In 1998, the Volkswagen Cabriolet came in three trims -- Base, Bestseller, and Boutique. Though each was powered by the same 1.8-liter, 4-cylinder, 90-hp engine and 5-speed manual transmission, they differed in standard features offered.

The two-door convertible Base featured cloth seats and a radio and not much else. Add-ons in the higher trims included cruise control, leather seats, and air conditioning, but the 1988 Cabriolet's trademark was not necessarily luxury as much as it was pure fun.

1988 Cabriolets seem to last forever, part of that durable German engineering, and most owners agree that they're fun to drive, not only because of the open top, but because of precise, spritely handling. They're great on the highway or just for making the scene around town, and the front-wheel drive is amazingly good on snow, owners say. The Cabriolet is easy to modify as well, so people today will often buy used ones to fix up. Parts can be scarce, say some owners, and repairs costly. A big problem with the convertible is leakage where the top meets the windows.