If you're after a 2 seater roadster softop that's reliable then get an MX-5 (Miata for USA), preferably the 1.8 because it has great aftermarket but the 1.6 is still sound if your insurance still rapes you, some people say they're gay cars but they can be modified into little roadmonsters, plus girls do love mx-5's so your on a winner. They also weigh **** all, are super reliable, have cheap parts, they're RWD so you can slide them around roundabouts and such. If you want something a bit different then look at Fiat Barchetta's, very similar to the MX-5 although they are FWD.
I drive a proper ****e escort, over the last month my exhaust fell off so it sounds like a WW2 tank and the other night my brakes failed at 60mph nearly resulting in a pretty bad crash, i'm getting it fixed and sold on though, i've got a 2.0 Mondeo that i can afford to insure now sitting up me path so it's a matter of getting rid of me bin ed ezzy and gettin the mondy on the road.