Is the roadster dead?
- Thread starter AlpinaRoadsterS
- Start date
Agree completely about all the pointless toys, total waste of money, space and weight in a roadster. 
Key things fun fun & fun for your money. soft top also a must. unless some young gun can design a folding hard top that takes less space, is lighter and is more simple/reliable. Make the whole car simpler, lighter and just as fast as it is now. 
Don't simply chop a foot off to save weight then leave all the junk. Us longunds still need to fit. :roll:
Key things fun fun & fun for your money. soft top also a must. unless some young gun can design a folding hard top that takes less space, is lighter and is more simple/reliable. Make the whole car simpler, lighter and just as fast as it is now. Don't simply chop a foot off to save weight then leave all the junk. Us longunds still need to fit. :roll:
buzyg said:Agree completely about all the pointless toys, total waste of money, space and weight in a roadster.
Don't simply chop a foot off to save weight then leave all the junk. Us longunds still need to fit. :roll:
Not that I don't agree buzyg, but Mazda and Porsche have the roadster thing shut tight, so unless other manufacturers try something different then they may as well not bother. I don't think there's anything essentially wrong with a more sophisticated or GT roadster as it gives a wider choice but they need to get it right and even though I've bought one I can see that the E89 is too expensive, and as you say the folding hardtop definitely needs to take up less space.
When I was looking for a roadster, I really liked the idea of a Triumph Spitfire. I had a look around, found that they were not reliable and needed to be tinkered with so I looked elsewhere. The obvious choice was the MX5, but I wanted something with more kudos. Hence the Z4 E85, a perfect blend of style, kudos and a bit of practicality thrown in.
I felt the newer Z4 was just too big and I didn't like the metal folding roof. I wanted something that looked a bit more retro. Surely there must be a market for something between MX5 and Boxster?
I felt the newer Z4 was just too big and I didn't like the metal folding roof. I wanted something that looked a bit more retro. Surely there must be a market for something between MX5 and Boxster?
I wouldnt buy a soft top convertable.Marlon said:There are a few ways for BMW’s next roadster to be a real hit. Firstly, move back to the soft top.
Hard tops are the way forward.
More secure and better in wet weather.
Seems like a 2 seater coupe with the roof up.
Are BMW actually making any soft tops now at all?
The 3 series seems to have moved to a hard top too.
Stark said:
Good point Stark, and I maybe wrong but the folding hardtop on the MX5 does'nt restrict boot access either. Personally I would'nt want a ragtop again either.
So as an alternative to Mazda and Porsche we're needing a lighter, which would help the handling, sharper steering, and better roof stowage designed E89, but keeping the big engines and DCT.
And I love ragtops but then my cars aren;t daily drivers, they just toys for me to have fun in and are garaged when not in use. The problem I had with Mazda was that on the latest generation NCs, if you wanted a Sport based 2'0 litre model you had to have a folding hardtop rather than a ragtop, because they stopped making ragtop Sports. I think now they only actually make the 1.8 in a ragtop.
I had a the 2.0 litre Sport Black with the folding hard top which started giving trouble with just 1 month of warranty left on the car, the dealer was very obstuctive amd most unhelpful so I got rid of the car rather than shell out for a repair. The MX5 roof is defintley not a DIY job and dealers will charge up £1400 to fix it when it breaks, it's very overcomplicated.
That's how I ended up with the Z4. which I had for a very short length of time because I realised that as nice as it is it's not the car for me, I've had 3 MX5s and the Z4 jut wasn't as much fun, it bored me to be honest so i got rid whilst summer is here and decided to back to the MX5 but this time an old Mk1 Eunos which I'm having imported from Japan (which landed here last week but still waiting to clear customs at South Shields Port), I don't even want a newer MX5 anymore, they;re getting too lardy and the new ND just doesn't do it for me . For the money, if you want a sports car that's light, nimble and fun - and can be fettled with as much as you like then there's no other choice.
There are a lot of very valid points in that article but most relevent to me are the comments about sportscars becoming to loaded down with pointless gizmos. Back to basics is the way forward for real sportscars
I had a the 2.0 litre Sport Black with the folding hard top which started giving trouble with just 1 month of warranty left on the car, the dealer was very obstuctive amd most unhelpful so I got rid of the car rather than shell out for a repair. The MX5 roof is defintley not a DIY job and dealers will charge up £1400 to fix it when it breaks, it's very overcomplicated.
That's how I ended up with the Z4. which I had for a very short length of time because I realised that as nice as it is it's not the car for me, I've had 3 MX5s and the Z4 jut wasn't as much fun, it bored me to be honest so i got rid whilst summer is here and decided to back to the MX5 but this time an old Mk1 Eunos which I'm having imported from Japan (which landed here last week but still waiting to clear customs at South Shields Port), I don't even want a newer MX5 anymore, they;re getting too lardy and the new ND just doesn't do it for me . For the money, if you want a sports car that's light, nimble and fun - and can be fettled with as much as you like then there's no other choice.
There are a lot of very valid points in that article but most relevent to me are the comments about sportscars becoming to loaded down with pointless gizmos. Back to basics is the way forward for real sportscars
i disagree with the gizmo thing. I wouldn't consider a bmw if it didnt have toys on it. just would shout flimper. If you can get a bog standard fiesta with all the bits then a bmw sports car should have at least them too. fine if you want to be a purist and de spec your car. but certain things on car brand that claims to be premium are a must. leather, ac, phone integration, dab radio just a few.
Dewi said:
Agree with sooo.. much of this. Do wish i'd bought a Flimper spec Zed when ever I think it through. Just don't use the electronic gismoz. Things like heated seats and leather I don't regard as toys, luxuries maybe, but as we like to tour now and again they can stay. It's all compromise I guess. A good friend of ours is very successful on the Sprint Circuit. He runs a 500kg Sylvia Phoenix putting out 400+ bhp. First time he drove my ///M, a few years back, he got out and said ye that's a nice sports GT.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=65hR2i8E0ng
Very interesting artical !
Did Jaguar not go back to a rag top for the "F" type ?
Interesting that the Tin Top convertible seems to be the devil and personally I thought it was the way forward ?
Hmmm will hope that BMW take notice and come back with an answer to all the roadster critics .
Meanwhile I will enjoy my rag top be it up or down
Did Jaguar not go back to a rag top for the "F" type ?
Interesting that the Tin Top convertible seems to be the devil and personally I thought it was the way forward ?
Hmmm will hope that BMW take notice and come back with an answer to all the roadster critics .
Meanwhile I will enjoy my rag top be it up or down
The rag top is the thing that makes the E85 look dated...
"It looks better with the roof down", says everyone all the time...
I quite like a ragtop, but when they go shiny and you can see all the folds and stretch marks from the roof mech then they look scruffy..
Btw what Jag had a folding metal roof before the F type?
"It looks better with the roof down", says everyone all the time...
I quite like a ragtop, but when they go shiny and you can see all the folds and stretch marks from the roof mech then they look scruffy..
Btw what Jag had a folding metal roof before the F type?
So the Elise is the answer then? Lightweight, toy-free and, apparently fantastic fun (I've never driven one).
Tricky Dicky
Member
My first car was an MG midget though I loved the car I did not like the rag top it looked cheap which it was, but it did its job. my wife had two soft top MX 5's the soft tops after a while look tired and faded ,,we then got an MX5 sport with the elec roof , what a fantastic car loved the elec roof no floppy fabric also am I right in thinking you cannot leave a fabric roof car for weeks in the retracted position as the fabric gets creased and damaged ,scum bags can cut it with a knife and from a security point of view its a weak point ,you pay your money you takes your chance , various car makers offer various examples ,if you don't like it try something else, I think our E89 is a stunning car ,visually the shape just works bril I cannot help but stare at it , it's two cars in one ,open top motoring or secure city center daily driver ,you cannot tell me a rag top driver feels as secure as a metal folding roof driver ,heated seats and steering wheel cruise control, folding door mirrors, mem seats ,sat navs , though we only have some of these toys on our car we use them all ,especially heated seats ,folding mirrors when in garage ,people who pay strong money for these cars want elec toys and a comfortable experience especially females to keep warm and have a pleasant experience , I know this as my wife must have heated seats and other add ons ,whomever said the fully loaded roadster is dead is brain dead themselves ,what utter Brollocks , 