Light, Convertible and Towable ?

[arfur]

Yes, a what car .... with a difference.

I am buying a large US motorhome that can easily tow 5000lbs. I already have an Abarth 500C that I'm thinking to put of a trailer to tow around Europe. I like the car a lot and it's probably the most sensible idea at 1050kg for a fun car "when you get where you are going".

However, I keep wondering what else there is out there at under 1500kg that would be easy to tow and fun to drive around in ?

My Abarth is worth about 9k (64 plate - very modified) and I look to see what there is in the 8-10k range to replace it as both a daily driver (well station car anyhow) and towable car for when touring with my 30ft motorhome (6 litre Twin turbo V8 Diesel)

So far I keep coming back to 03/04/05 Boxter 3.2S

Any ideas of sensible alternatives ?

ta

arf

[kiethton]

Lotus Elise/Elan?

Mazda MX5?

Dihatsu Copen?

Toyota MR2?

[Tuvra]

Any TVR will be well under 1500kg. Lotus Elise / VX220. MX5, Abarth Roadster, Smart Roadster, Mini Cooper S.

[designforlife]

Honda Beat, if you want something cool and unusual.

Nice and light at 760kg.

[vsonix]

Suzuki Cappucino?

[kambites]

Are you towing on a dolly, an A-Frame or a trailer? I believe some cars don't like being towed at high speed with their driven wheels on the road.

[Vocht]

W30 MR2. 1030kg, lots of fun and you could even buy 2 minters for your budget!

[arfur]

kambites said:

Are you towing on a dolly, an A-Frame or a trailer? I believe some cars don't like being towed at high speed with their driven wheels on the road.

Cannot use a dolly or A-frame in quite a lot of Europe (esp Spain and Italy now), they dont like them and will impound. So a trailer ... Also, a trailer prevents the miles going on car as you tour.

[Krikkit]

Boxster S would be a good shout for this - light enough, great engine and reasonably practical. Can also have AC for those really furiously hot days.

[vsonix]

Z3 would also come in under 1500kg and be a great way to get around when you get to your eventual destination. Plenty of 1.9s out there but AFAIK even a 2.8 or 3 litre should come in at under 1500 although be prepared for higher prices for a good 6cyl car as they are starting to appreciate in value quite quickly now.

[arfur]

Krikkit said:

Boxster S would be a good shout for this - light enough, great engine and reasonably practical. Can also have AC for those really furiously hot days.

The reasons I keep coming back to it in all honesty ...

MX5 good shout as well, as is a Z4 (maybe too bloaty). MINI - might as well just keep the Abarth. Some of the smaller suggestions are interesting, and I had thought about them, but I'm not looking to look like Clarkson in a toytown vehicle

[Tuvra]

arfur said:

The reasons I keep coming back to it in all honesty ...

MX5 good shout as well, as is a Z4 (maybe too bloaty). MINI - might as well just keep the Abarth. Some of the smaller suggestions are interesting, and I had thought about them, but I'm not looking to look like Clarkson in a toytown vehicle

I didn't realise the Abarth was a convertible

I did mean these ones though rather than the "normal" mini cooper convertible:-

[.:ian:.]

Ariel Atom or Nomad

[arfur]

.:ian:. said:

Ariel Atom or Nomad

Even my man-maths could not get away with those ! :-)

[arfur]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

Interesting idea ... might be too old to use as a daily driver as well, but at that price could have it "as well"

[Hasbeen]

Triumph TR 7; 1050 Kg, & a lot of fun.

Honda S2000, 1250 Kg, & even more fun.