Topless motoring

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qska

Original Poster:

449 posts

130 months

Sunday 1st May 2016
quotequote all
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 smile

qska

Original Poster:

449 posts

130 months

Sunday 1st May 2016
quotequote all
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 smile 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.

qska

Original Poster:

449 posts

130 months

Sunday 1st May 2016
quotequote all
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 smile

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

qska

Original Poster:

449 posts

130 months

Sunday 1st May 2016
quotequote all
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 tcensoredr, just want to try something new. It's my pre-mid-life-criss.

Edited by qska on Sunday 1st May 20:44

qska

Original Poster:

449 posts

130 months

Sunday 1st May 2016
quotequote all
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.

qska

Original Poster:

449 posts

130 months

Sunday 1st May 2016
quotequote all
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

qska

Original Poster:

449 posts

130 months

Sunday 1st May 2016
quotequote all
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

Original Poster:

449 posts

130 months

Sunday 1st May 2016
quotequote all
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 wink

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

Original Poster:

449 posts

130 months

Sunday 1st May 2016
quotequote all
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.

qska

Original Poster:

449 posts

130 months

Sunday 1st May 2016
quotequote all
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 wink

qska

Original Poster:

449 posts

130 months

Monday 2nd May 2016
quotequote all
talksthetorque said:
Is is my eyes/screen, or is that rear bumper a bad fit and a different colour? or is it the NSr quarter panel?
Yeah, I see that. On 2/3 pictures the passenger door have a different colour to the rear quarter.
Not sure that would put me off, it's not a very expensive car.

qska

Original Poster:

449 posts

130 months

Monday 2nd May 2016
quotequote all
300bhp/ton said:
How about something like a 4.0 litre Jeep Wrangler auto? They go rather well, huge fun to drive and kids will love going in them. Should just about be in budget with a bit of luck. Usually pretty good residuals too.
Cheapest one around me is £12k. Case closed wink

qska

Original Poster:

449 posts

130 months

Monday 2nd May 2016
quotequote all
daveinhampshire said:
Mileage really isn't an issue on modern cars, most will easily reach 200k, in fact the few including a current one in my fleet over 200k are the most reliable, it's the low mileage that seem to have more issues.

I'd personally keep away from hard top at that budget, they are much more complex than rag tops and will cost much more to repair. The 3 series e42 with the 323i would be my choice, manual or auto. It's an engine that'll never attract the yobs and still moves quite well plus you get the lovely 6 cylinder engine noise. The 318i on a convertible will be a bit bogged down. I wouldn't be afraid of the mercs either, the rust issues help keep the price down, you never want to be too swayed by the drama queens, they have some tail on every car that exists apart from their own of course.
I just noticed that the high mileage once comes with a sports suspension, I like my cars comfy smile
The 318i is a 2 litre 143bhp manual, that should be enough for pottering around in smile

I have an E class V6 as well, that one goes nice smile But it's very rare I can use that power for anything other than overtaking.

qska

Original Poster:

449 posts

130 months

Monday 2nd May 2016
quotequote all
daveinhampshire said:
The 318i on a convertible will be a bit bogged down.
Oh you were SO right. Very slow in 2nd gear up to 30 even.

And this one was very ratty, rattly and felt like it was going to disintegrate in the next few weeks.

CLK viewing on Wed now smile

qska

Original Poster:

449 posts

130 months

Monday 2nd May 2016
quotequote all
skyrover said:
Volvo roof is pricey to fix when it goes wrong.

Here's my suggestion OP



That's more like it wink

qska

Original Poster:

449 posts

130 months

Monday 2nd May 2016
quotequote all
Willy Nilly said:
2 points. Firstly, it's very easy to get quite badly burnt without realising it when there is a strong wind keeping you cool. Secondly, with the top down, there will be much more road and traffic noise that can damage young ears, once you have buggered up hearing, that's it.
Good point, I never thought of that.
But we live in a small town with little traffic, and we'd avoid fast roads wjth the top down.

It's more of a treat for them than routine transportation.

I might use it on the commute in warmer months as well.

qska

Original Poster:

449 posts

130 months

Monday 2nd May 2016
quotequote all
loafer123 said:
This thread has singularly failed to deliver on the promise of it's title.
Gotcha! You clicked, didn't you?

qska

Original Poster:

449 posts

130 months

Wednesday 4th May 2016
quotequote all


Result!

She'll be put through a service and a fresh MOT and she's mine on Saturday.

Pictured next to her, ahem, younger sister.

qska

Original Poster:

449 posts

130 months

Thursday 5th May 2016
quotequote all
ZX10R NIN said:
What model did you get in the end OP?
CLK240 petrol automatic V6.

Bit slow though, 10 seconds to 62.

But that's fine...

qska

Original Poster:

449 posts

130 months

Thursday 5th May 2016
quotequote all
ZX10R NIN said:
A 240 will be a bit slow carrying the weight if you can't see a receipt for it being done recently then get the gearbox fluid & filter changed it'll make the car more responsive, from a good Indy it should cost around £150 inc genuine Mercedes parts & fluids etc.
It is - now I have to make a decision on what to do, and what not to do with it.

I like my cars "spot on", but things like alloy reconditioning, wheel caps - service you mention - all add to the cost, which I'll never get back.

For a weekend toy.

Also, the previous owners serviced it mileage-wise, not annually (so skipped some services), naughty people.

I'll have a think smile

Alex_225 - your email address didn't work, not sure if you got my reply??!