I may be About's Guide to SUVs -- but one of my dream cars has always been a British roadster. Two seats, top down, engine roaring as I swoop around the curves on the Pacific Coast Highway.

I have to blame two of my uncles for my roadster obsession. My mom's brother Bill has had a few of my favorites. When I was a kid, he had an early-'60s Austin-Healey 3000 that was about as cool a car as I ever saw. He drove it too fast, and it had to stay at our house for a year while Uncle Bill was on academic probation. My dad didn't seem to mind much. Later, when I was old enough to drive, Uncle Bill had a 1968 Morgan Plus Eight, and he let me drive it whenever I visited. Man, did I love that car.

My dad's brother-in-law Joe had an early-'70s Triumph TR6 that he brought home to New Jersey from a trip to England - the best souvenir ever, in my opinion. He kept the British plates on it, and kept it in his garage for special occasions. It was beautiful, British Racing Green, and just the most fantastic car.

Both of my uncles are great guys, generous to a fault, proud of their cars, and I'm sure they inspired my love of British roadsters. I've never owned one myself -- maybe someday.

I've been lucky enough to review a few American and Japanese roadsters for About Cars -- most recently, the Chevrolet Corvette Convertible. I get to live the fantasy of being a roadster owner, without having to face the reality of the roadster compromise. Where do you put that eighth bag of groceries? What if the dog wants to go to the dog park? How about that great garage sale armoire I've just got to bring home?

Maybe I'll stick with my SUV until I have the garage space to pamper my British roadster.

Photo © Jason Fogelson