View Photos of the 1998 Big-Ticket Roadsters
1998 BMW M Roadster, 1998 Chevrolet Corvette, 1998 Porsche Boxster exterior and interior photos.
These aren't the only droptop two-seaters on the market, but they're the ones directly aimed at our enthusiast sensibilities: the Chevrolet Corvette, the BMW M Roadster, and the Porsche Boxster. These three embrace different approaches to speed, so deciding on a winner depends on how you value, say, horsepower versus handling, or feedback versus refinement. The winner might shock you. But probably not.
1998 BMW M Roadster, 1998 Chevrolet Corvette convertible, 1998 Porsche Boxster
We took the 1998 BMW M Roadster, the Chevrolet Corvette convertible, and the Porsche Boxster to some of our favorite Southeast 10Best roads.
The Boxster has the least power, but feels the most agile and reassuring on real roads.
The Corvette convertible is all about bigness: big power, big speed, big dimensions.
The Corvette's 5.7-liter V-8 makes a best-in-test 345 hp.
1998 Chevrolet Corvette convertible
The Chevrolet Corvette convertible hit 167 mph with the top up and 160 mph with it down.
1998 Chevrolet Corvette convertible
The BMW M Roadster uses the same 240-hp 3.2-liter inline six as the M3, but burdens it with less weight.
The M Roadster's low door sills heighten the impression of speed.
1998 BMW M Roadster
1998 BMW M Roadster
The big six hustles the M Roadster to 60 mph in 5.4 seconds.
With 201 horsepower, the Porsche Boxster is the least powerful car here by a wide margin.
From the doors forward, the Boxster looks a lot like a 911.
A bit of rain turned the perfectly balanced Boxster into a giant-killer in the corners.
Like its 911 sibling, the Porsche Boxster offers a front trunk.
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