Topless motoring

[qska]

Hey

I fancy trying a convertible, as the weather improves.

I'd like a 4 seater, so we can squeeze our 3 and 7 year olds at the back.

Budget wise it's around 2.5 - 4k.

I shortlisted Audi A4, BMW 3 series or a Merc CLK.

Year would be around 2003, probably high mileage.

Automatic would be nice.

I found a 318i manual with 70k on the clock in good nick (to be viewed tomorrow) for 3.5k. And a 325i auto with 130k on the clock, for the same price.

Any advice?

I always check MOT histories online, didn't see anything apart from tyres needing changing and subframe bushes mentioned...

As a daily I'm driving a 2010 E350 CDI, so I'd quite fancy the CLK. But I heard the bimmers are better to drive for fun?

I'll see how I get along with it and keep at least this season, maybe longer if we get on well

[Iva Barchetta]

Small children sometimes don't like the wind on them with the top down if they're sitting in the back.

Just a friendly heads up.

[qska]

Iva Barchetta said:

Small children sometimes don't like the wind on them with the top down if they're sitting in the back.

Just a friendly heads up.

Yeah, that's why I don't want to invest lots. I'd never take them on the motorway with the top down Just weekend drives to the pub or local national trust thing we have. And the occastional school run, that'd be fun.

Normally they're in the wife's S Max.

Other than thatd I'd make them wear hats and stuff.

[talksthetorque]

Saab 9-3?
I notice all your choices are from 'premium' brands.
have you discounted Pug308/Renault Megane CC/Focus CC etc?

[anonymous-user]

They are all blustery as all hell in the back, they won't stick any long journeys or anything much higher than town speeds for too long.

Most of them are also very cramped in the back. Consider a Volvo C70 (mk1 or mk2 depending on budget) as they have decent room in the back, they're cheap for what you get and you can get a nice charismatic 5 pot engine. They're good to drive and don't bother attempting to be sporty, which is for the best because you can no more make a 4 seat sporty than you can teach a horse to sing.

T5 manual Mk2 is a hoot for not much money at all, picked up a clean and sensible mileage one 3 months ago for a friend for £2k ish. Any BMW or Merc in that price range is usually a knackered rusty dog, and most of them have been owned and ruined by mouthbreathers. Good luck finding a CLK that's not crusty as hell, they get rust in the middle of body panels as well as in every place you'd have to check on an old Cortina,

Lots of early A4 2.4 V6 models available for buttons too. Cramped in the back and the engine is weedy but they are cheap. Roof seems to be rather unreliable.

I do have to echo what the last poster has said about "premium" brands. When they are cheap these cars have as much "image and prestige" as an orange track suit, and are popular with the same sort of buyers, so I'd not fixate on them too much. Due to their council estate appeal the values of even really tired ones are kept higher than they deserve, the A4 in particular is a pretty st car.

Edited by dme123 on Sunday 1st May 20:23

[qska]

talksthetorque said:

Saab 9-3?
I notice all your choices are from 'premium' brands.
have you discounted Pug308/Renault Megane CC/Focus CC etc?

Good point - however on my budget it's more of "which car", not "what car" :-)

I checked my area and 20-30 miles around, and it seems to be the Audi, BMW or a CLK that's available.

I don't care THAT much to drive all around the country for the "fun" car. It's meant to be fun after all

Focus CC / Pug - interestingly enough they're not any cheaper than premium brands - and very rare.

[qska]

dme123 said:

They are all blustery as all hell in the back, they won't stick any long journeys or anything much higher than town speeds for too long.

T5 manual Mk2 is a hoot for not much money at all, picked up a clean and sensible mileage one 3 months ago for a friend for £2k ish. Any BMW or Merc in that price range is usually a knackered rusty dog, and most of them have been owned and ruined by mouthbreathers. Good luck finding a CLK that's not crusty as hell, they get rust in the middle of body panels as well as in every place you'd have to check on an old Cortina,

Lots of early A4 2.4 V6 models available for buttons too. Cramped in the back and the engine is weedy but they are cheap. Roof seems to be rather unreliable.

Good input, thanks.
I think the rear seats are going to be used rarely, it's mainly me, or with one kid at a time - but I'd like to be able to squeeze all of them in. If then the roof needs to go up - that's fine too.

I will have a lookout for the Volvos as well, thanks.

CLK wise - I'm aware of their love for rust.

BMW - what do you think about this one?
http://www4.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

MOT history seems fine, low mileages, and manual - so less to go wrong.

And I don't really care if I look like a tr, just want to try something new. It's my pre-mid-life-criss.

Edited by qska on Sunday 1st May 20:44

[CharlesdeGaulle]

Whichever car you choose, check the operation of the roof. Then check it again. And again.

All of these cars are pretty simple, but the roof can cost you big bucks to fix, so make proper operation an essential pre-requisite.

[qska]

CharlesdeGaulle said:

Whichever car you choose, check the operation of the roof. Then check it again. And again.

All of these cars are pretty simple, but the roof can cost you big bucks to fix, so make proper operation an essential pre-requisite.

Good advice, I'll focus on that.

From what I read about them, it's usually possible to fold/unfold it manually as well, in case it goes bang. But that would hurt the resale value quite a lot.

