Are we living in the last days of the roadster? That would be profoundly sad. Ever since GIs saw the cute little two-seaters in Europe after World War II, Americans have enthusiastically supported convertible sports cars.
So, with the end of this horrible year, there is something else to be sad about. It’s the end of these discontinued sports cars—although they are still available as past-year models on eBay:
- Fiat 124 Spider - opens in new window or tab. (including the older ones)
- Mercedes-Benz SLC - opens in new window or tab. (grouped with other SLs)
SUVs Dominate, Two-Seaters Go Away
It appears that SUVs, big and small, have taken over everything. But that’s not the whole picture for discontinued sports cars.
None of the departing roadster models were fresh. And there’s not much incentive to launch a new two-seater when the market for them is so small.
In recent years, convertibles accounted for less than one percent of new car sales at dealerships. A small but steady market remains, although mainly due to the Mazda Miata.
2021 Discontinued Sports Cars: Farewell Roadster Z and Alfa 4C
The discontinued Nissan 370Z is gone as a roadster, but soldiers on as a coupe.
SUVs, particular sportier crossovers, definitely are a factor in the roadster recession. Buyers of the 370Z are probably not going for a Nissan Armada, but a sleek BMW X3 crossover? Very possible.
The coupe version of the 370Z is continuing. But the roadster got killed. There are several reasons, starting with price.
The discontinued 370Z roadster came in at $42,815 for its final 2019 model year. That’s $11,830 more than the coupe. And for reasons that are hard to fathom, it was offered only with a seven-speed automatic, even though the coupe has a six-speed manual as the standard offering.
Oh well, you can still buy a 370Z roadster in Canada. Although, what’s the logic in offering this car in the Great White North and not in California or the Sunbelt?
Discontinued Alfa-Romeo 4C Was Always Niche
The Alfa-Romeo 4C was always going to have a short run.
The discontinued Alfa-Romeo 4C was never more than a prestige offering in the US. Sales here were 406 in 2017 (the high point), 238 in 2018, 145 in 2019, and just 92 in 2020.
At least the 4C Spider is going out with a bang. The company is offering just 33 $81,590 4C Spider 33 Stradale Tributos - opens in new window or tab. for the North American market before the 4C departs this earth.
It’s an appearance package with special red paint, carbon fiber trim, gold wheels, and a unique black-and-brown interior. They should be arriving in February.
The discontinued 4C was produced on sister company Maserati’s production line. The Italian brand is getting into the two-seater business with the MC20 - opens in new window or tab.. It’s a new supercar that should be out in fall 2021. The 4C was a four-cylinder car, but a 621-horsepower twin-turbo V-6 powers the MC20.
The Mercedes-Benz SLC sold fewer than 2,000 units to Americans last year.
Mercedes announced in 2019 that the SLC would be among the discontinued sports cars. The company pointed to “a challenging market” for two-seat roadsters, and consumers flocking to crossovers. The SLC sold only 1,993 units to Americans in 2019. And there are no plans to build another SLC.
Open-Top Bimmers Bye-Bye
The BMW i8 Roadster was only briefly available.
The discontinued roadster version of BMW’s exotic i8 plug-in hybrid was with us only a short time. It reached customers in the spring of 2018 but died this year when the model did.
Plans for an i8 successor, as seen in the Vision M Next, were also canceled - opens in new window or tab.. The i8 was expensive ($148,500 for the coupe in 2019, and $164,300 for the roadster). At that price, it was a slow seller. A total of 6,776 units found homes in the US between 2014 and 2019.
BMW’s pricey M8 roadster ran into COVID-related supply problems.
BMW is also temporarily discontinuing the M8 convertible (the coupe, too) for the US after 2020. The culprit is supply problems caused by COVID-19. You can still buy an M850i xDrive convertible if you have $121,400 lying around.
And Then There Was Miata
Still want a roadster? You can buy the BMW Z4 ($49,700 and 254 horsepower); and the Audi TT ($53,900 in base form, and 228 horsepower). But these two luxury cars arguably are more than basic roadster fans need or want.
What’s left for regular road-faring folks who fell for the Lotus Elan, MGB, Triumph TR4 all those years ago? The answer: Mazda Miata.
The Mazda Miata is still outstanding in its field.
Despite all the discontinued sports cars in 2021, the Miata continues—with the manual 2021 Sport starting at $27,775. (By the way, the pretty Fiat 124 Spider version of the Miata is also dead after 2020.)
Mazda brand sales were down overall in 2020. But the Miata was way up in the first half of the year. That’s what a lack of viable, affordable alternatives will do for you.
2021 Discontinued Cars Still for Sale on eBay
With the end of production for those discontinued sports cars, buyers can look to the used market. If you need a present to yourself after this lousy year, maybe this is it.
That’s where eBay comes in. eBay has ample inventory to satisfy any enthusiast who still loves the joy of taking to the open road. Start clicking here:
- Fiat 124 Spider - opens in new window or tab. (including the older ones)
- Mercedes-Benz SLC - opens in new window or tab. (grouped with other SLs)
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