.
Aston Martin V8 Vantage Roadster
It’s mainly unimaginable for Aston Martin to mess up styling. The most recent fashions are nice, however they’re a bit sharper and extra in your face than earlier than. Rewind the clock again to the 2000s, and Aston was all about smoothness and class.
That is evident in, amongst different issues, the V8 Vantage. Launched within the mid-2000s as an entry-level Aston Martin mannequin, convertible or hardtop, that is simply one of many best-looking vehicles of the last decade. The 4.3-liter V8 underneath the hood additionally produced a moderately superb noise.
Jaguar XK (X150)
The second-gen XK ditched the basic skinny physique of the X100 for a wider, extra athletic design. And it labored very well. With that signature lengthy hood, brief rear finish, rear-wheel drive, and V8 energy, it was a gentleman’s GT automobile with the center of a sports activities automobile.
An ideal mix of old-world class and trendy energy, the XK was a convertible that regarded simply nearly as good cruising the Riviera because it did parked on the golf membership.
Dodge Viper (ZB I)
How about one thing just a little extra excessive? The Dodge Viper was America’s thought of a world-challenging sports activities automobile, and what made it stand out was that it was carried out in essentially the most American means doable. Pressured induction? Smaller engine? Fewer cylinders? No, a V10 8.3 liters in capability and a captivating story, as instructed by VisioRacer on YouTube.
The ZB I, or third-generation Viper, doesn’t actually get all that a lot consideration, as everybody is just too busy extracting a gazillion horsepower from the newest one or speaking about how loopy the primary gen is. The third-generation Viper bears a robust resemblance to its predecessors. Nonetheless, it has cleaner bodywork, the Dodge crosshair grille works very well, and it has a complete lot of presence, particularly with the large chrome wheels.
Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder (DK2A)
It wasn’t the quickest, nor the sharpest, however the final-gen Eclipse Spyder certain regarded the half. Sleeker and extra mature than its predecessor, the DK2A options swooping strains and daring colours, together with that unforgettable burnt orange.
Issues acquired even higher after the facelift, and with that brilliant orange paint scheme and the Y-spoke wheels that the facelift vehicles had, it was undoubtedly an amazing piece of design. It’s a disgrace in regards to the underwhelming driving expertise, as members of MotorTrend employees confirmed again within the day.
Volvo C70
Volvo and convertibles aren’t two stuff you usually affiliate, however the second-gen C70 modified that. With a folding hardtop and timeless Scandinavian design, it was each trendy and sensible.
The out there 2.5-liter turbocharged five-cylinder additionally produced an honest sound with the roof down. Secure, clean, and unexpectedly handsome, precisely what you’d count on from Volvo’s golden period.
Lamborghini Gallardo Spyder
The Gallardo was Lamborghini’s first true “child Lambo” success, and it nonetheless appears to be like phenomenal immediately. As Florin Profir and Tudor Serban of Autoevolution report, the Gallardo was developed and constructed underneath Audi possession, and it was much less outrageous than its V12 siblings; it walked the road between unique aptitude and day by day usability.
Drop the highest, and the Gallardo Spyder turns into much more alluring. And because of that even-firing V10, the soundtrack is each bit as dramatic because the design.
Cadillac XLR
Constructed on the C6 Corvette platform however wrapped in sharp Cadillac sheet metallic, the XLR was GM’s daring try and tackle the Mercedes SL. With angular styling, a folding hardtop, and a Northstar V8, it was each bit the showboat it got down to be.
Luxurious, efficiency, and Corvette bones; the XLR is an underrated gem from Cadillac’s design-forward period. The XLR’s downfall was the choice to make use of Cadillac’s notorious Northstar V8, a daring alternative that proved a bit too bold underneath the Cadillac luxurious banner.
Porsche Carrera GT
Simply one of the talked-about supercars of all time. The Porsche Carrera GT is Porsche’s second flagship supercar, launched within the 2000s, and stays largely unmatched since its introduction. As Doug DeMuro likes to remind us, it actually was the final of its type: the final ever analog supercar with just about nothing in the way in which of digital nannies.
Not like the 911 GT1, which was designed solely for performance, Porsche’s designers gave the Carrera GT a bit extra consideration. The form of the physique, the white mesh panels on the engine cowl, the exhaust pipes, and the five-spoke wheels – it’s a fully stunning automobile. Virtually as stunning, in truth, because the sound it makes.
Mini Convertible
Lastly, how about one thing easy however superior? After BMW took over the Rover Group to relaunch the Mini, it determined that the Mini lineup wanted to develop considerably. This included, amongst different issues, a convertible model of the well-known retro hatch.
Growth! The Mini Convertible was born. Each era of the Mini to this point has been (and nonetheless is) out there as a convertible; nevertheless, we’ll deal with the unique R52 right here. The Mini is already one of the charismatic small vehicles, however while you take the roof off, it turns into much more of a pleasure to take a look at. Add some additional fog lights and a great set of wheels, and it’s assured to show heads. It’s additionally price mentioning that, sure, you possibly can go for the Convertible with the stunning supercharged four-cylinder as nicely.
These Convertibles Are The Fairest Of Them All
Whereas there have been some convertible mishaps, such because the Chrysler PT Cruiser Convertible, it’s typically fairly tough to mess issues up in terms of styling a convertible. For a lot of of them, it feels as if chopping the roof off ought to have occurred instantly.
Of all of the convertibles that automakers served us all through the 2000s, maybe the final decade when automakers actually took this phase critically, these fashions are the best-looking of all of them.
