4 Seater Convertibles???
Discussion
Looking for a 4 seater convertible.
Big change from the Mrs using the V8 Jeep as her daily but we now have another Jeep off road prep'd with winches and ARB bumpers, lifted etc. So this will cover taking the dog out, towing trailer etc.
I have a company Passat 170bhp 2013 now remapped, so this is the really economical car we have.
Looking to spend up to 5k.
Ideally 2004 upwards
Petrol or diesel but want something with a bit of get up and go.
Less than 80k preferably, only as the Jeep is at 100k and would like something with less on if changing.
Needs a semi ok boot (RX8 boot was ok for comparison)
Does anyone have experience of the options below / recommendations. Its going to be my wife's main daily driver. She likes to drive and had the RX8 and WRX in the past.
Options I have got are.
Saab 2.0T Aero
Saab 2.8 Aero
Audi A4 from the 1.8T up to the 3litre petrol
Audi A4 TDI variants
Audi A4 S4 but the running costs of this would be terrifying and would be high miles I expect
Merc CLK - Friends have one and not taken by it for some reason.
BMW E46 325 or 330 petrol
Volvo option seems to be an expensive old shape and not enough money for the newer shape.
Had a Vauxhall Astra convertible as a stop gap car in the past its not the build quality we are after as a car to keep for a couple of years hence the more premium choices above.
So any advice / other options on the above. Value for money seems to be on the Saabs, owner a 2005 9-3 TID in the past and a 2004 9-5 Aero.
Cheers
James
Big change from the Mrs using the V8 Jeep as her daily but we now have another Jeep off road prep'd with winches and ARB bumpers, lifted etc. So this will cover taking the dog out, towing trailer etc.
I have a company Passat 170bhp 2013 now remapped, so this is the really economical car we have.
Looking to spend up to 5k.
Ideally 2004 upwards
Petrol or diesel but want something with a bit of get up and go.
Less than 80k preferably, only as the Jeep is at 100k and would like something with less on if changing.
Needs a semi ok boot (RX8 boot was ok for comparison)
Does anyone have experience of the options below / recommendations. Its going to be my wife's main daily driver. She likes to drive and had the RX8 and WRX in the past.
Options I have got are.
Saab 2.0T Aero
Saab 2.8 Aero
Audi A4 from the 1.8T up to the 3litre petrol
Audi A4 TDI variants
Audi A4 S4 but the running costs of this would be terrifying and would be high miles I expect
Merc CLK - Friends have one and not taken by it for some reason.
BMW E46 325 or 330 petrol
Volvo option seems to be an expensive old shape and not enough money for the newer shape.
Had a Vauxhall Astra convertible as a stop gap car in the past its not the build quality we are after as a car to keep for a couple of years hence the more premium choices above.
So any advice / other options on the above. Value for money seems to be on the Saabs, owner a 2005 9-3 TID in the past and a 2004 9-5 Aero.
Cheers
James
I have an Audi A4 2.5l diesel manual.
8 years old now.
It's a great car.
For all the cars of the age I'd say it's got the best interior for 4 adults.
Good power, 35-45 mpg depending on driving style.
Nice looking dashboard, good seating position.
It's by no means a rwd track car.
But it's a very nice fwd road car.
Mines just had full geo done at an independent specialist - which I'd personally suggest is worth doing on any car of that age.
Edit. Just fixed the typo from 2.4 to 2.5 as the polite gentleman below pointed it out.
8 years old now.
It's a great car.
For all the cars of the age I'd say it's got the best interior for 4 adults.
Good power, 35-45 mpg depending on driving style.
Nice looking dashboard, good seating position.
It's by no means a rwd track car.
But it's a very nice fwd road car.
Mines just had full geo done at an independent specialist - which I'd personally suggest is worth doing on any car of that age.
Edit. Just fixed the typo from 2.4 to 2.5 as the polite gentleman below pointed it out.
Edited by Snowboy on Monday 7th October 08:49
A great question I have been trying to answer.
Porsche 911 - just don't get them at their price and I've driven a few
Porsche 944/68 Cabrio - rear seats just too small and lap belts only
Triumph Stag - always loved them from when they were current but the rust, the price, the alledged reliability issues, the lack of rear belts or lap only
Saab - not sure but refer RWD, they supposedly suffered scuttle shake but never tried one
Audi - sorry not an audi fan that's all
BMW 3 Series - E30 now out of reach price wise, E36 a possibility but all high miles, E46 a bit too expensive still unless mega miles
Volvo C70 - good call but the old shape based on the old 850 platform from the early 90's and the later ones more than your budget
Reliant Scimitar GTC- some were galvanised chassis, all F/G body and simple mechanics, lap belts only in the rear and at the minute I cannot dfind a way of improving on that. Otherwise that would be my choice.
