Dedicated roadster, not some bimbo chop top cowl shaking chassis flexing 4-seater (4 seat convertibles are for housewives and people with heart problems)

Lots of room – built for big Germans

Tons of fun to drive, competes in SCCA A-stock, has lots of power, great handling and some neat options (Sport-M seats, sport package)

20 mpg city, 30 mpg highway

’nuff said

To answer some posters this would replace the G and be just a cool toy that would do some light daily driver duty. (Though per some suggestions I did clean up the Infiniti over the weekend and remember how much fun it can be.)

My short list, in order of preference:
A5
Acura NSX
Cayman S (If I can find one)
Volvo C70
Boxster
An M Coupe
The 968 Cab mentioned above
Z06

Considerations:
S200 (Fun, but the look doesn’t do it for me)
Crossfire (Might be too small)
The Sky (Looks awesome, though may be too small as well)

The Miata (MX5) is too small for me, my parents have a new one and I really am not comfortable in it. It is fun as heck to drive though. I find that the Z car is also a lot of fun but isn’t unique enough for me to want it – unless we’re talking a 70s version. Also the ‘Stang is too big and everyone has one.

BMW 120d convertible. Quick, frugal, big fun. Make it a 123d for even more fun.

Audi TT TDI

Smart Roadster, if you can live with the gearbox – there’s nothin else even remotely wrong with it

All of these are not available in the US, but so is the Wiesmann.

Having owned both these cars, go for the Boxster. The MR-2 has so little storage space that the only picnic menu you and your girlfriend can carry will be a six-pack. The car is underpowered, and above 60 mph the engine noise is pretty intrusive.

OTOH, the Boxster has made more shop visits.

But if you want to spend some more cash (40k ish), get a used Lotus Elise. You get Toyota reliability in a British sports car package. With the small Toyota 1.8 (Yamaha designed heads actually) you should also get about the same fuel economy as a Miata.

Another option is the last gen convertible Toyota MR2. Great fuel economy, fun, and quite affordable.

That was all modern. Going older will seriously limit your reliability. But I would consider either an old 964 or 993 Porsche 911. The fuel economy won’t be as great as the above mentioned cars, but its not terrible. They are pretty reliable, but try to get one that was recently serviced to be safe. The cabrios and convertibles are usually cheaper than the coupes also. The 993 gen is better looking(IMO), but will cost you more.

Another older option, with about the same fuel economy as the Porsche, would be a second gen RX-7 convertible. The NA engine will have reasonable fuel economy, and if you found one that was cared for would be quite fun. But I won’t guarantee reliability. It is also getting harder to find unmolested examples.

I can’t fault the Z3/Z4 and Boxters as mentioned above, but never could get exited about them personally. The S2K would also be a good choice, but you have to drive it like you hate/stole it to have fun.

My .02

The Crossfire is an interesting option. It’s smallish (I should talk – I have a Miata) but it does have M-B guts. (This is a car like the Miata that you can’t care what others think)

Honestly, I would suggest that you take a weekend and detail the G35. Not just wash it, but really do it up, inside and out. If it is looking its best, you might just feel better about owning it, and remember why you bought it in the first place.

Also, I think the Jeep being a chick car is a regional thing. If you live in an area where a guy is supposed to drive a pick up, large SUV, or a big engined domestic and nothing else, then sure, where you live a jeep is a chick mobile. But, so is anything without a V8.

Since our OP is out of high school, and not married, I suspect he doesn’t live in an area like that.

That’s very true. Only you can know if you’re cool enough to drive what you want instead of what you want to be seen in. Maybe you’re not Steve enough to drive what you like.

Or, even harder to find, the Mazda MX3 with it’s little V6.

I’ve owned a Ghia and a couple of S2000’s. You are “right-sized” for both and would love them both for different reasons. The Ghia will go 75 miles per hour (downhill, tailwind.) I suggest finding some dynaply tires to accentuate the experience. So equipped, 60 mph will feel like triple digits.

You’re too big for a Miata. You also have a girlfriend which makes me assume that you’re straight, also ruling out the Miata. To have both a Jeep and a Miata would require quite a bit of security with regards to how the rest of the world perceives you.

You’re too big for a Crossfire or an SLK. They are also faster than they feel which is undesirable in a sports car. The seat experience of the Z4 is too much like driving a bathtub. The Z350 is another bathtub and it doesn’t smell good.

You wouldn’t have much more fun in a 135i than you do in your G and it’s ugly. I’m not sure that it would look better with time either.

Also, the MR2 is a great car. Bulletproof toyota reliability in a (cheap-ish) roadster.

That said, I’ve driven most of the cars that they’ve named: the Boxter, Solstice (GXP), Sky (normal), Z4, S2000, 350Z, and the Lotus Elise. My money went to a topped out Miata, but if you can do without the hard top (and the snickering from your friends), the S2000 is an excellent choice. and if you don’t care about your girl’s comfort (or about living with British engineering) the Lotus would be a good pick too. Hey, at least its engine is reliable.

Ok now we are talking, you don’t want something everyone else has.

How about a Porsche 944 Turbo or the sexier looking IMO 968 cabrio.

I would suggest the 968 Turbo but they are kind of rare and hard to find and very pricey, but fast does not even begin to explain it.

You could also find some nice 928’s from like 1990 on. I think the 80’s examples are starting to look dated. My uncle had one exactly like the one in the auction and the color and car were simply awesome, color shifts from green to blue to violet depending on the light.

928 GTS

I know there are many more cars that aren’t coming to me right now.

You might consider one of theose Cobra kit cars, of course gas mileage goes out the window with that.

Cobra Replica

I own an ‘06 Miata and absolutely LOVE it. I was almost ready to pull the trigger on a used S2k when I took the Miata out out of curiousity. The price difference between the two is not justified IMHO. The ingenious top alone is worth the price of admission.

The newer Miata is more roomy than previous models. I’m 6′2″ with a larger build (235 lbs, 36 inch waist) and I fit fine after finding the “sweet spot” seat adjustment. Also, headroom is infinite with the top down.

I’ve already done a few mods, with plenty more planned. The Miata is almost as moddable as a Civic. If your interested, that is.

At the very least, take one for test drive before you dismiss it.

If you are comfortable with your manhood, you might try the cooper s. It’s a hoot to drive. I have considered a clubman because I hear they are just as fun to drive.

Are the aircooled porsche’s really that reliable? That isn’t the rep I have heard, but I never liked them that much because they just didn’t fit my body type well. The Miata is just is fun, and less trouble anyway.

There are a ton on Ebay for $25-30k, many in great shape.

that’s if mileage is really an issue. I’m not sure why someone who would spend so much on a new car would care that much about mileage. If you just want to save money, buy a used car.