Have you ever dreamt about driving without anything between your skin and fresh natural air? Have your ever thought about the feeling of beautiful warmth of morning sun on your face? How happy are peoples from Florida or California who can enjoy all pluses of convertibles all-year-long!
     A lot of people are crazy about Ferrari or Lamborghini, but let me introduce your real cars for real money. I don't want to speak a lot about variants with manual transmission, because to my mind the ride without top is for free. If you want to think "what to push where" (do you remember Richard Gere in Pretty woman?), practically all companies suggest you variants with manual for a few hundreds cheaper. I'll describe your the last 2007 models.
     Let's begin from guests from Europe – MINI Cooper Convertible and Volkswagen New Beetle Convertible. Grandchildren of Sir Alec Issigonis and Prof. Ferdinand Porsche try to continue the line of their legendary parents. What can they suggest us?

     MINI not only looks smaller than the Beetle, it's really tinier. Among Pros – convenient powered top, high fuel efficiency and Mini's charisma. Cons – not enough space for real passengers and baggage, too much wind if you don't buy available wind blocker. BMW as the owner of a new Mini suggests us charged S version with 172 HP instead of usual 118. MINI is mini everywhere – the smallest 4 Cyl, 1.6L engine, lightest weight. This 2 door 4 passenger convertible is shorter than Mazda MX-5 Miata and Pontiac Solstice with their only 2 passengers. The big and serious problem – somebody in Toyota Tundra or Lincoln Navigator will not be able to notice you in this miracle of miniaturization.

     We say – Volkswagen New Beetle, but think – Golf with a "retro" body. Pros – iconic design, power operated top, ABS and Stability Control included as standard. Cons – five cylinder rumble, small rear seats space. I don't think that 150 HP of this not-lightweight "son of sunny Mexico" are enough for comfortable driving. Max speed 110mph – not funny. In some circumstances car's possibility for fast acceleration can save you life. A lot of users review displays the lowest Overall rating among his "neighbors" in this article.

     Our guest from the other part of the Earth – Mazda MX-5 Miata. In 2007 it debuts with a power retraction of hardtop. To open and close it's enough a few seconds. For its MSPR Mazda MX-5 Miata prepare light feels when driving. Pros – serious capacity for 2, fast and obedient engine. The only Con hat I've found – a little bit noisy above 60. It like a talented dancer can turn around on a small patch of the road. It has the smallest fuel tank capacity – only 12.7 gal. But it's enough to make a 300 miles trip without visiting gas stations.

     Two sons of one father GM – Saturn Sky and Pontiac Solstice. Both use Kappa platform and 420-450 pounds heavier than a Mazda MX-5. Saturn Sky gives many comfort items as a standard. This two-seat ragtop is rather powered with 177HP 2.4L 16-valve DOHC. It takes every turns with valid aplomb. Soft ride and good sound insulation. Low seats add additional pro for the sport car image. "Nervous" top movements prevent Sky from being the ideal.
     Need more power? Red Line, the evil twin of Sky, is what your need! Direct injection turbo four with "herd" of 260HP. 18-inch alloy wheels, from 0 to 60 mph in 5.5 seconds – and cheaper than $30.000!

     Pontiac Solstice has opened new horizons for us – how can modern and comfortable convertible car be cheaper than $20.000 in the XXI century. But why they use so cheap-looking plastic interior? May be you know? Conscientious and predictable car attracts attention everywhere. Obedient and loyal it can move you everywhere. Fast variant, with the same engine as in Red Line is sold as Pontiac Solstice GXP.

     The strange "animal" in our Zoo – Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder. It's the only 2+2 variant in our list. Strange. Practically the same interior volume in MINI is for 2 grown-ups (24 & 23 cu ft accordingly). Or Japan children are much bigger than British ones? The 2.4L 162HP engine has 6 valves on every of its 4 cylinders. Calm exterior, quiet with the top up. Tidy and fast top. Main Cons – no rollover protection and "shake dance" on bad road surfaces.

     Chrysler PT Cruiser Convertible. You can love its exterior style or hate, but undoubtedly, PT Cruiser attracts attention. Like veritable American car doesn't like manual. Not very good fuel efficiency is compensated by enough space for everybody and even for baggage. Great all day and all night long for relax. Corners like a dream of driver. It's not so big to be a "beach cruiser" but deserve to be called "beach frigate".

     All power of V-6 and V-8 you can delight in Ford Mustang Convertible. The character of wild horse is fully in it. A marvelous alloy of nostalgia and modern. It's a powerboat not a float. You can splurge and it's tot mere words. 210HP as a minimum for Ford Mustang Deluxe Convertible in its 4.0L with MSPR lower than $25.000 and 300HP in V-8 GT which also can be bought lower than $30.000. I need one for me and another for my sister! Back seats may be too small for adults, but my nephew will be happy there. Why www.kbb.com doesn’t write, that Ford suggests optional 5-speed Automatic for GT?

     The new Titan goddess from Greece has been introduced to American drivers in 2007. In Greece mythology EOS opened the gates of heaven. Can Volkswagen Eos do the same for you? Let's check. Attractive base price, solid European interior. Clever retractable hardtop. Not big (only 2.0L DOHC) but turbocharged and intercooled engine moves this one of the heaviest car in our article (see table below) rather quickly. If you are a sensitive driver sometimes you'll feel it rather heavy. Don't forget, Eos prefer Premium!

     Toyota have suggested with American character. If you hear – 3.3L V-6, only automatic transmission, 18.5gal fuel tank capacity (it's enough to travel from Jacksonville to Miami), what name are you waiting? It's hard to believe, but its Toyota Camry Solara Convertible (sometimes named much easy – Toyota Solara). Comfortable combination of soft but precise engine and transmission are corrupted by some design mistakes, which lead to some inexplicable movements on the highway. Calm and serious design of front side and interior contrasts with unattractive design of the back. Very inadequate car.

     I thought a lot – write or not about Chrysler Sebring Convertible. The company decided to take a vacation until 2008 and haven't suggested us 2007 model, but car is so popular and you can easily find it in dealers' inventory. This car is widely presented in rental fleets in Sunbelt states. This is the serious argument for its reliability. It is rather big for visiting Wal-Mart in sunny weekend. 150HP 2.4L DOHC in base variant is good for family car. Comfort open air party for 4 – the main task of this car.

     This is not a twin of Sebring Convertible, but its "brother in arms". Pontiac G6 Convertible is heavier, much heavier. Additional 500 pounds (see table) complicate all aspects of driving. If you are ready to move slow, without acceleration, but feel yourself comfortable all four seasons under its hardtop – you can buy it. In other way – choose anything else.
     What we see? Different cars with open top are ready to be yours for less than $30.000. What we can't see? Something noteworthy among "big" (Chrysler Sebring Convertible 2007 – where are you?) and "small" Europeans like Smart or Mercedes A-class.
     Think, choose and buy. I believe, my article will help you a little.

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