Our list of the best convertible cars under $15,000 covers everything from autocross-ready roadsters to serious sports cars and big-time luxury cruisers.
As the chill of winter gives way to the light of spring and with the warmth of summer just around the corner, it’s the perfect time for a list of the best convertible cars under $15,000. Though drop tops typically evoke images of two-seat weekend fun, there is everything from family cars to daily drivers in this universe of reasonably priced used convertibles with less than 100,000 miles. From track-ready toys to comfortable rides with all manner of amenities, this rundown of our top 10 cabriolets has something for everyone.
From the third-gen or B7, series of Audi’s A4 lineup, the S4 convertible is a luxury-clad hot rod. With 340 naturally aspirated horsepower generated by a 4.2L V8, the B7 S4 in droptop form can scoot to 60 mph in under six seconds. Even better? It has Audi’s legendary Quattro AWD system for any-weather usability AND came standard with a 6-speed manual transmission – though an automatic was offered as well. Highlights include four seats, a power-operated soft top with a glass rear window, sport seats, and real wood cabin trim. Find yourself a model with the optional Nappa leather upholstery and heated front seats to cruise in classic understated comfort – quickly.
BMW’s E46 3-Series lineup is a driver favorite, lauded for its RWD handling and drivability. The 2001 model year saw the 328-variant replaced with the 330. This took the already silky straight-six motor up to 225 hp and 214 lb-ft of torque. Transmission options include 5-speeds in manual or automatic form that pair with a near 50/50 weight distribution. Seating four people, the 330ci convertible came with leather upholstery, an 11-speaker audio system from Harman Kardon, and a power-operated soft top. Find one from 2003 or later to enjoy a refreshed design and a 6-speed stick.
You can find a Corvette convertible for less than $15,000 going back to the 1970s and up to the C5 generation that ran until 2004. Though all versions have their merits, we’d recommend the C5 convertible that showed up in 1998. New from the ground up, the C5 represented a major upgrade over the C4 for a host of reasons including the hydroformed frame that resulted in a notably stiffer drop-top variant. The transmission was moved to the rear for perfect weight distribution and a new 5.7L LS1 V8 sent 345 ponies (bumped to 350 in 2001) to the rear wheels via a 6-speed manual or 4-speed automatic transmission. All of which translated to a 4.5-second sprint to 60 and 28 mpg on the highway. With fat 275 mm section-width rear rubber and a glorious pushrod V8 rumble, the C5 is hard to beat when it comes to the coolest convertible cars under $15,000.
If you’re looking to turn heads in a 2-seat convertible, the rarely-seen Chrysler Crossfire is your ticket. Created when Chrysler and Daimler-Benz were tied up, this roadster blends Art Deco-esque style from Detroit – replete with an old-timey boattail – and a vault-like chassis from Germany. Sharing a platform with the period Mercedes SLK, the RWD Crossfire featured a 3.2L V6 rated for 215 hp, a power soft top with a body-color tonneau cover, and a retractable rear spoiler. Tested at Germany’s famed Nürburgring, the 3,100-pound Crossfire is an unusual but very cool convertible. Though we’d like to recommend the even rarer AMG-powered SRT-6 variant, they are beyond the $15,000 budget of this list.
Ford’s third-gen “Fox body” Mustang arrived in 1979, but it wasn’t until 1987 that the arguably better looking “aero” version was unveiled. As the oldest car on this list, it’s worth reading up on how to find vintage car parts before buying one. You can find them with a V6, but the 5.0L V8-powered models are what you really want. Making 225 hp and 300 lb-ft of twist, the signature exhaust note of this all-time motor is as amazing as the impossibly long dual straight-pipe exhaust. In GT form, these Mustangs featured huge circular fog lights and a killer body kit. The standard 5-speed manual sent power to the rear wheels and the power-retractable soft top featured a nifty zip-open rear glass window that added ventilation to the cabin with the top raised.
From Infiniti’s fourth and final G Line, the G37 convertible debuted in 2009 with luxury digs and sports car moves – the latter of which landed it on this list of cheap speed. The slinky sheet metal was topped by a power-operated 3-piece hardtop. Inside, the cabin boasted leather upholstery, real aluminum trim, heated front seats with the option for ventilation, and an available Bose 13-speaker audio system. Performance came from a naturally aspirated 3.7L V6 generating 325 horsepower and 267 torques. Power was sent to the rear wheels by a 6-speed manual or 7-speed automatic – with magnesium shift paddles – shod in 18-inch rubber. Find yourself a Sport model to enjoy a set of staggered-width 19-inch wheels that were designed with performance summer tires in mind.
Perhaps not the first thought that comes to mind when you say “convertible”, Jeep’s Wrangler is actually the very epitome of the word with a windshield that folds down, removable doors, and roof. Like the Corvette, there are loads of Wranglers for a sale going back to the 1980s YJ series. However, we chose the JK series because it was the first to offer a four-door model, the Unlimited, with a 20-inch longer wheelbase and legitimate space for more than two people. Test drives are best done at the local goat path as the Wrangler is a body-on-frame off-roader with live axles at both ends. It also makes a great project car for those DIYers out there. Early models were powered by a 202-horse V6 that jumped to 285 horses in 2012. From a bare-bones X model with no air-conditioning to a rock-crawling Rubicon, these Wranglers are the adventure convertible.
Any of the first three Miata generations could be on this list of budget convertibles, but the third, or NC, series features fresher design, a more modern multi-link rear suspension, and the option for a power-retractable hardtop. Most models with be of the soft top variety, but all come with a zippy 2.0L inline-4 rated for 170 hp sent to rear wheels that helps the Miata earn a spot on this list of best cars for autocross. That soft top is manually lowered but can be operated with one hand while sitting in the driver’s seat. Look for a Grand Touring model to enjoy leather seats and a Bose audio system.
A four-seat go-kart, the second-gen Mini Cooper convertible is as quirky as it is fun to drive. The gigantic central speedometer is no wackier than the “Openometer”, a gauge that records how many minutes the Cooper has been driven with the top lowered. That soft top, which is power-operated, included a sunroof feature and the choice of three colors to go with the even deeper roster of paint colors to choose from. Engineered by BMW, base Cooper convertibles are powered by a naturally aspirated 1.6L inline-4 making 118 hp. Step up to the Cooper S for 172 turbocharged ponies paired to a 6-speed manual spinning the front wheels.
Easily the fanciest ride on this list of convertible cars under $15,000, the R107 generation of Mercedes’ long-running SL roadsters is a seriously slick ride. Initially making 302 hp from the 5.0L V8 mounted up front in SL500 form, this 2-seater was renamed the SL550 in 2006. That was due to the new 5.5L V8 making a thundering 383 horsepower, all of which was routed to the rear wheels via a 7-speed automatic. Standard features included a power-operated hardtop and Active Body Control for magical handling. In 2008, a panoramic moonroof integrated into the hardtop and massaging seats were added to the options list. As these SLs tend to have higher-priced replacement parts than some of the other options on this list, be sure to carefully consult this used car checklist before making a purchase.