Second Opinion - Blackett
The Mini Cooper is too small for my tastes, and I have no desire to look at a PT Cruiser for countless years to come. That leaves the Solara or the Mustang, and as I see it, the Solara might be just the ticket in 30 years when I hand my kids the keys to my beloved 2005 Ford Mustang GT convertible.
It took moving to sunny California for me to appreciate the brilliance of four-passenger convertibles. During our testing, dropping the top was simply a question of whether or not I wanted to burn that growing patch of flesh on the top of my head. Previously, as a native New Englander, I had focused on the shortcomings of convertibles. Sure they’re fun, but practical? Not so much. In an environment where most days are cold and gray or subject to copious amounts of “precipitation,” driving around with the top down might get you referred to as “wicked dumb.” Oh, you can drive most convertibles all year in the great White North (in fact, three of our testers were capable front-drivers), but the locals will still shake their heads at your eccentricity. But, we performed our testing in southern California, where it takes a lot more than driving with the top down on a cloudy day to be considered abnormal. For most people, after deciding to shop for a convertible, it comes down to price, comfort, usability, and desirability. And don’t forget about fun – without it, that convertible might as well be an old-man-tan sedan. For me, desirability and fun outrank all of the others (followed closely by price), so I’d put my own money down for a 2005 Ford Mustang GT convertible – there is just no substitute for the power, style, and thrilling sound offered by that car. Should the hot-selling Mustang elude my grasp (or if a salesperson is insistent on a “market adjusted price”), I’d have loads of fun driving the Mini Cooper S convertible. Rounding out my choices would be the Solara, followed by my least favorite, the 2005 Chrysler PT Cruiser convertible. 4th Place: 2005 Chrysler PT Cruiser GT Convertible
With big rebates, generous turbo power, and spacious seating for four adults, the PT Cruiser convertible makes a lot of sense for a lot of shoppers. Plus, the 7-year/70,000-mile powertrain warranty can’t be beat by any vehicle in this test. Overall, the PT Cruiser looks like a helluva bargain. Look a little closer, though, and the cracks in the PT’s veneer are obvious. That turbo power brings with it unruly torque-steer, leading to an occasional battle for dominance between driver and car. And then there’s that trunk lid, which is just begging to bump some heads and strain some backs. The design, which was once seen as hot, is now just ho-hum. Finally, based on its price and content, the PT Cruiser may be a great value, but is it a bargain? Not for this shopper. A bargain suggests getting a great price on something you really want. If I had a PT to call my own, it would only be because I didn’t want to pay more for something better. 3rd Place: 2005 Toyota Camry Solara SLE Convertible
As our final rankings point out, the Toyota Camry Solara convertible is a car with more positives than negatives. The engine provides ample power and the transmission is smooth; the power top is quiet and easy to use; interior comfort ranks the highest; and even the trunk is spacious. Plus, it’s a Toyota, so the Solara brings with it a proven record of reliability. That being the case, I would definitely recommend this car to my 62-year-old mom. She’d like the nice ride, the big trunk, and probably even the styling. And if she handed it down after 30 years, I might even enjoy driving it when I’m her age. But, for now, I want a car that stirs at least a smidgen of emotion when I look at it and when I drive it, something accomplished by each of the competitors, except the Solara. 2nd Place: 2005 Mini Cooper S Convertible
Tight handling and supercharged power blended together with appealing looks and tiny dimensions are the steps in baking a fun convertible. It’s a recipe Mini engineers know well. When wearing the S badge, the Mini Cooper pumps out 168 horsepower, which is more than enough to turn this tiny box of car parts into a lively sprinter that will hang with the best of them on both the backroads and the highways. True, it may not offer the refinement of the Toyota or the spaciousness of the PT Cruiser, though neither does it suffer snooze-inducing styling or unwieldy torque steer. The Mini Cooper S convertible is a fun car to drive, be seen in, and even just to sit and look at. Sacrifices in comfort and utility have to be made when purchasing the Cooper, but they are soon forgotten once the key is turned and the tach moves past 3,000 rpm. 1st Place: 2005 Ford Mustang GT Convertible
American blood runs through these veins, and it pumps faster upon the sight of a 2005 Ford Mustang GT convertible. The redesigned Mustang offers the full package for me – classic yet muscular styling, a comfortable driving position with a simple but functional interior design, excellent visibility, and 300 horsepower controlled with a manual transmission. As a car guy, purchasing a convertible would be about more than making payments and dropping the top a few times. Instead, the idea would be to use and enjoy my new ride, dote over it on the weekends, and preserve it for my kids to enjoy. The Mini Cooper is too small for my tastes, and I have no desire to look at a PT Cruiser for countless years to come. That leaves the Solara or the Mustang, and as I see it, the Solara might be just the ticket in 30 years when I hand my kids the keys to my beloved 2005 Ford Mustang GT convertible.
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