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An expensive ride under sunny skies on the way to Haulover Beach isn't the only way to go topless. While you can't turn Des Moines into Miami, not all convertibles have to take a chunk out of your wallet. Some beauties are priced at less than $30,000--and, for added frugality, get more than 20 mpg on the highway.
1. General Motors rolled out the Pontiac Solstice roadster first, but gays have taken more to its better-looking twin, the Saturn Sky. The lines are sexier, though the two-seat convertible package is essentially the same for both cars. Under the teensy hood there's a choice of a 2.4-liter four-cylinder with 173 horsepower, or, in the Sky Red Line, a meatier 2.0-liter turbo four with 260 horsepower. A choice of five-speed automatic or manual transmission is up to you, though our money is on the automatic, which still gets as much as 28 mpg on the open road. And the price tag starts at $26,145.
2. Sharing its name with the goddess of the dawn, the four-seat Volkswagen Eos sneaks in at just below $29,000. The Eos's coolest features include a retractable hardtop that folds neatly away in the trunk in 25 seconds and highway fuel economy as high as 30 mpg. Engine choices include a 200-horsepower turbo four-cylinder and a 250-horsepower V-6 that sports VW's nifty dual-clutch automatic transmission.
3 Intimate as a table for two in a back corner and responsive as a 911 call, the Mazda Miata is a great choice for a two-seat roadster with good looks, fantastic handling, and an easy-to-use top. For just $21,220 you get a classic roadster with a 166-horsepower four-cylinder engine and a choice of manual or automatic gearboxes. You also get the ability to squeeze into the tightest parking spaces -- a sure way to earn the admiration of cute surfers.
4 Raise your hand if you've never heard of a Mustang -- we thought so. The Mustang's been around so long, most people forget it's one of the best-selling convertibles in the U.S. -- and one of the most fun to drive. The four-seater starts at just $19,650, and the base V-6 engine musters 26 mpg on the highway. The Pony package firms up the base suspension, and color and trim options allow you to go retro. But the best option is Ford's 1,000-watt Shaker audio system. If only high school had been so cool.
