Recommend me a cheap convertible - Page 1 - Car Buying

Friday 10th December 2021

I'm looking for a cheap fun summer car. Initially thinking an older Mini but it seems they have a lot of issues. I then saw a little black Vauxhall Tigra for £650 and that seems a good shout.

I understand anything older and up to £2000 will need some maintenance but am after something decent and fairly reliable. Recommendations appreciated

descentia

237 posts

163 months

Friday 10th December 2021

Peugeot 207 CC

5,110 posts

206 months

Friday 10th December 2021

I had a sub £100 307cc 2.0 16v and it was one of the most fun cars I have ever had, revved for fun, tidy handling, fast roof and quiet with the roof up.
Once i sorted the electrical gremlins that made it a non runner it sailed every mot for 3 years and never gave a bit of bother.
Check for water in the spare wheel well, it can cause crazy symptoms.
The 2.0 is a peach of an engine mechanically. The wiring looms leave a bit to be desired but if you know which end of a soldeing iron to hold its pretty much a free fix.
On mine the wet srs module under the spare wheel caused intermittant no start, intermittant running on 3 cylinders, without the keys in it the headlights would alternately flash at random, the windows would randomly go up and down, it would lock and unlock itself and the radio would come on during the night and sometimes the wipers would come on when the car was unattended. The srs module was putting random s

te on the canbus. But the plugs and wiring were corroded too, and there was corrosion in a couple of sensor wires under the bonnet.
5th gear is too short for the motorway but you can pop off the end case without dropping the box and the 5th gear pair of cogs from an hdi fit and make it much more relaxed at 80.

Edited by OldGermanHeaps on Friday 10th December 22:16

Jazoli

9,620 posts

278 months

Friday 10th December 2021

We have a couple at home and I'd recommend a Saab 9-3 Turbo, 150-200bhp which is plenty and they are cheap enough to run and fix if you discount the VED, they can be easily had for under under £2k (I'll sell you mine if you like as I need an auto) the wife had a 307CC 2.0hdi which was a fantastic car and more recently a 308CC but we bought the wrong engine (1.6 petrol) and its not as good.

Lolly9416

Original Poster

76 posts

156 months

Saturday 11th December 2021

Thank you everybody. I'm going to look at the Peugot's. I've always been hesitant about them because people always say don't buy French cars but I guess they must be failry reliable

Pistonheader101

2,206 posts

135 months

Saturday 11th December 2021

A4 cab?

ZX10R NIN

30,459 posts

153 months

Saturday 11th December 2021

CLK240 sensible money seems well looked after. The coolant sensor is a common thing on the W209 CLK's.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202111249...

Volvo C70 2.4

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202111270...

I'd use the car above to get a significant amount off the car below.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202111270...

Don't ignore the Astra you can get a nice one for your budget.

2.0T Design 200:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202107054...

140

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202111199...

2.0d Eos Individual 140

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202105222...

2.5tdi A4 convertible nice cars with sensible running costs:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202112050...

WonkeyDonkey

2,576 posts

131 months

Saturday 11th December 2021

Unless I'm being blind about no min seat numbers.... mx5...

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/2021113000...

Bargain

Edited by WonkeyDonkey on Saturday 11th December 14:51

Mr Squarekins

1,632 posts

90 months

Saturday 11th December 2021

bmw z3. should get a 98-99 car easily.

mattman

3,192 posts

250 months

Saturday 11th December 2021

WonkeyDonkey said:

Unless I'm being blind about no min seat numbers.... mx5...

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/2021113000...

Bargain

Edited by WonkeyDonkey on Saturday 11th December 14:51

They look good but all seem to be hugely rusty - the mot history doesn’t inspire confidence on this one either

Pastor Of Muppets

3,841 posts

90 months

Saturday 11th December 2021

Lolly9416 said:

Thank you everybody. I'm going to look at the Peugot's. I've always been hesitant about them because people always say don't buy French cars but I guess they must be failry reliable

207CC Uses the same Prince engine as the R56 Mini and is far more prone to issues than the earlier R52 Mini. The electric roof on the 207 is also well known for faults, hydraulic cables are too weak and burst and the electric pumps fail. Coil springs are chocolate. Much of the diagnostics can only be properly dealt with by Planet Peugeot software which is expensive and often hard to find a garage that has it. Famous for throwing up constant dash warnings and DTC's. Far more problematical than an early Mini (generally).

You should still consider a Mini convertible R52 (pre 2008 model), If you can find one with a reasonable service record and mileage it would
be far better proposition than a 207 CC. I wouldn't consider the Tigra at any price.

stupidbutkeen

1,025 posts

183 months

Saturday 11th December 2021

Saw a rather nice audi 80 cab for sale about 30 mins ago on facebook marketplace. 87k 2.0i for £2200.

