Good companion to a "Seven"?

Good companion to a "Seven"?

Author
Discussion

TJveloce

Original Poster:

154 posts

22 months

Thursday 26th May 2022
quotequote all
Hi!

I'm bored of my current car!

After much thought and failing to think of a single car which could do it all, nice to drive, a good steer, special to be in and practical, I decided the best option is to have 2 cars.

One of them, to be the ultimate driving machine, special to be in, fun weekend car will be a "Seven".

Now I need to decide which one will be the practical one and my daily. My first thought was to just get an estate. But after second thought, since my wife already has a SUV, I don't need a state. So why not get something which is practical, but also fun? Doubling down on the fun potential and having 2 cars which are still fun. So I decided against another boring-mobile. That means no hatches, saloons, estates. Definitely also not one of the hot-roded regular cars. Since I will have the Seven, I don't need to bother with sportiness, handling and none of that. Hard to beat a Seven there. Also not worried about speed. I think the Seven will have plenty there too. So with all that, I thought a 4 seats convertible would be the perfect thing! Still have backseats for the kids, I can enjoy open top fun alone or with the whole family and it will be practical enough.

A folding hardtop would be perfect. But it seems the options there for 4 seaters are thin. I like the Volvo C70 and it's on top of my list. Only thing which puts me off is the FWD. From the folding hardtops it seems to be one of the better looking ones too. The shape is not as distorted as the Focus or Megane hardtop convertibles. The only one which looks better with the top up seems to be the Astra Twintop. But not only is is also FWD but I would like a bit of a luxury cruiser. I will have minimalism enough with the Seven.

So given the difficulty in finding a 4 seats luxury folding hardtop convertible, I thought maybe a 4 seater with a removable hardtop? But I have no idea what cars had hardtops available for them. If at all, or if it's only for 2 seaters.

My wants are, luxury, leather, at least 170hp, unless car much heavier, so more, manual transmission, strongly prefer RWD or AWD, usable rear seats for children under 13.

Potential options I already considered:

Lexus IS250C -too difficult to find, even more difficult with a manual, overpriced for what it is.
Infinity G37 - same as above.
BMW 4 - Too expensive
BMW E90 - Don't want.
Astra Twintop: Not luxury.
Volvo C70: So far the top choice if I find nothing else.
Focus, Megane. Too ugly and no luxury.

Anything else? For RWD, thinking of a Mercedes of some sort would probably be the only other option. But I don't know if there were ever removable hardtops for the CLK, C or E. Plus will complicate the manual thing. RWD is not an absolute must. It would just be nicer. But AWD is fine as well. If FWD I can't see a better option in price/benefit than the C70. But I'm all ears. smile

jdoubleu

308 posts

47 months

Thursday 26th May 2022
quotequote all
Not sure if I missed it buried in there... but did you give a budget?

trevalvole

965 posts

32 months

Thursday 26th May 2022
quotequote all
Perhaps you could also explain why you want a hardtop?

anonymous-user

53 months

Thursday 26th May 2022
quotequote all
I assume this is lower budget but don’t buy an Astra Twintop, they are very likely to pack in. I’d be amazed if any are still functioning tbh.

ETA the roof mechanism is the main issue, although the DPF Diesel engine is a mare if it starts playing up.

Edited by anonymous-user on Friday 27th May 07:29

Jamescrs

4,450 posts

64 months

Thursday 26th May 2022
quotequote all
VW EOS potentially?

TJveloce

Original Poster:

154 posts

22 months

Thursday 26th May 2022
quotequote all
Sorry. I didn't give a budget because I don't really have a set one. But the cars I'm considering should give a pretty good idea?

About the VW, sorry, I should have put it with the Focus and Megane. Same problem. FWD, not luxury and suffers from the ugly stung by a bee on the buttocks problem.

Need for a hardtop is this will be my year round daily. I want the extra weather and sound protection. Plus don't like the rag top look. smile

Scootersp

3,107 posts

187 months

Thursday 26th May 2022
quotequote all
BMW 330D?

4 seats and hardtop, gives very slim pickings?

AlexNJ89

2,400 posts

78 months

Friday 27th May 2022
quotequote all
Once you have a Caterham nothing ever quite hits the spot. It's like doing cocaine on a weekend then having a coffee during the work week, it's just not going to hit the same so you shouldn't even try.

And that's what I've discovered, don't even try.

My garage is:
Caterham Supersport for weekend hoons and track days
Alpine A110 for more tame weekend hoons and track days when the weather is bad, as well as some amazing drives through the alps etc.
A cheap Lexus LS460 V8 which is a comfy comfy cruiser.

So I hope this makes my point clear in that there isn't a car that will satisfy the fun you are looking for, so look for other things from this car you're buying.

With that in mind, this is the car I'd go for:
S Class coupe
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202205185...

I understand it's not manual and won't have amazing driving dynamics, but just go out there and get stuck behind old ladies in serene comfort and style, with air conditioned air blowing up your bum and an amazing stereo playing your favourite track.

It will be boring from the day you drive it away but it's meant for that and it'll never wear off, unlike the sporty compromise.

If it must be a manual, then I'd go for an M240i convertible in either coupe of convertible form:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202112140...


Edited by AlexNJ89 on Friday 27th May 00:14

TJveloce

Original Poster:

154 posts

22 months

Friday 27th May 2022
quotequote all
Scootersp said:
BMW 330D?

4 seats and hardtop, gives very slim pickings?
You mean an E90 series? I think this is the only folding hardtop apart from the 4 series? If so I mentioned above I don't want one. wink
By the way, I forgot to mention in my opening post. But please no diesels. I guess I overlooked it because most diesels will have a petrol option anyways.

My current car is an E90 330i saloon. So I don't fancy another BMW or just a convertible version of it. My first and last BMW this will be probably.

TJveloce

Original Poster:

154 posts

22 months

Friday 27th May 2022
quotequote all
AlexNJ89 said:
Once you have a Caterham nothing ever quite hits the spot. It's like doing cocaine on a weekend then having a coffee during the work week, it's just not going to hit the same so you shouldn't even try.

And that's what I've discovered, don't even try.

My garage is:
Caterham Supersport for weekend hoons and track days
Alpine A110 for more tame weekend hoons and track days when the weather is bad, as well as some amazing drives through the alps etc.
A cheap Lexus LS460 V8 which is a comfy comfy cruiser.

So I hope this makes my point clear in that there isn't a car that will satisfy the fun you are looking for, so look for other things from this car you're buying.

With that in mind, this is the car I'd go for:
S Class coupe
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202205185...

I understand it's not manual and won't have amazing driving dynamics, but just go out there and get stuck behind old ladies in serene comfort and style, with air conditioned air blowing up your bum and an amazing stereo playing your favourite track.

It will be boring from the day you drive it away but it's meant for that and it'll never wear off, unlike the sporty compromise.

If it must be a manual, then I'd go for an M240i convertible in either coupe of convertible form:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202112140...


Edited by AlexNJ89 on Friday 27th May 00:14
Thanks for the reply.

I think you might have misunderstood me. I have no intention of finding a daily car which will match or approach the Seven. As you say, this would be a thankless task. Probably the only thing "better" would be a new Donkervoort. smile

So, to the contrary. As I will already have the Seven for the thrills, I thought to get something totally the opposite. So a practical luxury cruiser. But I thought, why not have a practical luxury cruiser which also opens the roof for some added value or fun? This is where I'm coming from. smile

But I want a hardtop of some sort. Either folding or removable. That will give the best of both worlds. But I think 2 doors only makes sense if it's a convertible. Otherwise I would rather go with a 4 door estate.

But I should be able to find a convertible. The C70 seems to be the best options so far. I started the thread to see if there are other options which beat it or check more boxes. The only box the C70 doesn't check as far as I can see is RWD. But if there is not another option which checks all the C70 boxes, plus RWD, I guess a C70 will be it.

Given the low response to the thread I guess there might not be anything to beat the C70?


Andy665

3,599 posts

227 months

Friday 27th May 2022
quotequote all
Left field choice but Vauxhall Cascada.

Never sold well but more to do with the badge and complete lack of marketing than anything. Mixture of Astra and Insignia throughout but personally always though they were a decent looking car.

Not a folding hardtop but after 4 years with an E64 with a cloth top I have never thought it was noisy or leaky


TJveloce

Original Poster:

154 posts

22 months

Friday 27th May 2022
quotequote all
Andy665 said:
Left field choice but Vauxhall Cascada.

Never sold well but more to do with the badge and complete lack of marketing than anything. Mixture of Astra and Insignia throughout but personally always though they were a decent looking car.

Not a folding hardtop but after 4 years with an E64 with a cloth top I have never thought it was noisy or leaky

Thanks. The Cascada is a good looking car. Better looking than the Astra Twintop which preceded it. I agree it looks similar to the Insignia. Another great looking car, specially the first generation. I always found it to be one of the best looking saloons of its time. With another badge it would have been praised by everybody.

Problem with the Cascada is the soft top. I really want a hardtop of some kind. There is no way around that, unfortunately. Not only for sound and weather isolation. Since this will also be my winter car and we get -10C here easy with heavy snow. But also for security. I must park on the street. There are some jokers who enjoy taking pocket knifes to soft tops. Also snow piling up on it can't be good. Then there is the look. I don't like the soft top up look and it will spend about 75% of its life with the top up.

Is a hardtop available for the Cascada? Are hardtop even made for 4 seaters? I would think it could get heavy? Probably not a one person's job either.

P.S. E64 is a great looking car!



.

Edited by TJveloce on Friday 27th May 18:21

ZX10R NIN

27,494 posts

124 months

Friday 27th May 2022
quotequote all
I'm going to hit you with a coupe option but due to all 4 windows dropping away & having the sunroof/panoramic roof open then the CL/E500/350 could really tick the luxury side of things.

CL500:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202205125...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202205075...

E500 very rare 4.7TT one high miles but it does fit the brief:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202204295...

edc

9,231 posts

250 months

Friday 27th May 2022
quotequote all
Luxury cruiser convertible = Merc SL.

TJveloce

Original Poster:

154 posts

22 months

Friday 27th May 2022
quotequote all
ZX10R NIN said:
I'm going to hit you with a coupe option but due to all 4 windows dropping away & having the sunroof/panoramic roof open then the CL/E500/350 could really tick the luxury side of things.

CL500:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202205125...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202205075...

E500 very rare 4.7TT one high miles but it does fit the brief:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202204295...
Thanks. Is the CL available with a manual in the petrols? I would have thought they are auto only. The thing about coupes is they are not really worth it when you need to buckle small kids up in the rear seats. It's a back breaker and a spine twister. If 2 doors it must be an open top. Otherwise makes more sense to get a 4 doors. smile

TJveloce

Original Poster:

154 posts

22 months

Friday 27th May 2022
quotequote all
edc said:
Luxury cruiser convertible = Merc SL.
They are nice. But as far as I know auto only and soft top only?

aka_kerrly

12,416 posts

209 months

Saturday 28th May 2022
quotequote all
RWD
Folding Hardtop
4 Seats
Luxury
Considerably more than 170hp
V8

The Lexus SC430. .

  • ** it's an Auto though **** but it ticks a lot of boxes.

TJveloce

Original Poster:

154 posts

22 months

Saturday 28th May 2022
quotequote all
aka_kerrly said:
RWD
Folding Hardtop
4 Seats
Luxury
Considerably more than 170hp
V8

The Lexus SC430. .

  • ** it's an Auto though **** but it ticks a lot of boxes.
And it's beautiful too! I don't know the general opinion. But in mine it has aged so well.

The big problem with them is that the rear seats are just for show. It's a 2+2 it seems. I will have the same problem I did with my GTV, and my kids were younger then. It needs to be a 4 seater. A 2+2 won't do. But thanks for the suggestion. Quite inspired. The SC430 seems to have fallen off the radar of most people.

fflump

1,276 posts

37 months

Saturday 28th May 2022
quotequote all
TJveloce said:
Thanks for the reply.

I think you might have misunderstood me. I have no intention of finding a daily car which will match or approach the Seven. As you say, this would be a thankless task. Probably the only thing "better" would be a new Donkervoort. smile

So, to the contrary. As I will already have the Seven for the thrills, I thought to get something totally the opposite. So a practical luxury cruiser. But I thought, why not have a practical luxury cruiser which also opens the roof for some added value or fun? This is where I'm coming from. smile

But I want a hardtop of some sort. Either folding or removable. That will give the best of both worlds. But I think 2 doors only makes sense if it's a convertible. Otherwise I would rather go with a 4 door estate.

But I should be able to find a convertible. The C70 seems to be the best options so far. I started the thread to see if there are other options which beat it or check more boxes. The only box the C70 doesn't check as far as I can see is RWD. But if there is not another option which checks all the C70 boxes, plus RWD, I guess a C70 will be it.

Given the low response to the thread I guess there might not be anything to beat the C70?
You're talking a >10 year old Volvo. How much fun would it actually be to be able to have the roof down on occasion compared to getting a genuine luxury cruiser like a Conti GT?



jm8403

2,515 posts

24 months

Saturday 28th May 2022
quotequote all
The new Z4 has folding hardtop, still could be reasonably fun to drive.