What convertible to buy - £30k to £40k
Discussion
I’ve currently got an eight and a half year old F57 Mini Cooper S that I want to replace with another convertible.
I only do about 8k miles a year but don’t want silly running costs so no V8 Mustangs or 15 year old Maseratis.
It needs to be reasonably practical as my main car, so either has back seats or a decent boot, and must have a higher quality infotainment system like the Harmon Kardon in the Mini. I’d like something a bit quicker than I have now but doesn’t need to be sub 5 seconds 0-60.
Top of the list is another Mini - either a couple of year old F57 JCW which can be had for under £30k, or maybe a new F67 which is about £38k. For the former I’d just pay cash, but for much more it would be partly financed.
Had BMW done a new 2 Series convertible that would have been very tempting, and I might even have considered a Cyberster if they’d been around a bit longer and depreciated more.
What would you recommend?
I only do about 8k miles a year but don’t want silly running costs so no V8 Mustangs or 15 year old Maseratis.
It needs to be reasonably practical as my main car, so either has back seats or a decent boot, and must have a higher quality infotainment system like the Harmon Kardon in the Mini. I’d like something a bit quicker than I have now but doesn’t need to be sub 5 seconds 0-60.
Top of the list is another Mini - either a couple of year old F57 JCW which can be had for under £30k, or maybe a new F67 which is about £38k. For the former I’d just pay cash, but for much more it would be partly financed.
Had BMW done a new 2 Series convertible that would have been very tempting, and I might even have considered a Cyberster if they’d been around a bit longer and depreciated more.
What would you recommend?
Bear with me here, but I’m going to suggest something with high running costs.
If you’re dropping £30k on a relatively new convertible, depreciation is actually going to be by far your biggest running cost and it is going to be substantial. I would be looking for something a bit more special which has bottomed out in terms of depreciation.
I’d be looking at something like an E90 M3 and £10k in a savings account to cover any big bills. Yes fuel costs will be high, but you only do 8k miles a year.
That’s just an example, but find something interesting which is at the bottom of it’s depreciation curve and is about to start appreciating and you will be better off overall and have a better car.
I’ve got a V10 M6 convertible and it’s absolutely rinsed me on running costs, but it’s worth £5k more than when I bought it three years ago, I’d rather that than money just vanishing in depreciation. YMMV
If you’re dropping £30k on a relatively new convertible, depreciation is actually going to be by far your biggest running cost and it is going to be substantial. I would be looking for something a bit more special which has bottomed out in terms of depreciation.
I’d be looking at something like an E90 M3 and £10k in a savings account to cover any big bills. Yes fuel costs will be high, but you only do 8k miles a year.
That’s just an example, but find something interesting which is at the bottom of it’s depreciation curve and is about to start appreciating and you will be better off overall and have a better car.
I’ve got a V10 M6 convertible and it’s absolutely rinsed me on running costs, but it’s worth £5k more than when I bought it three years ago, I’d rather that than money just vanishing in depreciation. YMMV
charltjr said:
Bear with me here, but I m going to suggest something with high running costs.
If you re dropping £30k on a relatively new convertible, depreciation is actually going to be by far your biggest running cost and it is going to be substantial. I would be looking for something a bit more special which has bottomed out in terms of depreciation.
I d be looking at something like an E90 M3 and £10k in a savings account to cover any big bills. Yes fuel costs will be high, but you only do 8k miles a year.
That s just an example, but find something interesting which is at the bottom of it s depreciation curve and is about to start appreciating and you will be better off overall and have a better car.
I ve got a V10 M6 convertible and it s absolutely rinsed me on running costs, but it s worth £5k more than when I bought it three years ago, I d rather that than money just vanishing in depreciation. YMMV
This^ you're happy to lose big money in depreciation but not happy to lose money in running costs? If you re dropping £30k on a relatively new convertible, depreciation is actually going to be by far your biggest running cost and it is going to be substantial. I would be looking for something a bit more special which has bottomed out in terms of depreciation.
I d be looking at something like an E90 M3 and £10k in a savings account to cover any big bills. Yes fuel costs will be high, but you only do 8k miles a year.
That s just an example, but find something interesting which is at the bottom of it s depreciation curve and is about to start appreciating and you will be better off overall and have a better car.
