10 Best Used Convertibles

Summertime and driving topdown is easy — at least it is if you own one of the 10 best used convertibles on the market. There is something special about driving with the breeze flowing around you on a warm summer night. It is a feeling you can't reproduce in a sedan, coupe, or SUV.

But convertibles by their very nature are typically more expensive than their hardtop siblings, which is why choosing a late-model used convertible is a very cost-effective step. To create this article, we concentrated on vehicles that are about three model years old, because they offer a nice combination of nearly new features and a depreciated price tag significantly lower than the new-car price. Here are the 10 best used convertible values around.

The BMW 2 Series is one of the most satisfying small cars you can drive, and in convertible form, it is even more so. For 2018, the BMW 2 Series convertible was available in two trims: 230i and M240i. Both are available with rear-drive or all-wheel drive.

The 230i is fitted with a 248-horsepower turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, while the M240i offers a 335-horsepower turbocharged 3.0-liter six-cylinder. A six-speed manual transmission is standard in both models, and an eight-speed automatic is optional. The base infotainment screen is a 6.5-inch unit, but many 2018 BMW 2 Series convertibles are equipped with the up-level 8.8-inch touchscreen, Harman Kardon premium audio system, and Apple CarPlay. Even in 230i trim, the convertible offers a significant amount of driving fun.

So how does the Fiat 124 Spider differ from the Mazda MX-5 Miata with which it shares a platform? First, there is the exterior design. The Fiat 124 Spider echoes the Pininfarina-penned shape of the classic 124 Spider of the '60s, while the Mazda MX-5 Miata of this generation is arguably not as cute as it used to be.

In addition to the 124 Spider's distinctive styling, it uses a Fiat engine to further differentiate it from the Miata. The 1.4-liter MultiAir Turbo four-cylinder engine delivers 160 horsepower and 184 lb-ft of torque in the Classica and Lusso trim levels. In the Abarth trim the engine is tuned to offer 164 horsepower with peak torque remaining at 184 lb-ft. The turbocharged engine can be backed by a six-speed manual transmission or a six-speed automatic. With the 124 Spider's top collapsed and a twisty road ahead, the car really comes into its own.

The Ford Mustang originated the "pony car" craze, and the virtues that it displayed in convertible form in its first incarnation are still in evidence today. It is a good-looking, affordable 2+2 with fun-to-drive potential.

Of course, its performance potential has gotten significantly better since 1964. The base engine is a 2.3-liter turbocharged four-cylinder with 310 horsepower, and the 5.0-liter V8 with 460 horsepower was offered in the GT and GT Premium trim levels for 2018. The Mustang is a rear-drive vehicle, and handling is enhanced by an independent rear suspension. One reason for the pony car's continued popularity is the fact it is offered in a number of trims. EcoBoost, EcoBoost Premium, GT, and GT Premium are all available in convertible form. That means you can find a Mustang convertible with the performance level that best suits your desires.

The 2018 Chevrolet Camaro was offered in six separate trim levels for the 2018 model year, and all of them were available as convertibles. The base engine, a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder with 275 horsepower, doesn't quite match up to the Mustang's EcoBoost four-cylinder, but unlike the 2018 Mustang, you can get a 3.6-liter V6 with 335 horsepower — or a 6.2-liter V8 with 455 horsepower, and 6.2-liter supercharged V8 with 650 horsepower.

A 6-speed manual transmission is standard in the base-level Camaro, while an eight-speed automatic is optional and a 10-speed auto box accompanies the super-high-performance ZL1. While many see the Camaro as a muscle car, Camaro convertibles fitted with the base or V6 engines are comfortable cruisers that are also very cost-effective.

The Mercedes-Benz C-Class is a great sedan and a fulfilling coupe, but arguably its best variation is the convertible. The base C 300 Cabriolet comes with a 241-horsepower turbocharged four-cylinder engine, a nine-speed automatic transmission, and rear-wheel drive.

