wanted - open 2 seater car with space for a spaniel

[bordseye]

selling my current 2 seater and have had a life long love of the traditional sports car - 2 seats, open car that is fun to drive. But we now have a dog so ideally I need a car with space behind the two seats for wufta. 911 apart, is there such a thing?

Some classics would work - TR6 and Big Healey for example, but my spannering days are over and I want something that ideally would be every day useable and maybe even dealer serviced. I dont rule out a classic but I am not interested or even physically capable of "getting out and getting under". So any classic would have had to have been subject to a full body off restoration.

Price? Less than the £60k that my current toy is going for.

Ideas?.

[Herbs]

Merc SL would probably work depending on size of dog, not sure on the fun to drive angle though.

[leggerito]

My partner and I did everything from North Yorkshire to Bordeaux with our 11kg spaniel in an Abarth 124. No space in the back but plenty of room in the footwell.

That said, she spent plenty of time on my partner's lap once we got off the motorway and put the top down.

[Herbs]

Lexus LC500 would be worth a look I think, or a Ferrari California if you can stomach the running costs.

[MDL111]

Honestly I think a 911 is the best solution. I have a 1971 Targa for exactly that reason - dog and some luggage can be in the back, so in theory I could take a passenger.

If you don't want a 911, then I would get one of these [preferred option]
https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/18796101

or one of these if you can find a cheaper one with some haggling (and probably increase the budget slightly) [backup option]
https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/16456397

[bordseye]

Herbs said:

Lexus LC500 would be worth a look I think, or a Ferrari California if you can stomach the running costs.

Thanks but its a Ferrari that I am selling to buy the new car. The running costs are better than people think and not much different to big Audi /Merc/BMW cars.

I just dont want an exotic any longer. Tried a new MX5 today and in most ways that would be ideal. Great gearbox, nice engine, very sporty at sensible speeds but an absolute NO dog wise. And the seats arent that good either.

Edited by bordseye on Wednesday 16th July 17:38

[GeniusOfLove]

bordseye said:

Herbs said:

Lexus LC500 would be worth a look I think, or a Ferrari California if you can stomach the running costs.

Thanks but its a Ferrari that I am selling to buy the new car. The running costs are better than people think and not much different to big Audi /Merc/BMW cars.

I just dont want an exotic any longer. Tried a new MX5 today and in most ways that would be ideal. Great gearbox, nice engine, very sporty at sensible speeds but an absolute NO dog wise. And the seats arent that good either.

Edited by bordseye on Wednesday 16th July 17:38

You want something that's a 2+2. 2006 onwards Jaguar XK/XKR convertible? Cheap enough to buy and run, plenty of specialists and knowledge, and parts are very modest. I use mine as a daily smoker and put 15k a year on it with minimal headache.

Rear seats would work well for a medium sized dog.

[okv3]

bordseye said:

selling my current 2 seater and have had a life long love of the traditional sports car - 2 seats, open car that is fun to drive. But we now have a dog so ideally I need a car with space behind the two seats for wufta. 911 apart, is there such a thing?

Some classics would work - TR6 and Big Healey for example, but my spannering days are over and I want something that ideally would be every day useable and maybe even dealer serviced. I dont rule out a classic but I am not interested or even physically capable of "getting out and getting under". So any classic would have had to have been subject to a full body off restoration.

Price? Less than the £60k that my current toy is going for.

Ideas?.

Late DB9 Volante, you may even get a DBS Volante within budget. Unsure if this would be classed as 'fun' to drive however.

LC500 as others have said is a good choice, maybe a Maserati Grancabrio or C63 or S63 Cab?

[drgoatboy]

Edit: just reread the topic and you distintcly said 2 seater with space. I've mentioned 4 seaters so it doesn't make much sense! Think the 911 remark confused me as it's a 4 seater. I still think a Mustang could qualify though....

Assuming you want to stay "sporty"?
What makes it sporty? Manual, small? Chuckable? Or good looks? Good noise?

Most 4 seat convertibles are maybe not sporty...

An M4 convertible ticks a lot of boxes for example but is it "sporty?"

An E53 has plenty of go and all the space you would ever need but not really a car to hustle down a b road.

Mustang convertible will give you space, and muscle?

