These Are The Cheapest Convertibles On Sale Today

I'm a convertible person. I just love putting the top down and enjoying the benefits of uninhibited headroom, even if chopping the roof off increases weight and detracts from the driving dynamics. Convertible tops also add mechanical complication, and as such droptops are often priced higher than their hardtop siblings due to the additional engineering time that's required to produce a quality convertible, so it's not entirely surprising that manufacturers are producing fewer and fewer convertibles.

I miss the days of affordable convertibles like the wretched Chrysler Sebring convertible and little turds like the Geo Metro convertible that both made my list of the worst convertibles ever made, — I think that poor people should be able to buy new convertibles, too, but maybe I'm alone in that mindset — and there are a lot of tasty topless cars you've probably forgotten about.

Here I've compiled every convertible currently on sale in the United States, listed from most expensive to least expensive. I didn't include ultra-luxury convertibles or convertible supercars, since those have no business being on a list like this, and I chose to cap the group at the Porsche 911 Carrera Cabriolet, since it's still produced by a high volume manufacturer, so you won't see any Aston Martins, McLarens, Bentleys, or Ferraris on this list. If you are looking to buy one of those, go do it, richy. Leave this list for the rest of the proletariat to find affordable cabriolets.

Base Porsche 911 Carrera Cabriolets start at $135,395 including a $1,995 destination charge. Thus, I cannot afford to even write about it for too long.

The entry-level AMG SL43 starts at $112,950 including a $1,150 destination charge. For a four-cylinder, mind you.

The Lexus LC 500 Convertible starts at $107,300 including a $1,350 destination charge. If anyone buys a four-cylinder Mercedes SL43 over the simply dashing V8-powered Lexus LC 500, you're an absolute imbecile. Not sorry.

The BMW 840i Convertible starts at $101,675 including a $1,175 destination charge, and yes I'd still buy it over the SL.

The cheapest Hummer EV you can buy costs $98,845 including a $2,295 destination charge. This is the only convertible-adjacent EV on this list, so if that's important to you then buy a Hummer.

The cheapest Jaguar F-Type you can buy will cost $81,275 including a $1,375 destination charge, but it comes with a standard supercharged V8 that softens the blow a bit.

The convertible version of the king of affordable performance costs $76,995 including a $1,695 destination charge, but I would buy a base Boxster over a base C8 any day.

The cheapest ragtop Porsche you can buy is the mid-engined 718 Boxster. It starts at $76,895 including a $1,995 destination charge, and despite its four-cylinder engine, I would buy it before many of the other cars on this list.

I just had a CLE300 coupe press car, and my impressions are embargoed for a few more days so I can't say much about the way this new model drives, but I can say that the cheapest convertible with a three-pointed star on the nose costs $65,500 including a $1,150 destination charge.

The cheapest BMW 430i Convertible you can buy new costs $59,975 including a $1,175 destination charge, which feels exorbitant to me, but given the prices of its competitors I guess that's just the new normal.

The cheapest Audi A5 Cabriolet you can buy costs $56,695 including a $1,095 destination charge, but it does come standard with Audi's legendary Quattro all-wheel drive.

The cheapest BMW Convertible you can buy is the Z4 sDrive 30i, and it costs $55,225 including a $1,175 destination charge. Compared to the Mercedes-AMG SL43, this seems like a total bargain at half the price and the same number of cylinders.

The cheapest Ford Bronco costs $41,525 including $1,895 destination, and it's the first convertible to be priced under the $50,000 mark, which is sad.

The Ford Mustang is supposed to be an affordable and accessible sporty car, but the cheapest convertible Mustang you can buy now costs $40,615 including $1,595 destination. That makes the Mustang more expensive than ever, but still significantly cheaper than most other convertibles on this list.

The Jeep Gladiator isn't the first vehicle you think of when you think of a convertible, but it comes standard with a foldable soft top, and starts at an almost-reasonable $39,790 including $1,895 destination.

The cheapest Mini Cooper Convertible costs $36,695 including $995 destination, and it's the only car on this list that comes standard with a tiny three-cylinder engine. Its darty driving characteristics should keep things fun despite the added weight of a retractable roof.

The cheapest Jeep Wrangler that you can buy costs $33,890 including $1,895 destination, which means the Wrangler is no longer the cheapest convertible you can buy, but it does offer standard four-wheel drive and a manual transmission.

Well folks, the cheapest convertible that you can buy is the legendary Mazda MX-5 Miata at a paltry $30,170 including $1,185 destination. Lauded by many as the purest driving experience you can have in a new car, sadly I cannot weigh in with my perspective since I am too tall to drive one. That said, if you're not a foot taller than the average man, buy a Miata. It's (comparatively) cheap and cheerful, and allegedly amazing to drive, what's not to like?