Used convertibles for sale near Itasca, IL under $20,000

After my 2023 Lightning (purchased from Fair Oaks) was totaled in an accident, I sent requests to 5 local dealers for bids on last and final price on 8 trucks. I wanted to be able to walk in, write a check (100% cash sale, no trade) for the bid price, no negotiations or up selling. If would happen, I was going to walk out. Fair Oaks was the only dealer that respected my request, others either got into process to ask for me to come in for price, tried calling etc. I was glad they did as I was extremely satisfied with experience with prior purchase. Abraham took lead and completed the task, I walked in, took the truck for a spin around the block and he had all the paperwork to sign off accepting the offer. Terrence in finance (who I worked with on prior purchase) was able to transfer my extended warranty over, no up selling, presented all paperwork to sign, I wrote the check and out the door.

In 2002 they sold over MSRP adjusted for inflation @$54K in todays money- pricier than the 2002 Corvette and sold like 30,000 that year. I think that new car buyer had to probably be searching for the 1955 Thunderbird experience to shell out that kind of cash, and most people born on the 60’s and 70’s just didn’t understand that appeal. Oddly, the demographic that did BABIED their cars, kept up maintenance, have all the original tools and covers (just try and find that T-handle wrench for the hard top for example) when you get lucky enough to get a shot at buying one of these babies cars you’ll find they’re sharp and quick, amazingly so despite what people someone lent one to to write about said 20 years ago. Shod with 17inch tires 🛞 and solid suspension, people can complain about the horsepower being light, but stomp it and it will jump, zoom and weave solidly with the best of them. My drive home from buying this car was a blast. Will other sports models eke out slightly better speed, power and performance over these 20 year old T-birds? Sure, why not. Does it matter if you’re not at Road Atlanta? No. For me, this a sleeper sports car that’s about to bust onto the scene and see its reputation finally living up to the 2002 Car of the Year Award Motor Trend gave it. I think you need to find one of these babied sweethearts like I did. It’s a blast to find a good one and discover what an under rated blast it is to drive. Can’t really call it super nimble, but I respect mines solid ride and reasonably quick response & rocket like performance. The incredibly clean lines scream style visually and I suggest that a 2 tone leather optional interior is worth an extra $1K (over the basic. $11-12 K value) a hard top/rack/tonneau cover intact is worth another grand. ($13-14K total seems fair generally for a babied one). Check the rubber suspension parts underneath (inside the front wheel well behind the tire) is the easiest one to check quickly for rot w/o getting under the rear).

I cried about the price of my tires but to know they are covered was a big load off my shoylders

Under the rear seat it leaked water from the outside when driving in rainy conditions. I upgraded the stereo system and it was better for listening to music on the interstate and hi ways with the top down. I’m hoping to find another car soon.

Performed all services and provided a loaner and wash; on time and completed. Have always exceeded expectations, am completely satisfied. Would recommend them to anyone.

A beautiful automobile gift from my beautiful wife on 6/2/23. I’ve been searching for a tbird and a friend told me to call and see if this guy was willing to sell one of 3 Tbirds he had. Little did I know in a few hours I’d be the new owner of Dale Jarrett’s personal Tbird with only 6,842 miles on it. His signature is on the dash and also his personal leather racing jacket signed. Needless to say it handles like new and has new car smell. We drove it from Charlotte NC to Charleston SC and couldn’t believe how it performed handled and rode. It’s definitely an eye catcher. The hardtop was easy to remove with 2 people. It would have been nice if it would have been designed to retract into the trunk. But mine came with hoist to attach to garage ceiling which made it very easy. I’m 100% satisfied and happy with my new Tbird.

Surprised! They have a bunch of affordable inventory. Seemed like every car had new tires and brakes. Really honest guys. I'll be back again!