Edited by drgoatboy on Thursday 17th July 13:29

Edited by drgoatboy on Thursday 17th July 13:31

[paul_c123]

drgoatboy said:

Edit: just reread the topic and you distintcly said 2 seater with space. I've mentioned 4 seaters so it doesn't make much sense! Think the 911 remark confused me as it's a 4 seater. I still think a Mustang could qualify though....

There's relatively few cars with sufficient space behind the front seats for a spaniel-sized dog, but the manufacturer doesn't put seats there (even if they're only suitable for children). The only one I can think of is a Merc SL with this arrangement. Of course, there are plenty of 4 seater convertibles where the dog could go in the rear seats.

[SydneyBridge]

Is a Mini convertible too small and boring?

[bordseye]

Its too small but my wife's Cooper S isnt boring. Twitchy maybe,

Anyway the Ferrari is now sold and money in the bank. No point in an expensive garage queen. Will probably try to learn to like the Cooper S for a while and see if the urge for another open car is still there. If it is, then the only one I have seen which appeals is the MX5. Buying one wont help the dog issue but it will avoid the pain and aggro of owning say an older / classic type car or such as a 911. I am simply not prepared to buy a new 911 or similar - far too expensive for a third car toy in a 2 person family

Thanks for all the suggestions.

[paddy1970]

Porsche 718 Boxster (GTS or S, Manual or PDK) – rear parcel shelf behind seats is surprisingly usable for a small/medium dog.

[Scootersp]

I8 roadster looks to have a similar rear space, no idea if sufficient for a spaniel!?

[ZX10R NIN]

Mercedes SL:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202507184...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202505182...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202504281...

500:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202507154...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202504241...

LC500:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202507264...

968:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202507074...

991 Targa:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202506283...

Leftfield, it's a targa LHD but it fits your brief:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/167667632770?_skw=corve...

Manual:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/286586222102?_skw=corve...

C6 Z06:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/405534290886?_skw=corve...

[PushedDover]

bordseye said:

I just dont want an exotic any longer. Tried a new MX5 today and in most ways that would be ideal. Great gearbox, nice engine, very sporty at sensible speeds but an absolute NO dog wise. And the seats arent that good either.

Edited by bordseye on Wednesday 16th July 17:38

a pal has just domne a 10 day holiday to Cornwall from Yorkshire, Wife, decent size spaniel and luggage in an MX5.

Dog is happy in the footwell

YWMV
(your wufta may vary)

[MBBlat]

Seen plenty of mutts turn up in Caterham 7s in the passenger footwells, so depends on how well behaved the dog is.

[bordseye]

drgoatboy said:

Edit: just reread the topic and you distintcly said 2 seater with space. I've mentioned 4 seaters so it doesn't make much sense! Think the 911 remark confused me as it's a 4 seater. I still think a Mustang could qualify though....

Assuming you want to stay "sporty"?
What makes it sporty? Manual, small? Chuckable? Or good looks? Good noise?

Most 4 seat convertibles are maybe not sporty...

An M4 convertible ticks a lot of boxes for example but is it "sporty?"

An E53 has plenty of go and all the space you would ever need but not really a car to hustle down a b road.

Mustang convertible will give you space, and muscle?

Edited by drgoatboy on Thursday 17th July 13:29

Edited by drgoatboy on Thursday 17th July 13:31

What makes sporty? Last 4 2 seaters would give an idea: Elise R (the best of the 4, Ferrari 430 ( didnt like the F1 box), F Type ( much underrated car but comfort issues), Ferrari 360 manual ( tried a 458 but this was more fun by a mile)

I dont need or want 180 mph top speed - I never exceed 100. I dont want maintenance issues and expenses so since I am now to old to DIY, this means garage service.

Your "Manual, small? Chuckable" sums it up well. Plus soft top. The old TR6 and Big Healey are 2+dog, but there isnt a modern equivalent except the 911 with the derisory rear seats and exotic maintenance costs.

[tgr]

R129 SL500?

You're not going to be playing Senna with a spaniel in the back, are you

[bennno]

paddy1970 said:

Porsche 718 Boxster (GTS or S, Manual or PDK) rear parcel shelf behind seats is surprisingly usable for a small/medium dog.

There’s zero space behind seats for a dog, nor is there a parcel shelf in a 718 Boxster…… ???



Mustang cab, 130/135i, mgb, older model SL, Morgan