2008 BMW 128i Convertible

Forty-two thousand dollars is a lot of money for a 1-series BMW, especially a 128i. Plus, this convertible version isn't as good looking or as sharp to drive as the 250-pound-lighter 128i coupe. But those buyers that want a convertible will flock to this car. If you look at the base price, $33,875 buys you a nice BMW softtop. Most of the people who purchase this car won't care that it handles worse than the coupe; they'll be too busy enjoying the sunshine. They may not even notice the slightly choppy ride that carries over from the coupe into the convertible. Some slight cowl shake also comes along for the ride, and it's not helped by the ride quality. I still love this normally aspirated in-line six, but the additional weight of the convertible does dull its grunt at lower rpm. Overall, I much prefer a lightly optioned 128i coupe.

Marc Noordeloos, Road Test Editor