I ve got a V10 M6 convertible and it s absolutely rinsed me on running costs, but it s worth £5k more than when I bought it three years ago, I d rather that than money just vanishing in depreciation. YMMV
DB9
997.2 / 991.1 / 981 GTS
XKR
840i / V8 M3 / V10 M6 / M4
SL 63
R8 or F-type (boot may be a bit small)
charltjr said:
If you re dropping £30k on a relatively new convertible, depreciation is actually going to be by far your biggest running cost and it is going to be substantial.
It's not like tedious modern cars don't drop £1k bills for laughs these days either.If 2 seats will do the R231 Mercedes SL is dropping in price like used toilet roll, early SL350s are mid teens at trade now. Absolutely fantastic cars even if they do look a bit half arsed compared to earlier versions, and an SL350 isn't going to break the bank to run.
If it's too big look at the SLK350 and SLC43 and maybe an SLK55 if you want something really hilarious. Really great cars, particularly if you can find an R172 SLK55 with the LSD option. A V8 RWD roadster is always going to be worth something too. Nothing scary about running costs from the six cylinder cars either.
Edited by GeniusOfLove on Thursday 31st July 10:28
I had a similar decision to make a few months ago:
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
You’ll see that I went with an M4 Competition and am still very pleased with my choice 5 months later.
A lot of your decision-making will depend on what you need the back seats for: requiring just a bit more luggage space opens up more options than a requirement to carry passengers (children or otherwise).
Oh and having looked into a Mustang, the running costs are supposedly very reasonable (e.g. insurance is about 60% of my M4’s).
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
You’ll see that I went with an M4 Competition and am still very pleased with my choice 5 months later.
A lot of your decision-making will depend on what you need the back seats for: requiring just a bit more luggage space opens up more options than a requirement to carry passengers (children or otherwise).
Oh and having looked into a Mustang, the running costs are supposedly very reasonable (e.g. insurance is about 60% of my M4’s).
bobsavage789 said:
I had a similar decision to make a few months ago:
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
You ll see that I went with an M4 Competition and am still very pleased with my choice 5 months later.
A lot of your decision-making will depend on what you need the back seats for: requiring just a bit more luggage space opens up more options than a requirement to carry passengers (children or otherwise).
Oh and having looked into a Mustang, the running costs are supposedly very reasonable (e.g. insurance is about 60% of my M4 s).
I don't think I need a full fat M4, but an M440i is on the list.https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
You ll see that I went with an M4 Competition and am still very pleased with my choice 5 months later.
A lot of your decision-making will depend on what you need the back seats for: requiring just a bit more luggage space opens up more options than a requirement to carry passengers (children or otherwise).
Oh and having looked into a Mustang, the running costs are supposedly very reasonable (e.g. insurance is about 60% of my M4 s).
Alex Z said:
bobsavage789 said:
I had a similar decision to make a few months ago:
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
You ll see that I went with an M4 Competition and am still very pleased with my choice 5 months later.
A lot of your decision-making will depend on what you need the back seats for: requiring just a bit more luggage space opens up more options than a requirement to carry passengers (children or otherwise).
Oh and having looked into a Mustang, the running costs are supposedly very reasonable (e.g. insurance is about 60% of my M4 s).
I don't think I need a full fat M4, but an M440i is on the list.https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
You ll see that I went with an M4 Competition and am still very pleased with my choice 5 months later.
A lot of your decision-making will depend on what you need the back seats for: requiring just a bit more luggage space opens up more options than a requirement to carry passengers (children or otherwise).
Oh and having looked into a Mustang, the running costs are supposedly very reasonable (e.g. insurance is about 60% of my M4 s).
Alex Z said:
I ve currently got an eight and a half year old F57 Mini Cooper S that I want to replace with another convertible.
I only do about 8k miles a year but don t want silly running costs so no V8 Mustangs or 15 year old Maseratis.
It needs to be reasonably practical as my main car, so either has back seats or a decent boot, and must have a higher quality infotainment system like the Harmon Kardon in the Mini. I d like something a bit quicker than I have now but doesn t need to be sub 5 seconds 0-60.
Top of the list is another Mini - either a couple of year old F57 JCW which can be had for under £30k, or maybe a new F67 which is about £38k. For the former I d just pay cash, but for much more it would be partly financed.