TBH I'm heading back into BM territory and thinking either E36(M?) or E46 320/330/petrol/deisel not sure. Just keep thinking depreciation and big service bills as they look a bit complex under the bonnet. Oh and E46 have a rear subframe problem alledgedly, no personal experience.
Wife loved a Ford Cortina Mk 1 Convertible at a show earlier in the year - i'd have one of them in a flash.
Porsche 911 - just don't get them at their price and I've driven a few
Porsche 944/68 Cabrio - rear seats just too small and lap belts only
Triumph Stag - always loved them from when they were current but the rust, the price, the alledged reliability issues, the lack of rear belts or lap only
Saab - not sure but refer RWD, they supposedly suffered scuttle shake but never tried one
Audi - sorry not an audi fan that's all
BMW 3 Series - E30 now out of reach price wise, E36 a possibility but all high miles, E46 a bit too expensive still unless mega miles
Volvo C70 - good call but the old shape based on the old 850 platform from the early 90's and the later ones more than your budget
Reliant Scimitar GTC- some were galvanised chassis, all F/G body and simple mechanics, lap belts only in the rear and at the minute I cannot dfind a way of improving on that. Otherwise that would be my choice.
TBH I'm heading back into BM territory and thinking either E36(M?) or E46 320/330/petrol/deisel not sure. Just keep thinking depreciation and big service bills as they look a bit complex under the bonnet. Oh and E46 have a rear subframe problem alledgedly, no personal experience.
Wife loved a Ford Cortina Mk 1 Convertible at a show earlier in the year - i'd have one of them in a flash.
BMW's are a Marmite question.
I find their clean German corporate efficiency to make for a dull car. Too much like driving an office desk.
Others seem to like it.
The Merc has tiny backseats.
So does the Porsche.
The Saab I test drive just seemed lacklustre, as did the Volvo.
I bought the Audi at 6 months old, and test drove all of the contemporaries at the time.
In my eyes the Audi was the best of all of them.
I find their clean German corporate efficiency to make for a dull car. Too much like driving an office desk.
Others seem to like it.
The Merc has tiny backseats.
So does the Porsche.
The Saab I test drive just seemed lacklustre, as did the Volvo.
I bought the Audi at 6 months old, and test drove all of the contemporaries at the time.
In my eyes the Audi was the best of all of them.
jay140285 said:
But which is best option with engine.
It's been a long time since my test drives.But, from what I recall the 2.5d was the best drive of the options available.
It's a v6 turbo, pretty quiet normally, but a happy v6 rumble when you floor it.
I think the other options were a 1.8 petrol turbo or a 2.0l na.
Neither of which felt as powerful as the diesel.
Although I think there was a 'type-r' equivalent sort of thing, that I didn't look at.
Oh, I also got the sports suspension package.
I like a firm drive and I found it too soft with normal suspension.
Odly enough the magazines at the time complained the sports suspension was too stiff. So it's really about personal preference.
Seriously? no, an A4 cab is on another planet to this. On your budget a nice 1.8t manual A4 cab will take some beating. Avoid multitronics due to severe risk of bork.s_zigmond said:
No idea what they are like, but for something different Chrysler Sebring?
Personally my money would go on a Saab, but I'm a bit of a Saab fan, so a bit biased.
I think thats a good shout you know, I sold them in the States for a bit back in 2002 and the ones from that year were a genuinely good looking car,theyre very American so far from a drivers car and the interiors a bit American scratchy plastic too but I think they make a great cruiser and something very different from another Audi!Personally my money would go on a Saab, but I'm a bit of a Saab fan, so a bit biased.
E.T.A- Having re-read the brief the Sebring probably wont feel "premium" enough for the o.p!
Edited by nagsheadwarrior on Monday 7th October 10:36
But if I had £5k to sink into a soft top it would be a classic 900. Either full soft one or a webesto sunroof hardtop. Nice one here with low miles
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2013...
even better one
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2013...
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2013...
even better one
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2013...
Sorry to be "that guy" but why on earth would anyone buy a diesel convertible? :/
As for E46's, a friend had a 330ci and took me out in it, was beautifully quiet and pulled like a train, imagine my shock when he told me it'd just clocked 175,000 miles, you would never have guessed it, buy on condition! not milage
As for E46's, a friend had a 330ci and took me out in it, was beautifully quiet and pulled like a train, imagine my shock when he told me it'd just clocked 175,000 miles, you would never have guessed it, buy on condition! not milage
Luke. said:
300bhp/ton said:
There is more room in the back of a Mustang or Camaro.
You never fail to deliver.
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