I bought this car used in 2012. Over 10yrs later and 214k miles she still rolling. I did have to replace power steering sensor last year and unfortunately it has to be reprogrammed in shop or would of saved chuck of money. My evap solenoid is giving me trouble but my heat my AC my radio my windows all work and I would buy a brand new one if I good. Lots of replaced headlamp bulbs over the years but once rewired it made much better

The moment I walked through the door, I knew this was the dealership for me. First things first, no pressure! I was braced to be swarmed as soon as I walked. But no, just a wide selection of vehicles, chill sales people and most importantly no pressure to buy. I told them the car I wanted to test drive. They copied my license, gave me the keys and plates and sent me on my way. The car was perfect with a few items to be addressed. They resolved all issues without any pushback. Gave me a fair price on my trade in, and sold me a wonderful car. I am happy! I highly recommend Rides Unlimited! Thank you Steven Partida and Karl Wilfinger for your assistance.

Good looking quick sports car I would Recommend this car to anyone you will enjoy quick trips and just driving around town or a ride in the countryside

I’m very happy with my experience here! Both our Salesman BRIAN and the finance manager MAX are great at what they do! Brian is very professional and responsive and got me in the door and Max was able to get me out of the door financed! I’m not an easy credit profile so I appreciate all the dedication and expertise Max put into finding me financing and structuring it to fit my needs and I’m happy Brian was the salesman that responded to my internet inquiry and advocated for me in the first place! All around I couldn’t be happier with my experience and I love my new Land Rover Velar! Highly recommend!!!

This car exceeded all of my expectations! It is an M-Sport and has the optional M-Power package and is a mini M4! Fun to drive, hardtop convertible for those summer afternoons and has all the features of a modern BMW.

Andrew Doyle at this dealership was amazing to work with. He was soft spoken, detailed yet concise. He was influential in making a deposit for a purchase. I had to pull out later for other reasons. But I give high regards to Andrew’s work.

Solid for a convertible. Goes surprisingly well in the snow and with the seats down can haul stuff. I have this as my only car and it is actually very practical. Plus, it’s just a joy to drive.

Loved my experience at Top Gear Motors, such an easy process and car was pristine. Will definitely come for all future purchases and recommend others do the same.

The CLK 320 stands out as the most remarkable car I've driven In terms of reliability, appearance and performance it truly excels. I've driven my cabriolet for 260k miles and still going strong. Love it so much that I just bought another for my daughter to start college at 81K miles, I anticipate tis vehicle to last 450K-500k miles on original engine and transmission (all with proper maintenance).

I purchased a 2015 Mercedes-Benz SLK 250 convertible. From my first inquiry, communication with Zee was exceptional. Typically he responded within the hour to my questions. Additionally, he took several videos of the vehicle and pointed out all defects, so I knew ahead of time. The vehicle was spotless when I picked it up. I did have the car further inspected when I got home and we found there was one bad motor mount which was causing some engine vibration. I relayed this information to Zee and we agreed upon a favorable resolution. In closing, I would not hesitate to recommend this dealer and in particular Zee did a great job from start to finish

Surprisingly an excellent value for sports car. Bought mine used and quality is still intact. The reliability has proven to be very good. A fun DIY car that is easy to work on. Parts are priced reasonably well and readily available. The Mercedes roadability is the true fun factor. Classic Mercedes styling, being a unique hardtop convertible, and name, will win many over now in and in the future.

One of the best thing I ever experienced great customer service highly recommended. Dan and Joe was amazing

I love to take the back roads with the top down and the music cranked. Handles and corners better than any vehicle I have ever driven.

They were very professional and nice they answered answered my questions today very good I like them.

If you are after comfort and looks, this is the car for you, but, and here's the big but, be prepared to spend more than normal for maintenance. It is a Jaguar, and that is a small company, and there are not that many dealers to take the car to, and when you do, bring a full wallet or a very good credit card. Not a sports car. This is a grand touring car, and not something for the race track. It is pretty quick for what it is, and it does handle well.

I found this place on google after searching for a new car for me to buy. Fortunately, the last car I bought for $17,300 was totaled (minor fender bender but airbags went off) and valued at $19,200 by insurance, meaning I had a good chunk towards a different car. I emailed Jasin about this 2016 X5 50i since it caught my eye with all of the packages and features it has and I got a reply within 25 minutes of doing so. The process was made very simple and to the point which I appreciate. When I get to Skokie he had everything already signed on his end so all I had to do was sign my parts, and after the test drive and some small talk about the car, I bought it and was in and out of the dealership within 45 minutes. The car is extremely clean and inside and out and there is zero issues with it. If anyone is looking to get a car without all of the hassle I highly recommend iCars Chicago. I’m very happy with my purchase

Great weekend car or fun to go to work. Great for weekend get away. Nice to ride with the top down and listen to a Great stereo.

