suggestions required - £5k 4 seat convertible
suggestions required - £5k 4 seat convertible
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Discussion

scott-1vt9j

Original Poster:

52 posts

118 months

Monday 10th July 2017
quotequote all
I'm looking for the right Saab 900 Turbo convertible, but good ones are like hen's teeth stuck, in unicorn muck.

So what other 4 seat convertible should I get for the same money? Audi S4 appeals for the V8, BMW 330i for value and choice. Anything else I am missing?

Got to have 4 seats, otherwise I would have a Boxster, MX5 or another Lotus Elan. I'm no boy racer anymore but appreciate handling more than straight line power. Anything cool and interesting out there?

Uncle Ron

419 posts

117 months

Monday 10th July 2017
quotequote all
Are good 900 Turbos not closer to £10k these days?

W124 E-Class convertible perhaps?

scott-1vt9j

Original Poster:

52 posts

118 months

Monday 10th July 2017
quotequote all
That is the main part of the problem. You still find the occasional one below £5k, but might need some work

The Mercedes is a little bit 'old man'. Not helped by the fact my Old Man (father) has the newer version

DoctorX

7,820 posts

185 months

Monday 10th July 2017
quotequote all
driving

https://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C787099

You won't see another and an appreciating asset (maybe).


NiceCupOfTea

25,458 posts

269 months

Monday 10th July 2017
quotequote all
You won't find a good c900 turbo cab for £5k I'm afraid, unless you're lucky. Although it is worth hanging on for one because they are lovely. Ride not the best and they are floppy but don't try to hustle it too much and it'll be fine. My dad had a late 900S convertible (low pressure turbo) with low miles so the gearbox was nice and tight - was lovely to cruise and the engine suited it well.

With that budget you should be able to find a nice e46 cab. I think I would hold out for one in a decent colour, not the usual silver.

Gribs

475 posts

154 months

Monday 10th July 2017
quotequote all
As the old 900's aren't exactly stiff is there any need for a turbo? If not this might be ok

http://www.uksaabs.co.uk/UKS/viewtopic.php?f=17&am...

It'll be worth keeping an eye on the UK saabs forum anyway.

Collectingbrass

2,557 posts

213 months

Monday 10th July 2017
quotequote all
Plenty of BMW E64 645s out there for £5 - £6k. Surely one of them won't be a dog?

In all seriousness, I have an E63 645 Coupe and an E36 328 Convertible. The E63 is a good couple of generations on from the E36 and feels so much better. The convertible variant with a V8 for £5k would be an absolute steal IMO and would be a long way better than a SAAB 900 (I had two hardtop SAAB 900s not so long ago).

PositronicRay

28,208 posts

201 months

Monday 10th July 2017
quotequote all
Uncle Ron said:
W124 E-Class convertible perhaps?
Good luck with that!

WJNB

2,637 posts

179 months

Monday 10th July 2017
quotequote all
Didn't Ford do a folding hardtop version of their most excellent Focus? Mostly sold to the li9ving dead in Worthing & Eastbourne.
For greater naffness Peugeot & Renault do some nasty 4 seater things.
Old BMW's finish up on local council estates.
Mercs.are for posh oldies.
Then there is the Audi A3/4/5 - class without the social baggage. Just up that budget a tad & have some pride because quality & image is remembered long after price is forgotten.

ZX10R NIN

29,503 posts

143 months

Monday 10th July 2017
quotequote all
The CLK or BMW are both good shouts if you go for an Audi make sure it's the manual as the Autos are potential nightmares in the making.

CLK wise there are a range of options engine wise the 1.8 is weakest but still a decent unit, the downside to the 280/350 V6's is that they're £520 tax unless you grab a 55 plate.

1.8 CLK200

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2017...

CLK 320 Avantgarde

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2017...

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2017...

CLK280 Avantgarde

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2017...

CLK350 Avantgarde

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2017...

CLK 280 Sport

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2017...

With the BMW's I'd go for a 325i/330i

325i Sport

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2016...

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2017...

330i Sport

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2017...

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2017...

I would be tempted by the S4 though.

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2017...

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2017...

More sensible 3.0

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2017...

3.2 £520 road tax so I'd negotiate hard

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2017...

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2017...

steve-5snwi

9,622 posts

111 months

Monday 10th July 2017
quotequote all
I prefer this one if you fancy an S4


http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2017...

Although I would want an automatic. Our A4 is multitronic and i like it.

ZX10R NIN

29,503 posts

143 months

Monday 10th July 2017
quotequote all
Lol it's a nice one but 1.5k over the OP's budget biglaugh

steve-5snwi

9,622 posts

111 months

Monday 10th July 2017
quotequote all
I did think that but budgets are only guidelines ... besides spending more is sometime for the best smile

ZX10R NIN

29,503 posts

143 months

Monday 10th July 2017
quotequote all
beer I agree with that I always creep well over budget.

steve-5snwi

9,622 posts

111 months

Monday 10th July 2017
quotequote all
Slightly OT but i had someone come to view and buy a 2.0TDi Q5, he left with a 3.0TDi A8, in fairness it was the better car and suited what he wanted to use it for.

I do have a soft spot for Saabs and 5k would buy a reasonable 9-3. I'd be looking for either the A4 or CLK though, both have fabric roofs with less to go wrong and are lighter than the likes of C70 & E92's.


g7jhp

7,019 posts

256 months

Monday 10th July 2017
quotequote all
Audi A4 3.0 Quattro Cabriolet (B6) handled like a boat, I'd choose from BMW 330i Convertible (E46).

NiceCupOfTea

25,458 posts

269 months

Monday 10th July 2017
quotequote all
WJNB said:
Didn't Ford do a folding hardtop version of their most excellent Focus? Mostly sold to the li9ving dead in Worthing & Eastbourne.
For greater naffness Peugeot & Renault do some nasty 4 seater things.
Old BMW's finish up on local council estates.
Mercs.are for posh oldies.
Then there is the Audi A3/4/5 - class without the social baggage. Just up that budget a tad & have some pride because quality & image is remembered long after price is forgotten.
You were doing fine up the the Audis - I assume you're being ironic about class & image. It seems that everytime I am tailgated or cut up it will be an Audi (usually an S-line A3 TDI in kitchen appliance white) - surely they have to have one of the worst images of any car on the road (and that's from somebody who has a BMW daily).

The 645 cab is a good shout, I have been tempted by them myself. Nobody's mentioned the VW Eos, not my thing but mentioned for completion's sake.

Or how about a newer Saab 9-3 Aero cab?

steve-5snwi

9,622 posts

111 months

Monday 10th July 2017
quotequote all
Eos has a steel roof and leaks like a sieve.

NiceCupOfTea

25,458 posts

269 months

Monday 10th July 2017
quotequote all
steve-5snwi said:
Eos has a steel roof and leaks like a sieve.
OP didn't say he was looking for a cloth roof - Focus / Peugeot / Renault offerings are also metal roofs.