Best reliable and good handling cabriolet for £5k or under

[sixpotter]

GF wants a cabrio (trying to convince her to sell her 06 corsa to help fund this before its worth nothing)

So far she likes TT mk1's (Can you get a good one for £5k?), MX5's and I've seen some tidy S2000's for the same dosh.

Also liking minty mk1 Golf cabrio's, Rivage and the like. Don't like Z3's either

Ideas ..

Edited by sixpotter on Thursday 9th June 22:30

[ewenm]

As this is PH, the MX5 has to be favourite and you should have a lot more choice at £5k than the others you mention.

My OH loved her MG TF160 and preferred the looks over the MX5

[sixpotter]

5k being the max, just wanting to try and get all options and opinions that we may overlook. Understand there is a lot more out there than what I listed

[pixieporsche]

Don't think you could go far wrong with an MGB - get a lovely one for £5K too.

[ewenm]

Sorry, I meant that for £5k the choice of decent MX5s out there will be much bigger than the choice of decent TTs/S2000s.

Others to consider against the MX5:
MG TF (160 preferably)
MR2

Is she after a sports (or sporty) car or a droptop version of a hatch?

[TROOPER88]

Porsche Boxster
Before anyone says that they are more than 5k there are loads of early 2.5's out there to be had for between 4.5 and 5

[sixpotter]

MGB may be a bit too old to use pretty much as a daily. Think its a sportscar but open to all suggestions as we certainly like the old Golfs and they are still pretty practical/reliable etc

[MikeyBe]

Do you need 4 seats?

Althought nowhere near as fast, the wife and I are having far more fun in the SLK than we have in the skyline...

[pixieporsche]

sixpotter said:

MGB may be a bit too old to use pretty much as a daily. Think its a sportscar but open to all suggestions as we certainly like the old Golfs and they are still pretty practical/reliable etc

sixpotter - I've often used an MGB as my only car doing about 15K miles per year They are very cheap to fix and I've never had one not get me home.

If it doesn't HAVE to be a roadster you could get (just about) a factory V8 worth having for around your budget

[T16OLE]

sixpotter said:

MGB may be a bit too old to use pretty much as a daily. Think its a sportscar but open to all suggestions as we certainly like the old Golfs and they are still pretty practical/reliable etc

MGBs are st, get a 330ci or TT roadster if she wants a bit of kudos

[4Q]

Head says MX5 but, since you mentioned them, my heart says that Mk1 Golf cabriolets are cooler than a penguins ballsack.

For added reliability points, you can pick them up relatively cheap (way under £5k) then get a 1.8 20vt conversion for them...mmmmmmmm...

Edited by 4Q on Thursday 9th June 22:50

[sunbeam alpine]

Alfa Spider S4 (last of the "classic look" ones)?

[Wadeski]

Boxster 2.5s are very unloved, but are still good cars. And there are loads.

the MG TF is growing on me, it looks better now than it ever did new.

[pixieporsche]

T16OLE said:

sixpotter said:

MGB may be a bit too old to use pretty much as a daily. Think its a sportscar but open to all suggestions as we certainly like the old Golfs and they are still pretty practical/reliable etc

MGBs are st, get a 330ci or TT roadster if she wants a bit of kudos

Hahaha, MGB's are great with a lovely club scene and won't lose cash if you keep it nice. I presume you have never owned a classic car? And if you have it was probably a dog.

330Ci / TT Roadster aren't "new" for £5K and aren't classics, what "kudos" is there in driving a car entering the "banger" stages of it's life?

[xcentric]

MikeyBe said:

Do you need 4 seats?

Althought nowhere near as fast, the wife and I are having far more fun in the SLK than we have in the skyline...

think that's probably an issue of legroom.....

[SteveS Cup]

As this is for your GF... please don't take this the wrong way... But does she give 2 stes about how a car drives / it's performance and are running costs an issue?

There's a huge difference between a Corsa and a Porsche Boxster and even a TT!

With this in mind, would a Tigra, 206/7cc type car be better suited?

I don't mean that badly at all! But I know for my gf age / mileage / looks / justifiable costs come way before performance and driver involvement... In fact, having a conversation with my gf about the way a car drives and cars characteristics is quite scary! She hasn't got a fricking clue!

A £5k TT IMO wouldn't be a great one, I can't believe how cheap they are now though!

If she likes a more retro car (mk1 golf) what about a minty mint e30?

I really like the MGTF160, the MGF Trophy looks good too IMO.

A mates mum went from a 225 TTC to a new shape MR2 and she loves it! Cracking fun and cheap to run. Ultra reliable too.

[robsco]

How brave are you and your GF?



TVR Chimaera 400, 100k miles on the clock, needs a tiny bit of TLC, good solid chassis. Yours for £4800!!

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2884336.htm

[M5 Russ]

Yours for £4700 if I decide to sell it - 1997 BMW M3 evo, 321bhp and totally standard.

Edited by M5 Russ on Friday 10th June 04:01

[TROOPER88]

Wadeski said:

Boxster 2.5s are very unloved, but are still good cars. And there are loads.

the MG TF is growing on me, it looks better now than it ever did new.

'Unloved'?
Do you mean in general?

I had two about five years ago and really liked them

[chris7676]

MX5 is the easiest choice and should be cheapest to run (that includes reliablity too).