5 of the Best Used Hardtop Convertible Cars You Can Still Buy in 2024
I’ve noticed it and I’m sure you’ve noticed it too. The sun ever so defiantly breaks up the springtime showers and tempts you to peruse the listings of convertibles on your favorite used car-buying sites. Well, if you’re not willing to make the commitment for a soft-top convertible, a hardtop convertible could be the ticket. Better yet, we’ve assembled a few used hardtop convertibles for you to consider, like the now-discontinued BMW Z4 E89 and the NC Mazda MX-5.
Although the modern car market has all but shelved the hardtop convertible, there are a few used models with folding or sliding roofs that you might want to consider, like the NC Mazda MX-5 or the E89 BMW Z4.Â
These five used hardtop convertible cars offer hardtop security with convertible style
If you’ve recently considered a hardtop convertible car over a soft-top ride, you’ve likely noticed that the current new car market doesn’t boast many. Instead, the industry has selected a steady diet of solid-roof vehicles with a few soft-top convertibles to break up the monotony. However, fans who want a hardtop convertible alternative can turn to the used sports car market for options like these:
- R172 Mercedes-Benz SLK 55 AMG
- E89 BMW Z4
- Cadillac XLR-V
- F33 BMW 4 Series
- NC Mazda MX-5 Miata
The Mercedes-Benz SLK has been dropping its top for the better part of 30 years. However, the short-wheelbase SLK didn’t get really spicy until the Stuttgart-based automaker added a naturally aspirated 5.5L V8 to the mix. The result? A hardtop convertible roadster with a 415-horsepower V8 sending power to the rear wheels and a three-pointed star on the steering wheel.Â
It could be one of the most quickly-discounted hardtop convertibles of modern times: the E89-generation BMW Z4. However, its most significant sin was existing alongside the mid-engine Porsche Boxster. At its core, the E89 BMW Z4 is a handsome used hardtop convertible sports car with inline-six-cylinder options and a particularly unusual bragging right. Specifically, the Z4 Roadster had an all-women design team.
Before the supercharged Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 from the C6 generation, there was the Cadillac XLR-V. With a supercharged take on GM’s 4.4L Northstar V8 engine, the XLR-V produced 443 horsepower. No joking– that mill outmuscled the base C6 Corvette by 43 ponies. Not bad for Caddy. Better yet, the XLR-V shrugged off the typical soft-top convertible for a folding metal roof.
What? Another BMW? That’s right. But this time, it’s the F33-platform BMW 4 Series. With the 4 Series, you have back seats and a slightly larger trunk to handle your day-to-day business. Of course, beyond the bigger Bimmer, no list of convertibles is complete without the Mazda MX-5. Specifically, we’re talking about the NC-generation MX-5 with the folding metal roof and a budget-friendly used car price.
