Three Roadsters Not for Every Budget

Looking for a two-passenger sporty convertible? Perhaps something to compliment your Range Rover? Here are three best suggestions ranging in price from a lot to a lot more, surly one will appeal to you senses.

The Quintessential Roadster

In the “around $70k” category is the Porsche Boxster. I recently drove the limited edition Spyder and found it to be fantastic with the exception of daily drive-ability. The Spyder is more of an enthusiast weekend car; the suspension is a little stiff and the top can be a bit tricky to install.

The conventional Boxster S however is just about perfect for daily commute. It’s comfortable, offers two relatively decent size trunks and is a ton of fun to drive. You get a choice of manual or dual-clutch transmissions and frankly you can’t go wrong with either one. Opting for the thick sport steering wheel, sport seats and a sport exhaust will send you into a driving nirvana.

The Boxster is not about speed; it is about balance, driver involvement and fun. The car is composed, quick, and makes you forget about life for a while, which is exactly what a proper roadster is supposed to achieve.

The Executive Suite

Splurging a bit more by roughly doubling your budget will land you in the Mercedes Benz SL63. The SL has been around for while, yet Mercedes manages to keep it current through frequent subtle updates; I call it Continuing Engineering.

The car is simply gorgeous, often requiring a double-look, and when combined with AMG’s fantastic 6.2-liter V8 it is almost raised to super-car status. The SL63 is like a bear, angry when agitated and when you finally scream mercy, it back-fires as if to say “I won”.

The retractable hardtop, and its glass roof panel, allows for year-round sun-filled driving and added safety. Heated and cooled seats, with built-in back massager, and patented Air-Scarf System which blows warm air onto your neck during moonlit al fresco drives, guarantee utmost comfort. The SL63 is a grand touring car, driving it gives a sensation similar to flying a private jet; luxurious and fast with feeling of superiority toward the schmucks flying commercial airlines.

The Hollywood Star

Press and hold the ENGINE START button on the steering wheel for the three seconds required by the engine to continue running on its own. You can almost feel the movement of air as the high compression pistons come to life. This is followed by the engine jumping to 1500RPM amidst of intimidating exhaust note which sends shivers down your back.  Swiftly, the engine settles down to a tame but present rumble. Where once you had doubts, you are now confident that this is proper Ferrari.

The steering wheel is just about perfect, aside from two small horn buttons on the rim. The column-mounted shifter paddles are huge and the best I’ve experienced to date, making the Ferrari California easiest to drive in manual mode. Seats are comfortable and controls are almost logical (this is an Italian car after all).

Driven around town in auto mode the Cali is very civilized, not unlike the SL63. The transmission up-shifts at very low engine speed, where you find yourself driving at 35mph in fifth gear. The engine however never bogs or feels low on power, clearly this was intended.

On the highway the California will deceive you. Missing is the noise and drama typically associated with Italian exotics. In their place is smooth acceleration and complete composure. It is almost as if the California was not designed by the same people who brought us the F40 and F430 Scuderia.

Car enthusiasts won’t necessarily understand the California but perhaps that is the whole point. It offers a mild and easy going personality but with flair charisma, sort of like the place is was named after.