Had BMW done a new 2 Series convertible that would have been very tempting, and I might even have considered a Cyberster if they d been around a bit longer and depreciated more.
What would you recommend?
Depreciation will be your worst enemy if you spend that kind of money on a regular car, so I'd say go for the full fat models as although they may cost a bit more to run but with your usage you really won't be out of pocket come resale time.I only do about 8k miles a year but don t want silly running costs so no V8 Mustangs or 15 year old Maseratis.
It needs to be reasonably practical as my main car, so either has back seats or a decent boot, and must have a higher quality infotainment system like the Harmon Kardon in the Mini. I d like something a bit quicker than I have now but doesn t need to be sub 5 seconds 0-60.
Top of the list is another Mini - either a couple of year old F57 JCW which can be had for under £30k, or maybe a new F67 which is about £38k. For the former I d just pay cash, but for much more it would be partly financed.
Had BMW done a new 2 Series convertible that would have been very tempting, and I might even have considered a Cyberster if they d been around a bit longer and depreciated more.
What would you recommend?
C63:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202506263...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202401025...
SL63:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202507244...
SLC 43:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202507094...
M6:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202506223...
Vantage N420:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202507264...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202506163...
XKR:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202507224...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202506253...
M4 Competition:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202507034...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202505062...
If you don't mind the depreciation of a regular model then the 850i is a great option:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202505292...
Or the S500:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202412057...
I think the C class C43 looks nice for a 4 seat cab.
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/2025070742...
Not too old so hopefully reliable. And it does get to 60 in sub 5 secs.
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/2025070742...
Not too old so hopefully reliable. And it does get to 60 in sub 5 secs.
ChrisH72 said:
I think the C class C43 looks nice for a 4 seat cab.
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/2025070742...
Not too old so hopefully reliable. And it does get to 60 in sub 5 secs.
A bit less pink would be nice. Other than that they look good http://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/2025070742...
Not too old so hopefully reliable. And it does get to 60 in sub 5 secs.
Whilst I get what people are saying, the issue with running costs v depreciation is that you only feel the pain of depreciation at the point where you come to sell the car on rather than out of your pocket every day you own the car.
Let's say car 1 will depreciate by £15k over 3 years whilst car 2 doesn't depreciate at all over the same term but costs £10k more to run in fuel, maintenace, warranty etc. Car 2 the better long term financial proposition, but can you afford the extra £300 a month it takes to run car 2 to get to that point?
All going to depend on personal circumstances and disposable income availability..
Let's say car 1 will depreciate by £15k over 3 years whilst car 2 doesn't depreciate at all over the same term but costs £10k more to run in fuel, maintenace, warranty etc. Car 2 the better long term financial proposition, but can you afford the extra £300 a month it takes to run car 2 to get to that point?
All going to depend on personal circumstances and disposable income availability..
SWoll said:
Whilst I get what people are saying, the issue with running costs v depreciation is that you only feel the pain of depreciation at the point where you come to sell the car on rather than out of your pocket every day you own the car.
Let's say car 1 will depreciate by £15k over 3 years whilst car 2 doesn't depreciate at all over the same term but costs £10k more to run in fuel, maintenace, warranty etc. Car 2 the better long term financial proposition, but can you afford the extra £300 a month it takes to run car 2 to get to that point?
All going to depend on personal circumstances and disposable income availability..
Also depreciation is predictable. You know pretty much how your newer car will depreciate the moment you buy it. And you can lessen the blow if you plan to keep the car a bit longer. Let's say car 1 will depreciate by £15k over 3 years whilst car 2 doesn't depreciate at all over the same term but costs £10k more to run in fuel, maintenace, warranty etc. Car 2 the better long term financial proposition, but can you afford the extra £300 a month it takes to run car 2 to get to that point?
All going to depend on personal circumstances and disposable income availability..
Maintenance is a gamble. Many of the cars mentioned here have the potential to throw massive bills at any time. If you can work on them yourself you could save money but a lot of people can't. For me it's not just the money either. I like the thought of an older car but I need it to be reliable. If its off the road a lot that would be a problem.
Edited by ChrisH72 on Friday 1st August 08:05
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