To follow up on the last post, it's obvious that a convertible like the Saab would need some work and inevitably would't, therefore, make sensible everyday transportation. So what would I recommend for a topless auto that you could even drive in January? I think that your best bet would be...

this 1993 Mazda Miata. At only 72k and listed for as little as $4000, this might be a tad more expensive than the Saab, but it is a much more sound investment, too. Remember, auto critics have praised the Miata as being the MG that wan't always followed by a tow truck, the Triumph that wasn't  forced to live in fear of inevitable mechanical failure. In that accord, it really is a remarkable deal. Here's the link to the Miata (or MX-5 if you're a stickler on model names):

http://kansascity.craigslist.org/cto/4084582814.html

Now, for the prevalent issues with Miatas: first of all, they can be seen as a sort of safe option. Lots were made and they are not old enough yet to have been slain by the wraith of the crusher, so many of them are still in circulation. The other issue is far larger of a problem in some circumstances; the Miata is seen as a definite "chick car". The best advice to the men out there who are looking at a Miata (or a New Beetle, or a Fiat 500, or a Mini Cooper, etc.) is to use the same technique as the "real men wear pink" set. You could also say that it takes someone driving a chick car to understand women, portraying yourself as a sort of "lady's man". Either way, the Miata really isn't about what others think of it- it's about open air fun without compromising reliability or gas mileage or depriciation. On an open road, however, the Miata is best summed up by its infamous slogan- "Zoom Zoom". Because Miatas are no longer in production, they seem destined for collector car status in the next few decades, so if you are buying one, set on it for a while and watch it appreciate. In the mean time, you'll probably become so in love with the way that it drives that you will surely decide not to part with it. 

In the meantime, you can cruise around in your late model classic thinking about the thousands you've saved over other iconic convertibles. You may want to hold on to that peice of paper with the towing companies' phone numbers that you keep in your glovebox, however; you never know the next time you'll need to stop to help a mid-1960s Lotus or Alfa Romeo Spyder in distress- proving that just because you drive the most reliable sports car I know of that you'll still be on the side of the road from time to time.