Correct, but I’m starting to shop around for my next car, which will be one. Time to give in to that dream.
At least there are convertibles now. I still remember when you could count all the production model convertibles available in this country with the fingers on one hand–and not even use all the fingers!
But are they old-farty? My vote says yes. You just don’t see hip, twentysomething guys driving old Vettes, and they don’t drive Boxters unless they’re gay. What image are you trying to project here? Seems you kinda WANT to aim for the “Baby Boomer midlife crisis mobile” look.
And, if you’re big, forget the S2000, as you say. I have a 38 waist, and I can fit, but it’s snug.
The Improper Bostonian recently did a “test” whereby a staff writer tried to find the ultimate babe magnet: a cute 2-year-old, a 10-week-old pug puppy, or a brand-new BMW 645Ci convertible. The puppy beat out the other two by a mile, but numerous people did stop the writer while he was driving to yell how phat/beautiful/hot/awesome the car was, “and that’s a handsome man driving it!” None of them commented on how girly or gay either he or the car was.
However, the puppy seems to have won the gold medal in the babe-magnet contest. Seeing as how the car is $76,000 and the puppy only about $400, have you considered pet ownership? 
I have to put in a bit of counter-point to those advocating the mid-to-late '60s Land Ark. The question to ask yourself is this - if you want to assert your youth, vigor, and masculinity, WHY would you want to be so over-the-top Freudian?!? Get one of those dinosaurs, you might as well paint a giant, stylized penis on the hood.
Be secure in yourself on the road - I’d suggest the BMW Z3/Z4 (I’m not enough of a car afficionado* to know the difference.)
If you must be Freudian, get a tricked-out large screen home theater system. The over-size universal remote will provide enough self-assurance to last you while you’re out driving your sleek-but-subtle, non-gas-guzzling ragtop.
Do your over-compensating at home, not out where everybody can see you. (Figger I’ll put a smiley in here anyway, just to completely allay any confusion…)
[sub]*I almost said “auto-phile”, but I figgered somemone might interpret that as a confession of self-love, and I didn’t want to have to extricate myself from that…[/sub]
HIJACK:
Wow - finally some GOOD Flash animation.
I will SO kick your ass if you call my 2004 Saab convertible ‘girly’ or ‘gay’. Well, if I had the yellow one, I guess it’d be fair, but it’s NOT! Take a look here: [ur]http://www.saabusa.com/main/US/en/model_intro_93c_flash.xml
http://www.saabusa.com/main/US/en/model_intro_93c_flash.xml
Let’s do it again, with spelling!
BMWs and Boxters are gay? Sheesh. I guess we really are naive here in the midwest.
If I were in the market for a two-seater convertable, this is what I’d buy.
Oh, I agree! If I had more money and less sense, that’s what I’d plunk down my cash for. It reminds me of the Austin Healy 3000s of the 1960s. And I’m mystified by those who think the Z3 was better-looking.
Of course, since I’m 51 years old and gay, maybe the Z4 is both gay and old-farty. How would I know?! 
Personally, I go for the Audi TT - Pics at Edmunds.com
Susan
Could someone please explain to me how, exactly, a car would be considered “gay?”
Thank you.
Esprix
“Gay car:” a car that is favored by gay consumers, I believe.
I’m just guessing, here, but I suspect you’d go for one of the Asian brands, right?
Esprix, obviously, the car itself is not gay. A car is ‘gay’ if it is driven primarily by gay people, I would imagine.
And to clarify my own comments about the so-called “gay” cars…
… I was not being judgemental. I was truly expressing surprise that certain cars are perceived to be associated with gay people. I had no idea. And must confess that I am skeptical.
Eh, don’t be too skeptical. Numerous magazines have featured stories on “the gayest cars” and have all come up with the same general ideas. Also, judging from my own social circle, I can say that they’re not far off base, generally. Of course, YMMV, but I don’t think the concept is too farfetched.
Well my Metalic-Lilac VW Cabrio is called Carla, and she is a lipstick lesbian. If I leave her in a parking lot she is allways quickly surrounded by Subaru Outback’s. Being almost 9 years old though makes me worried that she is seducing the younger butch Subaru’s.
I was hoping to hear from the OP.
Esprix
I think it’s pretty clear what the OP meant, but I guess someone should take issue over I mean, how dare he imply that gay guys rathger than straight guys are more likely to prefer driving a certain type of vehicle. It may be a bit of a stereotype, but come on, there is a more likely chance that a man driving a miata or VW cabriolet is gay… This is certainly not to say that all men who drive those cars are gay.
This would be my first clue.