I had a very positive experience at Autos of Chicago. The team was friendly, knowledgeable, and took the time to understand what I was looking for. The cars were clean, well-priced, and exactly as advertised. The buying process was quick and straightforward, with no hidden fees or surprises. I’m very happy with my purchase and would highly recommend Autos of Chicago to anyone searching for a trustworthy used car dealer.

I really liked the car. Lots of “extras”, had a manual and automatic transmission option which was unexpected and fun. The body had a few dings, but it is 8 years old so some marks are to be expected.

It was very excellent. The sales representatives was very professional and curious. He went above and beyond. Even tho me and my wife live 2hrs away. He responded promptly to our calls and delt with any issues we had.

I absolutely love this car. My only wish is that I can find a Hard Top to put on it at a reasonable price. But I still love this car. I am sorry but I do. It puts a smile on my face. And I didn't have to pay a fortune for it either. It still looks like new, and it drives great, and it handles excellent. It is the Torch Red w/Black Ink Interior. And this is to the guy that says the 3.9 engine is underpowered, you are nuts, this thing screams down the highway, not that I am a speed demon, but it does. I don't know what else to say about this Thunderbird, but I wish I had bought one many years ago. Nuff said.

Our salesman, Dan was great to work with. He was patient with our needs and we had an overall pleasant experience. Nice selection of vehicles as well as a clean and organized dealership.

the car's condition is very good; I bought it as a new car, and only drive less than 30000 miles, so the car still has its full warranty. This car is very easy and comfortable to drive and operate, even for new drivers. Also, it is good for people who want to drive fast since it has sport mood.

great dealer great cars nothing other to say, super helpful with my car purchase. great guys

Great comfort and every conceivable feature. Responsive steering and breaking and plenty of power. Doesn’t hurt that it a beautiful car in perfect condition. Bought it at the right time from the right place.

Great follow up, I haven't at this point found unit I was pleased enough to purchase. Thanks for your attention...........done

I love this car, drive it right and she’ll be fuel efficient, but quick enough to outpace traffic. I will say the transmission can feel a little clunky sometimes.

First-class service from Sam, who made the purchasing process stress-free and informative throughout. He listened carefully to my requirements, which I was really happy with, and there were absolutely no hard sales tactics. A great experience from start to finish.

This is the 2nd SL class I've owned, so ill try to keep this objective. These are state of the art vehicles with features way ahead of their time. They are built straight forward and repairs can be undertaken by the owner more than one would think. If you can find one in a salvage yard, you can learn how things come apart with little risk of damaging your own. The value of the experience sometimes outweighs the time it takes to learn. If that makes any sense... This car is easy to love, who wouldn't? Neck breaking acceleration, sexy good looks, the way it cradles its occupants, and surrounds them with luxury appointments unmatched by other maker's offerings. The feel is rock solid at the wheel and pedals, despite how heavy the car feels. More than enough ponies, to confidently pass or merge, and brakes that could stop a semi-tractor. The gauges are well placed, and logical information comes at your finger tips with the multi-function steering wheel. The cockpit seating seems to have an Infinite number of positions, and the easy exit feature will undoubtedly preserve the leather of the lumbar lobe. Controls are semi-ergo friendly; however the roll bar and hard top controls would be better positioned anywhere besides directly under your elbow. Concealing the roll bar up/down switches beneath the top control, does not demonstrate forethought by MB engineers. Driving the car is truly exhilarating, top up or top down. The sound remains with BOSE, and a disc changer allows for more choice. Staggered wheels are staple with the MB roadster, and improved with 35/40 series width adding to the nimble agility already demonstrated by the car. So... What's to hate? Depreciation! I feel sorry for the 1st owners of an SL. At the same time i envy that they can take it in stride. If it were not for these brazen buyers, i would never be able to afford this car. Repairs and failures... Fortunately, I've got advanced wrenching ability or this car would keep me in hock up to my neck. Although the hard top is a mastery of elegance in motion, it is delicate and prone to failure. The deck lid/boot cover/trunk lid, can present quite a challenge when, (not if), the latch fails. There is literally no way to get at the repair w/o creating damage in the course of gaining access to the latch assembly. I ended up designing and fabricating a tool that can reach the manual release levers from the rear of the cockpit. This body style incorporates a fuel cel that has an internal problem. A baffle becomes disconnected and creates an obnoxious clunk at the storage bulkhead. The fix is said to call out 18+ hours of tech time to remedy. (Ouch!) The bottom line is: you take the good with the bad, and hope that you can DIY when the time comes for repair. Till that time...enjoy the love.

