This is my implementation of "roadster": Open top vehicle with only two seats and two doors. That's it. The ones with four or five seats and open top are called convertibles.

 

close enough

 

Thank you for all the answers. I have no problems with the "s2000 = best example of a roadster", but that does not help me to define one. Others may say: "I cannot define roadster, but I know one when I see one."

I think we generally agreed on the "open top, two seater (and therefore two doors)" part. It is mostly the "size" part that we have difficulty agreeing -- hence the examples of the current Thunderbird, Corvette, and Z8 and XKE (convertable). The Thunderbird is HUGE. I sat in one and it felt like sitting in a Mark VIII. I just could not bring myself to call it a roadster while others say it qualifies as a roadster because it is open top and two seater.

The example of the 911 Cabriolet is because no one recalls ever seeing it participating in any "roadster" comparisons in any magazines. Hence the confusion whether others consider it a roadster. There are obviously other (grey) examples as well, but we just used these as examples to help define the category.

 

In this case, I don't really think size matters. I would consider a 1960s Shelby Cobra (and the AC Ace that it's based on) to be true roadsters just as much as I would consider the Lotus 7 (and all the copies of it since) to be roadsters. The Miata, the S2000 and similar cars are modern interpretations of the roadster, but the purity is getting a bit blurred by all the power goodies that are "essential" in todays market.

I think there IS some element of being a "drivers car" that enters into the definition as well.

I think roadster is really a subset of sportscar. In other words, roadsters need to meet all the same criteria as sportscars with the added element of being 2 seater drop-/no-tops.

 

2 seats & a drop top

 

The 911 Cabrio has back seats, which we all agree disqualifies it from being called a roadster.

Steve

 

so, is a 360 syder a roadster? because the trunk in in the front????

what about the boxter? it has a trunk in the front and back????

 

I've always understood it to be defined as a 2-seater, front engine, rear-wheel drive convertible. Any convertible that doesn't meet these requirements should simply be branded as a "convertible".

But whatever.

 

roadster must be front engine and rear wheel drive and 2 seater and open top