What 1K to 2K convertible?

What 1K to 2K convertible?

Author
Discussion

1981linley

Original Poster:

937 posts

153 months

Monday 13th February 2012
quotequote all
Guys, advice needed. Have just gone down from a three car fleet to to two car arrangement, keeping a four by four and sacrificing an Elise and Vectra commuter barge for an Evora. I suspected this may happen...it has before...but I now crave a convertible again having got rid of the Elise S2. The logic was that the Elise was getting too little use and the money ought to be sunk into something I can (theoretically) use everyday as a tourer for commuting...hence the Evora! The cheap car in the fleet might as well be the one used least and I fancy a cheap little summer run around for the occasions when it's just not worth firing up the V6 30mpg vehicles. Also have no claims bonus on a third policy just sat being wasted, so want to go to three cars again.

Owned an MX5 in the past and am considering this but they just look a bit weedy now. MGTF's look great value and still look quite fresh ( maybe because the Chinese are pumping new ones back out). Always liked the MR2 too, even think they take on Boxter like appearance from a distance. However, what's for the best? Reliability is the biggest factor.

CaptainSlow

13,179 posts

218 months

Monday 13th February 2012
quotequote all
1981linley said:
Reliability is the biggest factor.
I think you've answered your own question.

Tiger Tim

1,811 posts

228 months

Monday 13th February 2012
quotequote all
Sorry but the answer is kind of staring you in the face. Go and drive an MX5 again.. smile

Captain Muppet

8,540 posts

271 months

Monday 13th February 2012
quotequote all
My MX5 was £1500 and the turbo was £500. Fits your budget perfectly.

I used to have a car selection spreadsheet I'd spent ages tweaking to give sensible suggestions from a list of critria with weighting for importance. It was very effective because every single time it suggested a car the person using it would say "oh, but I wanted a..." and then name the car they actually wanted.

1981linley

Original Poster:

937 posts

153 months

Monday 13th February 2012
quotequote all
Does it look a bit weedy though....or is it just me?

Tiger Tim

1,811 posts

228 months

Monday 13th February 2012
quotequote all
1981linley said:
Does it look a bit weedy though....or is it just me?
Do you like the Lotus Elan? wink

Captain Muppet

8,540 posts

271 months

Tuesday 14th February 2012
quotequote all
1981linley said:
Does it look a bit weedy though....or is it just me?
Don't drive past mirrors and you won't see the problem.

You'll still have to live with a homosexual roof though, no getting away from that.

rajkohli81

311 posts

212 months

Tuesday 14th February 2012
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Z3 2.8... still a bit 'Nicky Clarke', but less so than MX5

tomsugden

2,283 posts

234 months

Tuesday 14th February 2012
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Have a look at one of these

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3563758.htm

The electric roof is very slick, and the VTEC revs to 9k. Wrong wheel drive, but can be made to handle very well.

rajkohli81

311 posts

212 months

Tuesday 14th February 2012
quotequote all
tomsugden said:
Have a look at one of these

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3563758.htm

The electric roof is very slick, and the VTEC revs to 9k. Wrong wheel drive, but can be made to handle very well.
I remember seeing the roof work on these as a kid and thinking 'wow'...are these not targa top though as opposed to convertible.

tomsugden

2,283 posts

234 months

Tuesday 14th February 2012
quotequote all
The top comes off, the windows are frameless, and the rear window also lowers. I guess it is a targa really, but the metal roof is hugely practical, and the car is a lot of fun.

IanMorewood

4,309 posts

254 months

Tuesday 14th February 2012
quotequote all
Merc 300SL (90's teutronic sports barge)
Smart Roadster (convertible fun whislt not fast)
Toyota MR2 (bit pushme/pullme but different to the usual MX5 suggestion)

HorneyMX5

5,410 posts

156 months

Tuesday 14th February 2012
quotequote all
A few cheap and subtle subtle tweaks remove the weedyness. Mine:


IMG_2373.jpg by Nicholas R Horne, on Flickr


IMG_2390.jpg by Nicholas R Horne, on Flickr

Nick

stuttgartmetal

8,113 posts

222 months

Tuesday 14th February 2012
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3er BMW, no question.

Captain Muppet

8,540 posts

271 months

Tuesday 14th February 2012
quotequote all
HorneyMX5 said:
A few cheap and subtle subtle tweaks remove the weedyness. Mine:
Well, if we're doing that then this is mine: