RE: Convertibles for under £10k | Six of the Best

[pycraft]

Unreal said:

(...) doesn't want to look like a nail technician?

Is that what they're calling carpenters nowadays?

[stickleback123]

defonsecca said:

Alfa Spider doesn't belong here. Having owned a Brera 2.2S for about 16 months the novelty of stunning looks soon wears off. You then realise what a slow, heavy, dead-feeling, un-sporty car it really is. And I'm a serial Alfa owner. So the Spider version will be the same mix even with a (non-Alfa Busso) V6 under its snout.

You're better-off to get the 916 version Spider with the 3.0 Busso V6 - GTV version is far superior than the Brera ie) a proper soulful Alfa, and you won't lose any money in it unlike this.

I don't rate the looks either. The detailing is lovely but the overall shape and silhouette is a typical gimpy looking FWD pudding with that ridiculous cab forward stance and a seating position like you're on the bog.

Alfa Romeo have been the grand masters of perfuming a pig with their FWD cars, but it doesn't take long to realise it's got a snout and curly tail.

£10k for an NB is comedy, but with those miles how on earth do you value it? If it was an NA it'd be £30k+ I'm sure, so it does reflect how unwanted that version is.

Edited by stickleback123 on Saturday 18th March 13:17

[SimonTheSailor]

Mercedes for cruising around and nice long comfortable road trips
I have a Elan M100, that's the zippiest/best handling/feel good drive car for a country road blast.

[JJJ.]

The wise money buys the super low mileage MX5.
I think it's the Boxster for me from that lot.

[cerb4.5lee]

Unreal said:

cerb4.5lee said:

spikyone said:

Article said:

the Nissan 350 Z convertible was considered the cut-price Boxster when it was new.

I'd like to see evidence of that wild claim! The Z is much heavier (300kg or so) and reviews when it was new generally said the handling was nowhere near as good. Sure, it appeared in group tests with the Boxster. But so did the S2000, TT, SLK, etc., all chosen simply because they were sporty-ish convertibles to varying degrees. The two really aren't comparable other than that.

I think it was more about the 350Z offering similar or better performance than the Boxster, and that is where the comparisons come from.

Some of the numbers might be similar but they are very different to drive.

Yes and I don't doubt that at all. They are completely different cars really, and the 350Z/370Z are more of a GT in comparison to the Boxster. What I've always liked about the Nissan Z cars is that they offer a lot of car/performance for the money though.

[kambites]

It's fractionally over budget but I think I'd find an extra £500 and go for something like this:

https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/14663054

[spikyone]

Unreal said:

cerb4.5lee said:

spikyone said:

Article said:

the Nissan 350 Z convertible was considered the cut-price Boxster when it was new.

I'd like to see evidence of that wild claim! The Z is much heavier (300kg or so) and reviews when it was new generally said the handling was nowhere near as good. Sure, it appeared in group tests with the Boxster. But so did the S2000, TT, SLK, etc., all chosen simply because they were sporty-ish convertibles to varying degrees. The two really aren't comparable other than that.

I think it was more about the 350Z offering similar or better performance than the Boxster, and that is where the comparisons come from.

Some of the numbers might be similar but they are very different to drive.

Exactly. And the claim was that it was "considered a cut price Boxster when it was new". I don't recall a single review that made that suggestion, all of the comparisons simply lined up a disparate bunch of drop-tops. The fact that the Z and Boxster are so obviously different in most respects (weight, layout, bespoke sports car platform vs. platform engineering) makes the "cut price Boxster" thing obvious nonsense.

For clarity I'm not criticising the Z at all, just calling out the stupid claim.

[fruitoftheloon]

Unreal said:

Presumably someone who has enough money not to care, wants a car that's far better to drive and doesn't want to look like a nail technician?

Or someone that has more than a dozen functioning brain cells, isn't abusrdly insecure, and is capable of making their own decisions??

[Hoofy]

popegregory said:

Are the days of a Chimaera and Elise being the first thing you think of for a list like this now gone?

Can you get either for under £10k?

[dinkel]

AndySheff said:

From that list, the SL500 for me.

This R230 was one of the more impressive cars I ever drove:

SL55 with Kleemann treatment - 635ps / 900Nm - is SLR territory.

Hand of god shove and scary above 3k revs!

This thing was on sale 3 years ago and for only 35k euros. Brrrr.

[Mysstree]

pycraft said:

Unreal said:

(...) doesn't want to look like a nail technician?

Is that what they're calling carpenters nowadays?

We’ve only just begun.

[PJ_Parsons]

I like the MX5 myself. 10k for what seems to be a new car. What does 10k get you in new cars these days? It would be painless to own and hold much of its value. Alas, at 6ft2”, I am too tall for it.

I did buy an MR2 Roadster a few weeks back. It has 60k on it but is in amazing condition and drives beautifully. Not much space for luggage, but plenty of space for me.

[smilo996]

Alfa & Merc hough logic would likely dictate MX-5 and Boxxa or MX-5 and 370z.

Love the look of the Alfa though, best looking in that company.

[biggbn]

Unreal said:

biggbn said:

Unreal said:

McRors said:

I'm surprised by the lack of a TT in the list. Reliable, well within budget if you go for a MK2 and fast. I've a MK3 and love it. Yes, it's not a Boxster but who wants Porsche bills and a car that looks like a pushmi-pullyu?

Presumably someone who has enough money not to care, wants a car that's far better to drive and doesn't want to look like a nail technician?

Ah, back to that old chestnut. In one sentence 'someone who has enough money not to care' , in another 'doesn't want to look like a nail technician'. One statement kinda contradicts the other doesn't it? Drive what you like regardless of how much money you have. I couldn't give a shiny st what others think, as my car history doubtless reflects

Good for you. I was simply providing an answer to the question posed by the TT owner.

As I was to you brother man.

[popegregory]

Hoofy said:

popegregory said:

Are the days of a Chimaera and Elise being the first thing you think of for a list like this now gone?

Can you get either for under £10k?

I’ve no idea. I know advertised prices are high but I’d be surprised if £10k wasn’t enough to get you a useable example of either

[Hoofy]

popegregory said:

Hoofy said:

popegregory said:

Are the days of a Chimaera and Elise being the first thing you think of for a list like this now gone?

Can you get either for under £10k?

I’ve no idea. I know advertised prices are high but I’d be surprised if £10k wasn’t enough to get you a useable example of either

Hm. I'd love to think you're right. It would take a master negotiator to get a £15k Elise for £10k!

[Speedgirl]

Breras are genuinely awful to drive but look pretty, the others are fine. You will always have much fun in a Boxter, even a slower one, unless it breaks.

[Court_S]

yme402 said:

6-pot, manual gearbox E85 Z4 for me.

Same here

The SL is quite interesting though and I like the 350Z.

[biggbn]

Speedgirl said:

Breras are genuinely awful to drive but look pretty, the others are fine. You will always have much fun in a Boxter, even a slower one, unless it breaks.

The Porsche is such a tactile drove, I've always fancied one and they are really affordable now. Just because I'm a contrary old git I'd like a very early 2.5 with the tiptronic box and that brown/oxblood colour leather you got. Supersweet to drive

Z3 should also be on that list, they won't stay cheap forever

Edited by biggbn on Saturday 18th March 17:37

[cerb4.5lee]

Court_S said:

yme402 said:

6-pot, manual gearbox E85 Z4 for me.

Same here

The SL is quite interesting though and I like the 350Z.

The Z4 should arguably replace the Brera on this list I reckon.