Best fun family convertible for £5k.

[g7jhp]

Thinking about picking up a fun convertible for the summer for up to £5k.

Must be:
- 4 seat
- £5k or less
-Petrol

Thoughs:
- Golf GTI Mk1 Convertible
- BMW E46 330ci Convertible
- Mini Cooper S Convertible

I know it's not the ideal time to buy, but what would you go for?

[anonymous-user]

Depending how old your kids are you need to be very careful about how usable the rear seats are. In the Mini, for example, they are close to useless.

You can get a decent 2006 onwards Mk2 Volvo C70 T5 for that. late 2007 onwards '08 MY cars fix practically every significant weakness and a manual T5 is surprisingly good fun - that Volvo 5 pot was a great engine. Yes it's FWD and not RWD but an E46 convertible is too floppy and shuddery to really give it hell anyway. All four seater convertibles are fundamentally compromised in such a way that they will never be a real drivers car, so best to focus on what they can do well, which is comfortable high speed progress at 8/10ths.

C70 also has the largest amount of rear room of any contemporary 4 seater convertible, and the rest of the year you get a huge boot, with almost no usability compromises that you get with a fabric roof. The hard top mechanism is also less complex than the multiple motors and cables in a soft top, and they are proving to be extremely robust and reliable. This matters in a decade old £5k car.

Bonus points for getting the SE Lux model with the extremely impressive 1000W Dynaudio stereo system so you can be a right obnoxious knobber with the roof down and music hammering out.

Edited by dme123 on Sunday 20th May 12:50

[Mark300zx]

I would go for the e46 as a consideration is the safety ratings, Mk1 golf is probably a fair way behind the e46. Thought about a hotish Saab, always thought they looked good for vert?

[g7jhp]

Not looking to hoon about, it's not about speed. Just a cheap fun runabout when it's sunny and you can get the top down.

[ZX10R NIN]

I'd say the Mercedes CLK would be the car that ticks the boxes:

500

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

350 (rare Avantgarde Sport)

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

350

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Audi S4 (check to make sure the Cam Chain has been replaced)

[TR4man]

What about a SAAB 9-3?

[Big GT]

TR4man said:

What about a SAAB 9-3?

This.

93 aero shifts well enough. Handle well and iirc mine used to have rear wheel steer. Seats best in class and plenty of room in the back.
Well made although the some interior plastics cheap.

They look fantastic and full of character. Also like the Volvo finding a good example will be easier

[ilikejam]

I'd agree with the Saab or Volvo shouts. You could probably get lower spec 2010 models in your price range, or higher spec mid-2000s.

If it's for family use then safety should be paramount and generally the newer the better (and Swedish) in that regard. Those 2 also have decent practicality for verts into the bargain.

[ZX10R NIN]

I'd have a CLK over the Saab & Volvo everytime especially when it comes to scuttle shake & actual rear space could be an issue on the Volvo.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Volvo

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

CLK

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...