Convertable for a grand?

motorguy

k6chris said:

Update:  I think a better aim is to try and buy a convertable that will cost £1,000 a year, for example a £3k convertable that will (hopefully) last 3 years.  I have looked at a number of MX5s, where I doubt even that is possible (wow do they rust!) but hopefully can find one that fits the bill.  Hopefully!

That has always been my view.  I'd say buying the right £3K car, maintaining it and then reselling it after three years will cost you an awful lot less than buying a £1K car and having to scrap it after a year (and maybe spending £££s on it in the meantime)

motorguy

Mutton_Geoff said:

k6chris said:

Update:  I think a better aim is to try and buy a convertable that will cost £1,000 a year, for example a £3k convertable that will (hopefully) last 3 years.  I have looked at a number of MX5s, where I doubt even that is possible (wow do they rust!) but hopefully can find one that fits the bill.  Hopefully!

I've had a couple of Porsche Boxsters and the overall costs of ownership (exc fuel & insurance) has been pretty close to that. Shame about the initial outlay though. The 987S would be a lot more fun than an MX5 

+1

I'd a Boxster a few years back.  Bought for £6,750 ran it for a year, sold it for £6,850.  Only ad hoc costs were a tail light bulb holder

Nobbie1967

motorguy said:

Mutton_Geoff said:

k6chris said:

Update:  I think a better aim is to try and buy a convertable that will cost £1,000 a year, for example a £3k convertable that will (hopefully) last 3 years.  I have looked at a number of MX5s, where I doubt even that is possible (wow do they rust!) but hopefully can find one that fits the bill.  Hopefully!

I've had a couple of Porsche Boxsters and the overall costs of ownership (exc fuel & insurance) has been pretty close to that. Shame about the initial outlay though. The 987S would be a lot more fun than an MX5 

+1

I'd a Boxster a few years back.  Bought for £6,750 ran it for a year, sold it for £6,850.  Only ad hoc costs were a tail light bulb holder

Bought mine 5 years ago to replace a Spitfire that was going to rust away as I no longer had a garage. Bought for £3600 and could probably get close to that for it now. I do my own maintenance, so running costs are reasonable as most parts can be had from breakers or aftermarket. If something major goes wrong, I’ll just break it for parts.

motorguy

Nobbie1967 said:

motorguy said:

Mutton_Geoff said:

k6chris said:

Update:  I think a better aim is to try and buy a convertable that will cost £1,000 a year, for example a £3k convertable that will (hopefully) last 3 years.  I have looked at a number of MX5s, where I doubt even that is possible (wow do they rust!) but hopefully can find one that fits the bill.  Hopefully!

I've had a couple of Porsche Boxsters and the overall costs of ownership (exc fuel & insurance) has been pretty close to that. Shame about the initial outlay though. The 987S would be a lot more fun than an MX5 

+1

I'd a Boxster a few years back.  Bought for £6,750 ran it for a year, sold it for £6,850.  Only ad hoc costs were a tail light bulb holder

Bought mine 5 years ago to replace a Spitfire that was going to rust away as I no longer had a garage. Bought for £3600 and could probably get close to that for it now. I do my own maintenance, so running costs are reasonable as most parts can be had from breakers or aftermarket. If something major goes wrong, I’ll just break it for parts.

You'd likely make money on it, with the way prices have went on them.

They're a lovely car.  Real sense of occasion when you drive it.

I just wasnt getting the use out of mine, so we sold it.  

caprikid1

Friend of mine rebuilt engines a lot of upset Boxster owners when engines went bang and £9K bills come in .

motorguy

caprikid1 said:

Friend of mine rebuilt engines a lot of upset Boxster owners when engines went bang and £9K bills come in .

They're not all like that though.

Yes there were / are certain engines made in certain years that can be "problematic".

Pick the right engine / year combo and do your due diligence and they're usually fine.

Mine was (purposely bought) outside the problem range.  

Grumpy_chap

Well, I thought of this thread today when I went for a walk and saw a Volvo convertible parked up, 2004 plate, with the sign in the window reading "For Sale, short MOT until 18th June, hence low price £750".  I could only imagine that the car is unlikely to pass that MOT, otherwise, you'd get that done before selling.  So £750 to have a convertible for a month and then maybe get £250 back for scrap.  You would have to rely on a period of excellent weather to make that worthwhile.

shane2k

you can buy a 206 convertible and 207 for under 1k in my area theres been low mileage sold for £800 or under and micra version for 1k

facade

Grumpy_chap said:

Well, I thought of this thread today when I went for a walk and saw a Volvo convertible parked up, 2004 plate, with the sign in the window reading "For Sale, short MOT until 18th June, hence low price £750".  I could only imagine that the car is unlikely to pass that MOT, otherwise, you'd get that done before selling.  So £750 to have a convertible for a month and then maybe get £250 back for scrap.  You would have to rely on a period of excellent weather to make that worthwhile.

It has probably just failed an early MOT, if you are inclined, note the reg on your next walk and check online what it failed on.

Grumpy_chap

facade said:

It has probably just failed an early MOT, if you are inclined, note the reg on your next walk and check online what it failed on.

So, I looked online and the latest MOT data showing is:

• date tested = 10 June 2021
• mileage = 104k miles
• advisories:
•  - Nearside Front Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint has slight play (5.3.4 (a) (i))
•  - Offside Front Power steering component has slight seepage from a component (2.1.5 (a))
•  - Nearside Front Power steering component has slight seepage from a component (2.1.5 (a))

I thought if it had been for an MOT test, the online record was instant but could it be possible it was updated and not synced to the network yet?  For the owner to maintain the MOT history, it would only be Thursday it could be presented for the test and it was only Friday that I saw it advertised.

Or maybe the advisories from last year now need doing and that makes it not worth it?  I'm not sure what those advisories are likely to cost to resolve.  No rust listed, though, so unlikely to fail on corrosion after only one extra year.
Or maybe the owner knows there is more needs doing that makes it not worth it?
Could the owner have a friendly garage and said, do an MOT, but if it's going to fail then let's just call it a pre-MOT inspection?

Anyway, the C70 would be private sale range £360 - £720 according to Parkers, but the cheapest on Autotrader is around £1,300.

There is part of me that says this could be worth a punt for a monkey.