Convertibles are great when the weather's perfect, but their drawbacks are obvious. Recently we've seen luxury cars advertised as luxury sports sedans. Porsche, selling traditional sports cars in this country since the 1950's, until recently had as its only competition the Chevrolet Corvette. At the same time, Dodge dealers begged Chrysler to produce a 1993 concept car to give the Corvette a run for the money. The Dodge Viper and Plymouth Prowler remain a success story for Chrysler, with this year's production already sold out.
Sports cars are cool and fun to drive, though impractical for daily transportation.
You'll need a garage to store them in, and a second mortgage to pay for their insurance. If you're constantly carting kids or cargo, a minivan may be your best choice. Most newer models offer an additional 4th door on the driver's side and offer comfortable seating for seven. Be aware of the different engines available. Positively avoid buying a 4-cylinder Dodge or Chrysler minivan, they're grossly underpowered and incapable of hauling heavy payloads for any distances.