A roadster, according to many sources, must possess the following three characteristics:
- Have a folding roof.
- Be rear-wheel drive.
- Be a one or two-seater vehicle.
What roadsters can we find on the market?
Let’s take a closer look at the most obvious representatives that can be easily found in the secondary market:
Mazda MX-5, known across the ocean as the Miata. To date, there have been four generations of this fantastic car: NA, NB, NC, and ND. Created with the idea of a 50:50 weight distribution, it provides immense driving pleasure and a sense of control. Both small engines (like the 90-horsepower 1.6-liter engine in the first generation) and larger ones (with over 180 mechanical horses generated by the Skyactiv-G in the latest ND) put a smile not only on the driver’s face.
BMW Z3 and Z4. While James Bond once drove a Z8, and the Z3 had a precursor in the Z1, we’ll skip these last two models since they are very hard to come by. The Bavarian manufacturer knew how to create a roadster that could empty the wallet of a new buyer with its base price. As a result, nearly 300,000 units of all Z3 models were produced (including just over 17,000 hardtop versions, i.e., the Coupe).
Mercedes-Benz SLK. It’s all about the softness. If you add the more commonly found automatic transmission compared to the above competitors, this roadster turns into a roadster-cruiser, leaning more towards a French chaise longue. Another deviation from the Mazda and BMW Z series is the unavailable fabric roof. It’s worth mentioning that this hardtop convertible, produced on such a large scale, is often mistakenly considered the first serial hardtop, but that’s a story for another time. It’s important to note that the SLK (also known as the SLC) is no longer in production, unlike the Mazdas and BMW Z series.
The next entry is the high-revving Honda S2000. It’s one of the few “modern” cars from this manufacturer with rear-wheel drive. The naturally aspirated engine generates non-naturally aspirated power thanks to the Variable Valve Timing and Lift Electronic Control (VTEC). Cutting off at over 9,000 rpm makes driving this car an unintuitive experience, and an inexperienced driver must fight not to shift into a higher gear too quickly.
Porsche Boxster. While the first generation also included a version without a convertible roof, we’re interested only in the roadster. Even the smallest 2.5-liter engine had six flat cylinders, allowing this car to accelerate to 100 km/h in under seven seconds.
Of course, we can’t forget about roadsters like the Mercedes-Benz SL, Chevrolet Corvette, Ferrari California, Nissan 350Z (and 370Z), or the Fiat 124 (both the old and the Japanese version), but they are not as readily available and popular on today’s roads.
Spider or Spyder
Not necessarily a roadster. Some sources mention an alternative term for roadsters as “Spider,” also spelled with a “Y.” Following this path and naming convention, we come across convertibles such as the Alfa Romeo Spider (939). In my opinion, it’s one of the most beautiful convertibles of the 21st century. Everything lines up: two seats, a convertible roof, and rear-wheel drive… along with front-wheel drive. The top version of this Italian car, powered by a V6 engine, is combined with a permanent all-wheel drive system, Q4. Unfortunately, this leads to a misclassification of this car as a roadster, according to our previously established criteria. The same applies to the Lamborghini Murciélago Roadster or Audi TT in Quattro versions.
No roof, but it is…
Roadster or not a roadster. The essence of this issue is, in reality, what we expect from the convertible we want to drive. The three characteristics mentioned at the beginning of this text essentially provide feedback on the sensations, albeit to a greater or lesser extent, primarily experienced by the driver. There are things a roadster provides, but there are also aspects that are unique to a roadster, regardless of its construction. These are often reasons why they are chosen or, conversely, avoided. No all-wheel drive? Safety – no; driving style – exceptional. No room for kids in the back? Problem – you need to get a second car. No room for kids in the back? Good, they need to ride in a different car. The list is not exhaustive, but it is certainly long. So, roadster versus non-roadster, everyone must answer this question individually. The most important thing is that it’s a convertible!
