Could have had a Mercedes SL series convertible for the same price... and it would then have the class and ride of a high end Mercedes.... although lack to originality.

I really have trouble with taking a $18k economy midsized car and turning it into a luxury vehicle... and doesn't drive or feel like a luxury car.

I guess the same mentality would cause a person to buy a $50,000 house in the ghetto neighborhoods of <insert city name here> (Chicago, Detroit, LA, etc.) then fill it with $70k worth... when they could have bought a nice $120k place in suburbs or at least our of the war zone.