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As you can see opinions are all over the place and the years that you are looking at represent the heyday of the modern two seat convertibles. If you are set on picking from your list then I would have a hard time choosing between the s2000 and the Miata MX-5. If performance is your #1 priority the s2000 comes out ahead, if cruising is more your style then I would give the edge to the MX-5. I would think with your budget you could find a newer MX-5 with lower mileage than what you could get in the s2000.
I was trying to make the exact same decision two years ago and drove every car on your list except for the SLK. In addition I drove the Sky, Solstice, Crossfire and the C4 and C5 Vettes. I ended up with the Crossfire and I love it. I mention it because even though I never drove or seriously considered the SLK the Crossfire is basically a SLK under the Chrysler skin. The Crossfire SRT-6 convertible can be had in your price range.
Op I know it is not a roadster but with the targa top a great two seat sports car in the $15k Range is the early Acura NSX they also are a great mid engine bang for the buck sports car that is super reliable in your price range
also a Mercedes-Benz R129 SL600 with a 6.0 L 48-valve DOHC V-12 can be had in the $15K-$20K Range although would still take a C5 corvette Z-51 Convertible myself since it would be the best bang for the buck IMO..
Plus pretty sure the old Analogue Car phone in the SL600 or SL500 would be non-working decoration these days but one with removable hardtop would still be decent daily driver for all 4-seasons
Those are the best looking slk's. I'd have to pick the Redline Sky turbo, toss in the supercharger from a first gen cobalt ss for good measure. I hear those cars are a pain to tune, though.
S2000 hands down, no questions asked. Great car but was a still a bit overpriced.
Honda made a major short sighted mistake by sacrificing it without having a replacement.
Ever since, they have been trying to be a copy of Toyota with moderately priced, albeit reliable-though extremely bland and vanilla looking cars.
In a way, I kind of understand that the shifts in consumer tastes nowadays dictates this to some extent. They want what's INSIDE the car: electronics, gadgets, and more electronics, while exterior styling is an afterthought-assuming it matters at all.
But nevertheless, there is still a market out there for the fun to drive two seater roadster. Not everyone wants, likes, or can afford an Audi, 'vette, or Porsche. And that was the market Honda filled.
Nowadays the only car that even remotely approaches the S2 is of course the Miata. But even that is really more in the Del Sol class: cute, fun, cheap, dependable, but not very powerful or practical.
I've read that Honda is considering bringing back a roadster. But none of that info seems to be very promising or exciting: it's going to be an egg on wheels (a clone of the Audi TT), going to have a rear mounted engine, or be a hybrid. Or worse, all three. So even if they do, I wouldn't buy any of them if that's what they are going to be.
Why can't they bring back something resembling the original S2?
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