Convertible options on a £5-10k budget ?

property.advert

Convertible wanted. £5-10k budget. Must be auto, have rear seats and a metal top. Doesn't need to be performance but no 15 sec 0-60 slouch either. MPG immaterial as will be doing low miles.

If I liked French cars I think it would be easy but I don't know if I could bring myself to buy one.

What is the best bang for buck in this sector ?

rodenal

Metal roof and no frenchies means you're all but !!!!!!ed apart from the eos (which doesn't have any real back seat room) or the newer C70 (which is really a bit crap in all honesty).

Is there a reason for the folding hard top? Otherwise you can consider more german offerings and the Saab 9-3, if you like feeling like you're going sailing round corners

ventureuk

property.advert wrote: »

Convertible wanted. £5-10k budget. Must be auto, have rear seats and a metal top. Doesn't need to be performance but no 15 sec 0-60 slouch either. MPG immaterial as will be doing low miles.

If I liked French cars I think it would be easy but I don't know if I could bring myself to buy one.

What is the best bang for buck in this sector ?

Why the tin roof ? There are so few tin roofed cars that actually look good due to the requirement of having to stow a big slab of metal in the back.

Saab 9-3 Vector or Aero auto can be had for that sort of money from 4yrs old with less than 60k on the clock and a fsh. Full leather, heated seats, cruise, climate etc and without the 'I sell drugs' image of BMW and Audi convertibles.

I'm biased I've got two

property.advert

Why the metal roof ? because I want it secure and don't want just a bit of glorified tarpaulin protecting the occupants from the elements. It will also spend its life outside.

property.advert

No French = no choice what what I thought.

As to French, what are the best options ?

And could you really live with one ?

ventureuk

property.advert wrote: »

Why the metal roof ? because I want it secure and don't want just a bit of glorified tarpaulin protecting the occupants from the elements. It will also spend its life outside.

Do tin topped cars have shatter proof windows ?

I think you need to research your purchase a little better, good luck with whatever you end up with.

motorguy

Easy.

Mercedes SLK auto.

ventureuk

pgilc1 wrote: »

Easy.

Mercedes SLK auto.

and two bus tickets

motorguy

property.advert wrote: »

Why the metal roof ? because I want it secure and don't want just a bit of glorified tarpaulin protecting the occupants from the elements. It will also spend its life outside.

For the record, your impression of soft tops is maybe 30 years out of date (well, 10 years if you include the MGTF )

Cars like the MR2, Z4, Boxster, MX5 all have fantastic soft tops - they dont leak and they are very strong, plus it all adds to the experience.

We'd an MR2 soft top and it spent its life outside and was used daily. No issues at all.

Oh, and make sure you're buying the car at 'winter' prices - a lot of dealers have high priced summer stock on their forecourts. Make sure the price reflects the time of year.

thelawnet

The C70 is indeed a bit lacklustre, Eos is better but not a bargain for the sector by any stretch of the imagination - only the BMW costs more. The 2.0T petrol is the one to go for.

The Ford Focus CC is slow and has an old-fashioned 2-piece roof, so I'd probably look at the Vauxhall Astra Twintop instead, although the catch here is that the 2.0T falls into the 'Ferrari' VED band.

atrixblue.-MFR-.

TBH i'd go softop, because theres less money involved repairing the roof if it went faulty, hardtop foldaways are expensive when they go down (and not come up... sorry had to throw that in).

what to look for in a softop, glass rear window, hydrolics works smoothly and effectivly and not slow and cranky all rubber seals are intact, the pull clips passenger and drivers side are nice and stiff and feel like its making a good contact not loose shakey and dont feel like they are pulling the roof down to the seal. the headlining is clean and no rust spots from leaks or mold damp patches, check the boot for water damage, leaks and hydrolics leaking.