Suggestions for a Fun, Reliable Sunny Weather Car for Vacation Home?

Hey everyone,
I know this isn't necessarily about a 458/488/F8, but I'm posting here because I've always appreciated the great feedback and discussions in this sub-forum. (if the mods move it, I understand)

I'm looking for suggestions on a fun, sunny weather car to leave at a vacation home for family and friends to drive when they visit. My main priorities are that it shouldn't be too finicky, it needs to be reasonably priced to insure, and I’d prefer something with a good track record for reliability. I had considered a Beck Spyder, but in today's traffic, I just feel it's too dangerous, and I’d hate for someone to get hurt. Other cars I've thought about are the 308 GTS, an older 911, Boxster Spyder, or even a restomod Corvette.

What do you guys think? I’d love to hear your ideas or experiences with something that fits this description!

 

Budget?

A/C?

Auto or manual?

Fun - got it.

Fun and fast?

More than a two seater? Or is two enough?

We just picked this up as a fun car. Reliable? Check. Convertible? Check. Fun? CHECK! Fast-ish? Check. Cheapish to insure? Check. Budget $30-35K to find a really nice one.

Image Unavailable, Please Login

A fair number to choose from on the market at any moment, most are low miles as they were never anyone's daily driver.

This is a 2013 Mercedes Sl 550 first year of the higher horsepower and revised look. We're having a blast with it. Easy to drive, gobs of power, nice hard top/convertible. Stay away from the optional ABC suspension. Otherwise, really solid cars and not brutal to maintain, either. Want something a little slower, a little smaller and a lot cheaper? SLK 350 from the same era.


D

 

Budget: under 100k, but if it's fun and 20k, I don't care... not trying to impress anyone

AC: If it's a classic convertible, then doesn't matter as AC never really worked back then and the top will always be down

Fun and fast: fun over fast... rather drive a slow car fast then a fast car slow... the 308 is slow but it is fun IMO.

2 or 4 seater: either... a 67 Mustang convertible with 4 seats on the radar.

Thanks for your input and suggestion!

 

the evora is a pretty fun car. blown toyota engine pretty reliable.

the mustang gt350 is a stunningly good drive. great brakes. sounds good

 

Our "friends and family car" is a John Cooper Works Mini. Definitely fun, easy to maintain, ridiculously easy to park. We have five convertibles so did the hardtop and automatic to make it easier for visitors.

 

My first thoughts were either a Boxster S or an older M3.

 

I'm also loving my new 2025 BMW Z4. I bought it with the 6MT, which is not necessarily the best for visitors, but I test drove the automatic as well. It's a great car, with all the new amenities (Carplay, Android Auto, etc).

Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

We just bought a green Z4 with the manual. Great car.

 

Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

V8 Vantages can be picked up now for very reasonable money. Plus you have the advantage of either manual or auto and coupe or drop head.

 

Excellent. I ordered mine 22 April, picked it up 2 September. Really enjoying it.

 

A first generation Ferrari California.

Lexus LC 500 Convertible

 

2016 Porsche Spyder. NA, 3.8, manual. Arguably one of the best handling and sounding Porsches. Maybe above your budget.

 

I see you have California. That is actually one of the cars I was considering since early ones can be had for a decent price. What do you think about that?
Right now I'm thinking: Z4, Boxster, California, Aston Vantage, Jaguar F-type, Lotus Elise, Mercedes Pagoda, and in the 4 seat category, which could be cool: 60's Mustang restomod convertible BMW, Mercedes. Lots to consider...

 

I drove my friend's 718 Spyder, great sports car, but very uncomfortable as a fun car. The manual roof and cloth interior door handles were a little too much. I also did a test drive in a 981 Spyder. Again, great sports car, not something I think my friends / family would drive while visiting, stupid manual roof. Admittedly, my new Z4 struggled to keep up with the 718 Spyder on our weekly Cars and Coffee drive (I usually take my 458), but the new Z4 is so much more comfortable than the 718. Yes, my parking job was terrible.

Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

Portofino M (I always liked the California, California T, and Portofino, but not enough to buy one). The Portofino M is fantastic.

Image Unavailable, Please Login
Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

After looking at the last picture I posted, I have my 2011 Maserati Gran Turisbmo Convertible tucked in the corner. We bought it new, legitimate four seater convertible, 4.7 Liter Ferrari F136 variant engine, Pininfarina design. I still keep ours because two or three times a year we need a four seat convertible (the Portofino M is 12" shorter and no actual human can sit in the back seats). You could probably pick up a Maserati Gran Turismo for very little money at this point. Pretty much same engine as the California, much better seating. The transmission is a ZF6 and not the DCT, so no huge worries about replacement. Image Unavailable, Please Login
Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

Great suggestion... they have great sounds!