Which do I go topless in
Which do I go topless in
Author
Discussion

zoom star

Original Poster:

519 posts

174 months

Saturday 11th August 2012
quotequote all
I have 5k to spend.
I have a well sorted Land rover 110 Defender, I don't have to spend anything on this.
I now want to purchase during the winter a convertible,for next summer.
I have boiled it down to
BMW E46 330CI OR AUDI 2.4/3.0 V6 both would be manual.
Your advice,knowledge, and experience would be welcome on these two please.

PaulGT3

377 posts

195 months

Saturday 11th August 2012
quotequote all
MX5

Dave Hedgehog

15,789 posts

227 months

Saturday 11th August 2012
quotequote all
mx5

you know it makes sense

mollytherocker

14,407 posts

232 months

Saturday 11th August 2012
quotequote all
PaulGT3 said:
MX5
Is that the left field choice? biggrin

Locke

1,279 posts

207 months

Saturday 11th August 2012
quotequote all
Don't know if anyone has mentioned an Mx5 yet but has to be worth a look in?

pbarlow0032

420 posts

236 months

Saturday 11th August 2012
quotequote all
I owned an a4 1.8t sport cab, and later an a4 3.0 s line cab. I also test drove a 330ci sport, but it was considerably more expensive (at the time) so have never bought one, but it is still on the list!

Personally, I would stay away from the s line, far too crashy, to the point where you could go quicker in the 1.8t because it was more fluid. The 3.0 sounded okay, but wasn't much quicker than the 3.0 in real world driving. Used to average high 30s in the 1.8t, over 40 on a run. Used to struggle to get 25 in the 3.0. The a4 is not a sports car, but it is great for cruising, so my advice would be get a 1.8t sport with heated seats and the wind deflector. Backs seats are bigger than the BMW, as is the boot, and interior is nicer too IMO.

The 330 was more fun though, but obviously at the expense of using more fuel.

If you want something to blast about in, gett the 330. If you want something to cruise about in, get the 1.8t sport a4.

theironduke

6,995 posts

211 months

Saturday 11th August 2012
quotequote all
5k gets a sound Chimaera....

Willeh85

760 posts

166 months

Saturday 11th August 2012
quotequote all
mx5 or an s2000 for me with that money

MissChief

7,840 posts

191 months

Saturday 11th August 2012
quotequote all
S2k for that price but it might be a pit ropey. Without looking Z4's ha enter come down that low yet have they?

varsas

4,073 posts

225 months

Saturday 11th August 2012
quotequote all
theironduke said:
5k gets a sound Chimaera....
Does it? Classifieds say no... (genuinely interested, my understanding is that you need £6k+)

slipstream 1985

13,551 posts

202 months

Saturday 11th August 2012
quotequote all
lotus elan

300bhp/ton

41,030 posts

213 months

Saturday 11th August 2012
quotequote all
zoom star said:
I have 5k to spend.
I have a well sorted Land rover 110 Defender, I don't have to spend anything on this.
I now want to purchase during the winter a convertible,for next summer.
I have boiled it down to
BMW E46 330CI OR AUDI 2.4/3.0 V6 both would be manual.
Your advice,knowledge, and experience would be welcome on these two please.
BMW probably the better drive and better ride. Does it need to be a full on 4 seater? And is it only a weekend car or a daily?

If weekend use then I'd have thought you could get something more "exciting" than either of these.

Odie

4,187 posts

205 months

Saturday 11th August 2012
quotequote all
Seriously though, take a couple of MX5s for a test drive see why we all rate it so highly smile

zoom star

Original Poster:

519 posts

174 months

Saturday 11th August 2012
quotequote all
pbarlow0032 said:
I owned an a4 1.8t sport cab, and later an a4 3.0 s line cab. I also test drove a 330ci sport, but it was considerably more expensive (at the time) so have never bought one, but it is still on the list!

Personally, I would stay away from the s line, far too crashy, to the point where you could go quicker in the 1.8t because it was more fluid. The 3.0 sounded okay, but wasn't much quicker than the 3.0 in real world driving. Used to average high 30s in the 1.8t, over 40 on a run. Used to struggle to get 25 in the 3.0. The a4 is not a sports car, but it is great for cruising, so my advice would be get a 1.8t sport with heated seats and the wind deflector. Backs seats are bigger than the BMW, as is the boot, and interior is nicer too IMO.

The 330 was more fun though, but obviously at the expense of using more fuel.

If you want something to blast about in, gett the 330. If you want something to cruise about in, get the 1.8t sport a4.
This is great thanks,I am 50 and not small, and have looked at s2000 mx5 and and as my 21year old petrol head son said I would look like noddy, my wife also reckons i would look like a pathetic 50 year old having a mid life crisis.
I am looking at a cruiser I would have thought, with a bit of stonk,when I want.
I also like the thought of being able to bolting some bits to it in the near future,like wheels and stuff

Dave Hedgehog

15,789 posts

227 months

Saturday 11th August 2012
quotequote all
zoom star said:
This is great thanks,I am 50 and not small, and have looked at s2000 mx5 and and as my 21year old petrol head son said I would look like noddy, my wife also reckons i would look like a pathetic 50 year old having a mid life crisis.
I am looking at a cruiser I would have thought, with a bit of stonk,when I want.
I also like the thought of being able to bolting some bits to it in the near future,like wheels and stuff
for the older more husky gentlemen V8 merc SL

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3376405.htm

theironduke

6,995 posts

211 months

Saturday 11th August 2012
quotequote all
varsas said:
theironduke said:
5k gets a sound Chimaera....
Does it? Classifieds say no... (genuinely interested, my understanding is that you need £6k+)
Mines up for 5k and it's definitely not a shed!

BarbaricAvatar

1,417 posts

171 months

Saturday 11th August 2012
quotequote all

Dangermouse58

81 posts

163 months

Saturday 11th August 2012
quotequote all
For 5k I'd be getting an s2000 or a audi TT.

uuf361

3,161 posts

245 months

Saturday 11th August 2012
quotequote all
E85 Z4 3.0 litre if your budget will stretch another £500.......

Vitorio

4,296 posts

166 months

Saturday 11th August 2012
quotequote all
5K should net you a very decent 3.0 V6 alfa spider, probably with leather interior and the works.

It is a bit of a hate or love it design, but i happen to love it, and the 3.0 V6 sound will make it even more worth it driving with the top down.