Thanks Jeff.  Bought a red 66 Plymouth Valiant Signet convertible (273 V8) in 1990 when my high school girlfriend dumped me.  Sold my dad's car to pay for it.  I would've been in trouble if he didn't really like it.
Bought a 2003 Beetle convertible in 2005 when I got married.  Loved the car but never saw another man driving one ... only 50 year old women.  The breaking point was when I saw a personalised license plate that read "Ladybug."  Sold it to buy a Jetta wagon which fit baby seats.
I'm the pasty-est white guy around. Can't handle the sun.  I only put the top down at night.  Hot, humid muggy nights.  I think there is a VW commercial with Nick Drake in the background that reminds me of those nights...
Halloweens with the top down, tuque on and heat on high are the best.  Love those heated seats.
Jeff

Date: Fri, 17 Jun 2011 13:24:07 -0700
Subject: Re: Fiat (no vanagon content)
From: oxroad@gmail.com
To: jpalmer@mymts.net; vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com

Jeff--I'm not saying you've never owned a convertible, but if you haven't it's like flying.The bonus I never counted on was night driving with the top down. I thought itwould be all about the daylight driving and the sun and the fun--and that was great too.
But the nights are the real payoff in my opinion.(My convertibles were bigger than the Fiat; 1952 Plymouth and a 1966 Mercury Monterey.)
I never owned a Fiat. I love the design and look of the 124. 
I'll leave some space here for someone else if they want to talk you out of it:

Best,Jeff
83.5 WestyLA,CA

On Fri, Jun 17, 2011 at 12:56 PM, Jeff Palmer <jpalmer@mymts.net> wrote:

So as my 40th birthday approaches and along with it a self-imposed mid-life crisis, can someone tell me why I shouldn't buy a red Fiat 124 Spider convertible with 46,000 miles.

ThanksJeff