Standard features include push-button start, a forward collision warning with brake assist, crosswind assist, driver drowsiness monitoring, and rain-sensing windshield wipers. For comfortable, collected high-speed cruising with the top down, you could hardly ask for more. But if you do, higher on the performance scale are the AMG C 63 and AMG 63 S. The C 63 has a 469-horsepower V8, and the C 63 S a 503-horsepower version of the same engine. For the 2018 model year, a rearview camera became standard equipment, as did the nine-speed automatic transmission,

Some would argue the coupe is the better-looking of the two versions of the Jaguar F-Type, but there is no doubt that the convertible offers the most fun. Both models are gorgeous, but the smart money says the convertible versions will hold their value better over the long haul than the coupes. And that is just one more reason to like the F-Type convertible.

The car is available with a massive array of engine choices and electronic driving aids. Both rear-drive and all-wheel drive are on the menu as well. The top-of-the-line 2018 SVR convertible has a 575-horsepower 5.0-liter V8 and all-wheel-drive, but you don't have to go to that extreme to find a very enjoyable F-Type convertible. The supercharged 340- and 380-horsepower P340, P380, and R-Dynamic models equipped with the 3.0-liter V6 are all very attractive choices in their own right.

In the 2018 model year, the E-Class Cabriolet moved from C-Class architecture to the E-Class sedan platform, and that had many benefits. Perhaps the biggest is an increase in interior space that was the result of the car getting 5 inches longer and almost 3 inches wider.

For 2018, the E-Class sedan was available in a variety of trim levels with varying amounts of power, but the Cabriolet (convertible) was only available on the E 400 model. That's not an issue because the E 400's twin-turbo V6 delivers 329 horsepower and, paired with a nine-speed automatic, delivers plenty of punch. The most expensive version of the E 400 Cabriolet has all-wheel-drive, but there is no reason to shy away from a rear-drive version. Heated seats and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are among the features the E 400 Cabriolet provided as standard equipment in 2018.

The Alfa Romeo 4C Spider returned to the 4C lineup for the 2018 model year, and it was a welcome addition. The Alfa 4C is unlike anything else on the American market, and the soft-top version simply adds to its charm.

In American terms, the 4C Spider is almost achingly small, and it is fitted out in true Italian sports car fashion. One of its many positive attributes is its mid-engine configuration, something you rarely see in anything other than an exotic supercar these days. The car's Italian styling is voluptuous and it meshes well with its racing-inspired carbon fiber monocoque chassis. Behind the two seats is an aluminum-alloy 1.7-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine that produces 237 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque, and it's fitted with a six-speed Alfa TCT twin-clutch transmission. Both handling and acceleration are inspiring.

The year 2018 was a watershed for the Audi A5. The lineup was completely redesigned for the model year, so all 2018s offer more standard comfort and convenience features, a suite of advanced safety driving aids, and an upgraded infotainment system.

The A5 is propelled by a 252-horsepower turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine teamed with a dual-clutch seven-speed automatic transmission, while the closely related S5 features a 354-horsepower turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 and an eight-speed automatic transmission. Options such as the Virtual Cockpit display and adaptive cruise control became available for 2018, so you might want to look for that in the used version. The A5 and S5 convertibles are configured with just two back seats, and those seats are not especially roomy. Still, the A5 cabriolet is a very enjoyable open-top vehicle.

The Chevrolet Corvette has offered scores of desirable convertible variants dating back to the original first-generation model back in 1954. A great example that you can buy nearly new today is the 2018 Corvette Grand Sport convertible, which offers a stellar mix of looks, performance, and handling.

The Grand Sport is named after a famous racing version of the Corvette, but it is at home on the street as it is on the racetrack. Powered by a 6.2-liter small-block V8 that produces 460 horsepower, it is comfortable zipping into tight spaces in rush-hour traffic or ripping down a straightaway and into a hairpin. The 2018 Grand Sport convertible features a performance exhaust system, Magnetic Selective Ride Control, and an electronic limited-slip differential. Some 2018 Grand Sports might be equipped with a higher-performance suspension and Brembo brakes as well. With the top down and a tank full of gas, you'll feel like you're ready to take on anything.