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/32562963...

5,110 posts

206 months

Saturday 11th December 2021

Pastor Of Muppets said:

207CC Uses the same Prince engine as the R56 Mini and is far more prone to issues than the earlier R52 Mini. The electric roof on the 207 is also well known for faults, hydraulic cables are too weak and burst and the electric pumps fail. Coil springs are chocolate. Much of the diagnostics can only be properly dealt with by Planet Peugeot software which is expensive and often hard to find a garage that has it. Famous for throwing up constant dash warnings and DTC's. Far more problematical than an early Mini (generally).

You should still consider a Mini convertible R52 (pre 2008 model), If you can find one with a reasonable service record and mileage it would
be far better proposition than a 207 CC. I wouldn't consider the Tigra at any price.

Planet peugeot is available for £60 and comes with citroen lexia too.

ZX10R NIN said:

Volvo C70 2.4

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202111270...

I'd use the car above to get a significant amount off the car below.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202111270...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/

Contacting someone to try to negotiate a large discount citing that someone is selling a different car for cheaper is a dick move that deserves nothing but abuse. The only correct answer is "well what are you wasting my time for, go and buy that one" before blocking them.

Edited by OldGermanHeaps on Saturday 11th December 19:05

georgeyboy12345

4,576 posts

63 months

Saturday 11th December 2021

Edited by georgeyboy12345 on Saturday 11th December 20:50

Lolly9416

Original Poster

76 posts

156 months

Saturday 11th December 2021

georgeyboy12345 said:

Edited by georgeyboy12345 on Saturday 11th December 20:50

This is the problem now I've had a little bit of advice there is too much choice! I like the idea of a BMW because I know they can be really cheap to repair. And as this will be a second just for fun in the sun car I don't want to spend thousands keeping on the road.

defblade

8,036 posts

241 months

Sunday 12th December 2021

Lolly9416 said:

This is the problem now I've had a little bit of advice there is too much choice! I like the idea of a BMW because I know they can be really cheap to repair. And as this will be a second just for fun in the sun car I don't want to spend thousands keeping on the road.

My similar thread from earlier this year.
Only I started late and missed any winter bonus savings wink

Be very careful when buying - I had to kiss a lot of frogs to find a prince. Torch and clothes for lying down under cars a minimum. Trolley jack in the boot occasionally helpful.
Most of these cars stir (or have stirred) a bit of interest through their lives, so there is usually a good buyer's guide or two around to point you at the best and worst points to look for.

ZX10R NIN

30,459 posts

153 months

Sunday 12th December 2021

OldGermanHeaps said:

Pastor Of Muppets said:

207CC Uses the same Prince engine as the R56 Mini and is far more prone to issues than the earlier R52 Mini. The electric roof on the 207 is also well known for faults, hydraulic cables are too weak and burst and the electric pumps fail. Coil springs are chocolate. Much of the diagnostics can only be properly dealt with by Planet Peugeot software which is expensive and often hard to find a garage that has it. Famous for throwing up constant dash warnings and DTC's. Far more problematical than an early Mini (generally).

You should still consider a Mini convertible R52 (pre 2008 model), If you can find one with a reasonable service record and mileage it would
be far better proposition than a 207 CC. I wouldn't consider the Tigra at any price.

Planet peugeot is available for £60 and comes with citroen lexia too.

ZX10R NIN said:

Volvo C70 2.4

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202111270...

I'd use the car above to get a significant amount off the car below.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202111270...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/

Contacting someone to try to negotiate a large discount citing that someone is selling a different car for cheaper is a dick move that deserves nothing but abuse. The only correct answer is "well what are you wasting my time for, go and buy that one" before blocking them.

Edited by OldGermanHeaps on Saturday 11th December 19:05

It's the same car (one's a Cat N both are 2.4i SE Geartronic C70's) & using the first car as part of the negotiations once you've checked the car over is far from a dick move in my mind.

Why would you call them to negotiate over a car you hadn't seen? Especially a Cat car that's at the lower end of the market.

5,110 posts

206 months

Sunday 12th December 2021

If the car is as described what makes you think they will give a substantial discount over what they are asking for it?

ZX10R NIN

30,459 posts

153 months

Sunday 12th December 2021

Simply because it's a Cat car, they're harder to sell, they've normally got something that isn't sorted & I've done exactly what I describe above on quiet a few occasions, when I'm there in person also as I said it's a negotiation.

If I was buying from you & you didn't like the first number we work towards a number that I felt was fair but if we couldn't get there so be it, I would just go & look elsewhere no harm no foul.

5,110 posts

206 months