[poing]

Another vote for the Volvo, might as well be comfortable to waft around and they are pretty classless.

http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/v...

[qska]

poing said:

Another vote for the Volvo, might as well be comfortable to waft around and they are pretty classless.

http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/v...

Oh! Hardtop!

Shame it's not local to Oxfordshire.

Oh - this one is local.... Bit high mileage though. http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2016...

Plus MOT expired last July.... Before that it had advisory on brake pads front&rear, so could be a money pit.

And this, whatever this is.
Nearside Inner Front constant velocity joint gaiter damaged, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.5.C.1a)

Edited by qska on Sunday 1st May 21:07

Edited by qska on Sunday 1st May 21:13

Edited by qska on Sunday 1st May 21:14

[Skyedriver]

qska said:

Oh - this one is local.... Bit high mileage though. http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2016...

Edited by qska on Sunday 1st May 21:07

Two young kids and cream leather interior .................

[ZX10R NIN]

qska said:

Good input, thanks.
I think the rear seats are going to be used rarely, it's mainly me, or with one kid at a time - but I'd like to be able to squeeze all of them in. If then the roof needs to go up - that's fine too.

I will have a lookout for the Volvos as well, thanks.

CLK wise - I'm aware of their love for rust.

BMW - what do you think about this one?
http://www4.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

MOT history seems fine, low mileages, and manual - so less to go wrong.

And I don't really care if I look like a tr, just want to try something new. It's my pre-mid-life-criss.

The CLK's you'll be looking at shouldn't have rust issues if they're W209 model.

The BMW's the 4 Cylinders in particular seem to suffer with valve stem seal issues which isn't a cheap job.

The A4's suffer gearbox issues if you're looking at the Auto versions.

CLK's worth a look:
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2016...

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2016...

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2016...

BMW Sport Models

320i 97k Facelift
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2015...

330i 81k Facelift
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2016...

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2016...

Audi
1.8T S Line
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2016...

2.4 S Line 94k
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2016...

3.0 S Line 79k
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2016...

Volvo
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2016...

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2016...

[anonymous-user]

qska said:

Oh! Hardtop!

Shame it's not local to Oxfordshire.

Oh - this one is local.... Bit high mileage though. http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2016...

Plus MOT expired last July.... Before that it had advisory on brake pads front&rear, so could be a money pit.

And this, whatever this is.
Nearside Inner Front constant velocity joint gaiter damaged, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.5.C.1a)

Edited by qska on Sunday 1st May 21:07

Edited by qska on Sunday 1st May 21:13

Edited by qska on Sunday 1st May 21:14

Loads of Mk2 C70s out there, the D5 diesel is actually quite good as well if you're that way inclined. The 2.4 NASP has the same thirst as the T5 but a lot less power, but they are plentiful and cheap to buy. You can find lots of low mileage, well looked after examples so no need to chance it on a dog. SE Lux spec comes with a spectacularly good 900W Dynaudio hi-fi system with a pair of subs behind the rears seats. The manuals are less likely to give trouble and they roof mechanism very rarely causes issues, and when it does it's usually a sensor. There isn't much scuttle shake, they are very comfortable and the 5 pots are all very good engines. This T5 manual looks good:

http://www4.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

[qska]

How about this?
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2016...
No horrors on the MOT, albeit the mileage is a bit high.
But automatic (like I prefer).

[qska]

ZX10R NIN said:

The CLK's you'll be looking at shouldn't have rust issues if they're W209 model.

The BMW's the 4 Cylinders in particular seem to suffer with valve stem seal issues which isn't a cheap job.

The A4's suffer gearbox issues if you're looking at the Auto versions.

CLK's worth a look:
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2016...

That CLK for £3,620 was on my shortlist

In some ways I prefer private sales to dealers, but in some ways it's also much more risky.

I'm in OX11 7ND btw

[qska]

dme123 said:

Loads of Mk2 C70s out there, the D5 diesel is actually quite good as well if you're that way inclined. The 2.4 NASP has the same thirst as the T5 but a lot less power, but they are plentiful and cheap to buy. You can find lots of low mileage, well looked after examples so no need to chance it on a dog. SE Lux spec comes with a spectacularly good 900W Dynaudio hi-fi system with a pair of subs behind the rears seats. The manuals are less likely to give trouble and they roof mechanism very rarely causes issues, and when it does it's usually a sensor. There isn't much scuttle shake, they are very comfortable and the 5 pots are all very good engines. This T5 manual looks good:

http://www4.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

That's a good one, but slightly out of the "fun" budget. I already have a "proper" car ;-)

Thanks for the writeup though.

[ZX10R NIN]

qska said:

How about this?
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2016...
No horrors on the MOT, albeit the mileage is a bit high.
But automatic (like I prefer).

Have you looked at the links all of them have 30k less than the link you listed & are around the same price here's another.
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2016...

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2016...

Don't let distance put you off buying a car.

[qska]

ZX10R NIN said:

Don't let distance put you off buying a car.

I like my family. If I was to take most of the bank holiday to look at cars I'd quickly be single again

[shake n bake]

poing said:

Another vote for the Volvo, might as well be comfortable to waft around and they are pretty classless.

http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/v...

The Mrs shake n bakes old tt of a mother in law has one of these and it's actually ok, even though she's been in it!