Purchasing on a whim...

[carmadgaz]

Last year I went to an auction with my neighbour and ended up buying a 1968 Volvo 131 on the spur of the moment...

Today I went past a dealership in Hereford and spotted this...


4 hours later I have moved the finances about, agreed part ex on the Focus and placed a deposit on it.

I'm not sure whether I'm chuffed with finding another '5 (I do miss the last one I had) in a good colour, 49k miles, right engine (1.8), and the toys (leather, CD, heated seat and a Hard top (to be e-bayed)). Or whether to kick myself for blowing a chunk of ££ on another car (and not pushing on another £250 off).

[iva cosworth]

Why sell the Hard top ?

Would that be a selling point if you want to move it on in future ?

Or nowhere to keep it [apart from on top of the car]

[Jezz172]

The hard top on mine made the car much nicer to drive.
Was quieter, warmer and made the handling better

[carmadgaz]

iva cosworth said:

Why sell the Hard top ?

Would that be a selling point if you want to move it on in future ?

Or nowhere to keep it [apart from on top of the car]

I don't see the point in them (I had one on my last one until I got the back window fixed, hated it as unless it was raining I wanted the roof down). You're right about the potential selling point however it is a good hardtop and I don't have secure storage for it. Helps recoup some of the initial cost too

[kambites]

Jezz172 said:

... and made the handling better

Really? I'm astonished that it provides an appreciable amount of structural rigidity.

[jas xjr]

kambites said:

Really? I'm astonished that it provides an appreciable amount of structural rigidity.

maybe you just end up driving faster as the car is quieter

[carmadgaz]

jas xjr said:

maybe you just end up driving faster as the car is quieter

I definitely don't the roof then, don't want a repeat of the last '5

[Gizmo!]

I just had a weird moment. I thought "I remember how much fun I had in my mx5".

I still own it, just haven't driven it in ages. Fool.

[blueheron]

Mine came with a hard top too. I kept it though as it came with the bag+hooks, and I have a garage to store it in.

It's good for Mid October - March, keeps the soft top in good condition, and protects the rain rails from filling with gunk and rusting up.

[FLGirl]

Buying on a whim is great

Bought a 2.8 Z3 just over a week ago totally out of the blue. Came up at OHs work (engineery stuff) at a bargain price. Hadn't even thought much about getting another car, just hated my E46 and was feeling restless.

Was told about it, saw it, drove it and bought it in under an hour.

Ironically I'm looking for a hard top as not into convertibles.

I've always also bought the first car I see. But 'normally' I know what I want and spend a lot of time researching. Did that with the MR2, 996 and E46 and never been let down.

Enjoy OP when we had some sun I was *almost* convinced by the whole roof down thing!

[v8will]

kambites said:

Really? I'm astonished that it provides an appreciable amount of structural rigidity.

The hardtop really does make a difference to rigidity and adds a little security if the car is used daily.

[kambites]

v8will said:

kambites said:

Really? I'm astonished that it provides an appreciable amount of structural rigidity.

The hardtop really does make a difference to rigidity and adds a little security if the car is used daily.

Fair enough; it certainly makes no noticeable difference to either of the cars that I own with removable hardtops. In both cases, if you put any significant structural stress on the hard-top mounts, they'd just snap.

Plus, I can flex both hardtops with my hands anyway.

[carmadgaz]

FLGirl said:

I've always also bought the first car I see. But 'normally' I know what I want and spend a lot of time researching. Did that with the MR2, 996 and E46 and never been let down.

Enjoy OP when we had some sun I was *almost* convinced by the whole roof down thing!

I'm the same (except I was working on budget for a NA not another NB) but I did the NB research previously so had a fair idea. Always been lucky with my pics so hopefully this one will be another good find .

Thanks Give it a try, this bit of warm weather reminded me how much I missed the sensation (windows down in the Focus just wasn't the same.)