Welcome back! As I sit here writing this on Wednesday evening, it’s a lovely sunny 65 degrees out here in Portland. I drove home from the big-box home improvement store with my windows down and my sunroof open, just soaking it all in. But there’s an even better way to enjoy all that sunshine: convertibles.
But before we get topless, let’s see how yesterday’s vote turned out. A lot of you thought these two would make a good two-car garage, and I’m inclined to agree. I’d maybe add a third car into the mix that’s actually fun to drive, however. But either or both of these two would serve anyone well. The Camry won the vote, based primarily on its condition, I think. That is one clean 28-year-old car.
There is already a GMT800 SUV in my own household fleet, a 2004 GMC Yukon very similar to this one, only 4WD. It’s a great truck, but I don’t think we need another. And if I ever were shopping in this price range again, I think fuel economy would be a prime consideration, so the Camry would get my vote on that measure alone.
Now: If you’ve never owned a convertible, you’re really missing out. Driving around with the top down on a nice day is pure joy, especially in the spring and fall when it’s not too hot out. I mean, there are drawbacks; you can’t yell at other drivers with impunity, because they can hear you. You will get caught in traffic in the rain with the top down at least once a season. And a parked convertible with the top down is a magnet for bullshit – I once left my Miata with the top down outside a brew pub, and came back to find a half-empty beer in the cupholder. Apparently someone was sitting in my car having a grand old time while we were inside eating. How rude.
But go out for a drive at sunset, with the top down, and all of that nonsense will be forgiven. A convertible doesn’t have to be fast, or handle well, or have a manual transmission. It just has to open up and let the world in. And a cheaper, older convertible is the way to go; let someone else pay the depreciation. Let’s see what you make of these two.
1986 Dodge 600 ES Turbo Convertible – $4,000
Engine/drivetrain: Turbocharged 2.2 liter overhead cam inline 4, three-speed automatic, FWD
Location: Olympia, WA
Odometer reading: 84,000 miles
Operational status: Runs and drives well
I’ve been trying to take it easy on the K-cars, because I know I’m alone in my love for them (unlike kei cars, which seem to be everyone’s darlings). But just look at this thing! It’s a Dodge 600 ES, with the turbo engine, the “pepperpot” wheels (not as cool as the earlier “Swiss cheese” wheels, but close), and a digital dash. I mean, come on. If ever there was a K-car to celebrate, it’s this one.
Under that magnificent louvered hood, you’ll find our old friend the 2.2-liter Turbo I engine, good for 146 horsepower – not a big number today, but plenty for the Reagan years. As befitting a comfy cruiser like this, it’s backed by a Torqueflite automatic. You could get a 600 ES with a five-speed manual, but I’ve seen exactly one in my life, and it was a four-door sedan. (I did, however, once own this car’s predecessor, the Dodge 400 two-door coupe, with a four-speed manual, a combination so rare that Mopar fans I’ve mentioned it to have disputed its existence.) This car has only 84,000 miles on its digital odometer, and the seller says it’s in fine shape.
The top is new, and works perfectly. The seats could use reupholstering, but the seller says another pair of seats is included, which may be in better shape. A spare digital gauge cluster, the original radio, and some other odds and ends are included too. One thing I do note about this car is the lack of air conditioning; not uncommon for a convertible of this age, but if you live somewhere with really hot summers, it could be a deal-breaker.
All right; so it’s still the bargain-basement K platform underneath, slapped together with 1980s Chrysler seat-of-the-pants build quality. But it’s also a rare bona-fide American classic, in mighty clean condition.
2005 Ford Thunderbird – $4,900
Engine/drivetrain: 3.9 liter dual overhead cam V8, five-speed automatic, RWD
Location: Camarillo, CA
Odometer reading: 145,000 miles
Operational status: Runs and drives well, but has a parasitic battery drain
Ford’s eleventh-generation Thunderbird is pure retro pastiche, a throwback to the very first Thunderbirds from 1955-57. It should have worked; Volkswagen had a huge hit on its hands with the New Beetle, and Chrysler’s PT Cruiser was flying off dealer lots, and it wasn’t even based on any specific old car. But the T-Bird kind of landed with a thud. It sold all right initially, but by 2005, apparently every Baby Boomer who wanted a new-old Thunderbird already had one, and Ford pulled the plug.
It’s not that it’s an ugly car, exactly, but it leans so hard into the retro thing that it’s a little cringey. This one is missing its removable hardtop – which actually has portholes in it. I do have to admire Ford designers’ restraint in not putting tailfins on it. Like the original T-Bird, this one is a two-seater with a V8 under the hood. As part of Ford’s then-ownership of Jaguar, this car’s engine is actually a Jaguar AJ V8, backed by a Ford five-speed automatic. Neither is a paragon of reliability, but this car has managed 145,000 miles and still runs all right.
The top works, as does the air conditioning. However, there is a parasitic drain somewhere in the electrical system when the car is off; let it sit for a few days and the battery goes dead. I’ve dealt with drains like that before, and they’ll drive you nuts trying to find and fix them. On older cars, you can just install a battery cut-off switch and be done with it, but I’m not sure how well modern electronics would take to that.
It also needs a new turn signal switch; hopefully it’s an off-the-shelf Ford part and not something designed specifically for this car. That’s the biggest problem with lower-production cars like this, and the Dodge also, for that matter: If something is broken, and you can’t find the part, it stays broken.
It is my opinion that every car nut should own a convertible at some point. You won’t want to keep it forever; the irritations will get to you after a while, and you’ll want a hardtop back eventually. But having a drop-top for a while – and not just renting one on vacation, but actually being able to put the top down on the way home from the grocery store – is worth the trouble.
(Image credits: Craigslist sellers)
I like them both, because a convertible is a must-have for me.
Between these two, I’d take the Thunderbird. K-Cars have a nice oddness to them, but I can’t imagine having enough motivation to reupholster the seats.
The ugly, it hurts us. I’ll take neither, but vote for the one that actually works.
At this date the T Bird isn’t so much retro as it is just an idiosyncratic oldish car. The details except for the door handles is kind of nice.
Driving cross country at night with the top down is a treat everyone should experience. There is a turquoise T Burd parked on the street here in Brooklyn that looks nice, I’ll take one of those.
Two words, run away.
I don’t like the idea of a cringey retro Ford, but the other car is a K car…
Scrolled down to see if the Ford was actively on fire. It was not. That is the only way I would have voted for a k-car (if you have never driven one, you do not understand how boring and terrible they are). Voted for the Ford.
I’d rather take a sawzall to yesterday’s Camry.
I voted T-Bird even though it’s a Ford…I would still prefer it over the Dodge which I would normally pick but since it’s still a K-car and from that era- no thanks, but I wonder if Jon Voight was into the 600’s along w/ the LeBarons!
Nobody understands the real interest of a convertible : spending hours trying to prove to your friends it was a sensible decision buying a daily driver in which you will roast on a sunny day and which will feel like a sauna under the rain. And I won’t talk about how useless it is to close the doors (or the top) even in shady neighborhoods…
Yikes. I recall driving that exact 600 circa 1990. Buddies Dad had one and threw the keys for me to make a beer run. Leavin the neighborhood it felt pretty agile, spritely with good power. The first on-ramp made me worry if I would get home. Above 40mph it felt like death was riding shotgun and staring at me.
And that damn t-bird. Truth is these are extremely nice road cars. Good manners for the size, smooth power and able to just eat miles. But that interior is trash, and too many miles on that jag valvetrain. Gotta vote nope to both.
Dodge, Dodge, Dodge. Much better style than that era of Bird.