The owners of this dealership have gone above and beyond to help my 18 year old son troubleshoot the issues with his vehicle well beyond the warranty period. I will purchase from them in the future.

A few concerns to address, the first is ABC active body control is a concern for this car. I own Phone Doctor in Frederick Maryland and hardware tech is my passion so I want to give my feedback. I love the classy lines of the exterior. The interior is equally elegant and tasteful without gaudy disco lights. I was mesmerized into test driving a 2005 SL500 because my daily driver is a 2001 Mercedes s600. The audio system is lackluster, next weakness is the headlights, but the biggest problem is the ABC (active body control) hydraulic suspension. The audio system is disappointing and leaves me feeling flaccid but I’m used to twelve inches of JL systems shimmed into my high school hoopties. The audio system is not the deal-breaker for this $90,000 machine. And the mediocre headlights can be remedied with aftermarket auxiliary lights. The biggest weakness is the high performance suspension system. Mercedes likes to call it ABC (active body control). The hydraulic pump, seals, and mechanical moving parts gets weak and loses its performance anywhere between 80,000 to 150,000 miles. It’ll cost just as much to replace the ABC system than it does to purchase your 2nd hand sl500. If you’re in the market for one make sure you have an extra $20,000 in socked up before you drop your drawers and plop $15k on your first SL500. A dream ride with one last caveat: This car will draw a lot of attention from single ladies!

This place is amazing! The selection of high end rare collectible cars is simply eye candy for the soul. The vehicles are fairly priced and there’s no haggling required. The owner, Michael Colby, and his staff are all pleasant and easy to work with. They love and appreciate these cars as much as the customer and it shows! My car purchase was easy and enjoyable. You must check this place out, if you’re looking for a premium pre-driven vehicle. Im going to be telling my friends about this place!

This is my daily drive. Bought new in 2014 and have 93,000 miles. The car itself is gorgeous and looks sporty. For the time, this was luxury. Drives smooth, looks nice, interior has nice features, but in 2024 it is definitely 'dated' to say the least. No back up cameras, no drive assist or passing vehicle warnings, and no touch screen apps like the new vehicles have. But the heated seats work well, the AC is great, and it's fast and smooth. Don't get me wrong. I love my car. I've babied my car. The review of the vehicle is positive and I'd buy it again. But here are my complaints: 1. There is a huge delay between putting your foot down and getting those RPMs up. Response time is slow. This is definitely electronically intended. 2. For some reason, the window wipers fail. Been that way since day 1. Maybe this was a fault model. But it doesn't last long. Likely just a one off. 3. The battery and the serpentine belt are hidden behind the wheel well. It means you either have the tools and time at home, or you bring it into a shop. The design is ridiculous. 4. The spacers between the back windows deteriorate. I am not sure why its made of some different material than the rest of the exterior and window, but it's definitely a design flaw. Sadly, there arent many other vehicles, at least in 2024 that come close to the quality and design of the 2013 Chrysler 200 Limited with the same or similar price tag. Instead you're looking at vehicles 2-4x the price. I've enjoyed it a lot. I've received plenty of compliments over the years. Hopefully it will last me another 10 years. At 93,000 miles and now 12 years old, I've only had to replace the front rotors, the struts, and stabilizer bar.