Collectible/slowly depreciating convertible, up to £20k?

[Legacywr]

I’m thinking of buying myself a convertible, it won’t see a great deal of use, so it really needs to hold its value.

My budget would be up to about 20k, it doesn’t make sense to buy something that’ll cost a fortune to tax and insure.

Cars that have been on my mind are...

An Alpina Roadster S, the only downside for these is that they are only a 2 seater, I have grandchildren, otherwise I wouldn’t be looking any further.

An E36 M3?

A Motorsport E30?

I like the idea of a manual V8 M3, do we see these holding their value well? But, why are they so prevelant in boring colours?

An RS4? Do they have many issues?

Any other suggestions?

[ZX10R NIN]

I'd say the RS4 (they do have issues with the heads coking up) is a good call it won't hold it's money as well as the saloon or estate but it'll be good come resale time another worth (if you can find one & don't mind an auto) a look is the CLK63, these hold their money well & they also have one of the best V8's ever made.

[anonymous-user]

How about a nice V8 Maserati Spyder

[Legacywr]

ZX10R NIN said:

I'd say the RS4 (they do have issues with the heads coking up) is a good call it won't hold it's money as well as the saloon or estate but it'll be good come resale time another worth (if you can find one & don't mind an auto) a look is the CLK63, these hold their money well & they also have one of the best V8's ever made.

Not too sure on the shape of those, how come they are so rare? You'd also need to spend the best part of 30k.. which I could...

[Legacywr]

MonkeyMatt said:

How about a nice V8 Maserati Spyder

I can't afford a Grantourismo unfortunately

[ZX10R NIN]

Legacywr said:

ZX10R NIN said:

I'd say the RS4 (they do have issues with the heads coking up) is a good call it won't hold it's money as well as the saloon or estate but it'll be good come resale time another worth (if you can find one & don't mind an auto) a look is the CLK63, these hold their money well & they also have one of the best V8's ever made.

Not too sure on the shape of those, how come they are so rare? You'd also need to spend the best part of 30k.. which I could...

They didn't make many before the E Coupe came out also these came with more BHP than the C63 they're a great drive (yes I'm bias as I have one) the numbers are small so they hold their money well even the high milers:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2007-MERCEDES-CLK63-AMG...28AAOSwnONZCfJ~

I'd be taking off a fair bit of money on this one as I'd want the wrap removed:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/CLK-63-AMG-Cabriolet-20...

The RS4's are more plentiful (in comparison) also a little more maintenance heavy than the CLK but it's still a good car.

RS4

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

The M3's are so plentiful I don't see them holding their money as well as the other two.

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

[NDA]

How about a Morgan?

They hold their values and are huge fun to drive.

[Legacywr]

I like this, but it's sold

https://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/...

[ZX10R NIN]

That looks nice, what about an Alpina B3 3.4S:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BMW-Alpina-B3-3-4S-Conv...

Or the newer B3 BiTurbo

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2008-BMW-Alpina-B3-3-0-...

[Legacywr]

I'm a big Alpina fan, and like both of those

That 3.4 isn't that far off lunching it's headgasket unfortunately, it seems to happen in the 70-80k region.

[Sammyp123]

What about an SL55 Amg? Just have to choose carefully as bills can be eye watering .

[Legacywr]

I think if it fell to a 2 seater, it would be an Alpina Roadster S, I'd bite the bullet on the headgasket issue.

[Leggy]

Lotus Elise.
Prices hold up very well.

[CraigyMc]

Leggy said:

Lotus Elise.
Prices hold up very well.

^This is what I immediately thought.

[anonymous-user]

Legacywr said:

MonkeyMatt said:

How about a nice V8 Maserati Spyder

I can't afford a Grantourismo unfortunately

I was meaning the previous version

[Actus Reus]

CraigyMc said:

^This is what I immediately thought.

It's what I thought second, having thought 'VX220 Turbo' first of all.

[davek_964]

Legacywr said:

...An Alpina Roadster S, the only downside for these is that they are only a 2 seater, I have grandchildren, otherwise I wouldn’t be looking any further.

CraigyMc said:

Leggy said:

Lotus Elise.
Prices hold up very well.

^This is what I immediately thought.

I've never seen a 4 seater version of the Elise.....

[Legacywr]

MonkeyMatt said:

was meaning the previous version

Not a fan of that shape.

[Philv8s]

What about an Alpina B6. Might be a push on budget and hard to find mind.

[Legacywr]

Philv8s said:

What about an Alpina B6. Might be a push on budget and hard to find mind.

That’s fantastic, probably very rare in the uk.

There is the V10 M6 though, but aren’t the engines problematic?