Is The Best Time To Buy A Convertible Over The Winter?
Is The Best Time To Buy A Convertible Over The Winter?
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Discussion

avenger286

Original Poster:

425 posts

121 months

Thursday 7th September 2017
quotequote all
I know this may be a stupid question but is the best time to buy a Convertible Over the winter?
I am looking to do the west coast of Scotland next summer for me and the Mrs wedding anniversary as it's something I have always wanted to do.
Also any suggestions on a car? I don't like mx5's I just can't get away with them. I have driven an mr2 and that was good but I don't know what else to look for. I would prefer more of a drivers car to enjoy the roads rather than something that will just wallow around.
Will be looking around the 1000-1500 mark and it will just be sold on in the summer.

Any help would be great.

G

IanCress

4,409 posts

184 months

Thursday 7th September 2017
quotequote all
Difficult to get away from the 2 cars you've mentioned. Probably add the MGF / TF in there as well. Not sure if the BMW Z3 is available in that price range, although it was never really classed as a drivers car.

Every other convertible I can think of in that price range is a hatchback with the roof removed, which tend not be classed as 'drivers' cars. Peugeot 306 convertible worth looking at?

Add a few thousand to your budget and you'll see cars like the Honda S2000, Nissan 350Z and Porsche Boxster, but realise you're trying to get away with spending as little as poss.

akirk

5,775 posts

132 months

Thursday 7th September 2017
quotequote all
if you can get access to more capital, most cheapish convertibles might not lose you any money over that time, so the purchase price perhaps becomes less relevant - e.g. z3 / boxster / s2000 / etc. are all going up in value for the right car - buy now, sell after your trip and you might even make a profit...

if however that is all you have available, then yes, you will be quite limited, do you know anyone who might lend you a car if it is for a one off trip?

Integroo

11,585 posts

103 months

Thursday 7th September 2017
quotequote all
IanCress said:
Difficult to get away from the 2 cars you've mentioned. Probably add the MGF / TF in there as well. Not sure if the BMW Z3 is available in that price range, although it was never really classed as a drivers car.

Every other convertible I can think of in that price range is a hatchback with the roof removed, which tend not be classed as 'drivers' cars. Peugeot 306 convertible worth looking at?

Add a few thousand to your budget and you'll see cars like the Honda S2000, Nissan 350Z and Porsche Boxster, but realise you're trying to get away with spending as little as poss.
The Honda S2000 is out of reach - they are getting expensive, even for ratty high mileage examples. Half decent 350Z's are still in the 5-7k range.

I would say MX5, MR2, MG TF are the best options. Possibly a high mileage Audi TT or MB SLK or BMW 3 Series, but it would be ratty examples at that price point and anyway I don't think they are as good drivers cars as the first three.

cbmotorsport

3,065 posts

136 months

IanCress

4,409 posts

184 months

Thursday 7th September 2017
quotequote all
TT isn't a bad shout, there's quite a few sub £2k cars on Autotrader. There's nothing more stylish at that price. They might not handle like an MR2 but they'll out run it in a straight line!

avenger286

Original Poster:

425 posts

121 months

Thursday 7th September 2017
quotequote all
Thanks for the reply so far. I have seen a few alfa's and tt's recently and I wouldn't mind both of them also seen a few slk's but know nothing about them.

brrapp

3,701 posts

180 months

Thursday 7th September 2017
quotequote all
Plenty of Saab convertibles at ridiculously cheap prices. I don't think there's any money to be made on them, but you get a lot of car for your money, and a few creature comforts too if you want to keep your wife happy on the trip.

cbmotorsport

3,065 posts

136 months

Thursday 7th September 2017
quotequote all
brrapp said:
Plenty of Saab convertibles at ridiculously cheap prices. I don't think there's any money to be made on them, but you get a lot of car for your money, and a few creature comforts too if you want to keep your wife happy on the trip.
Might fall down on the drivers car requirement..

brrapp

3,701 posts

180 months

Thursday 7th September 2017
quotequote all
cbmotorsport said:
brrapp said:
Plenty of Saab convertibles at ridiculously cheap prices. I don't think there's any money to be made on them, but you get a lot of car for your money, and a few creature comforts too if you want to keep your wife happy on the trip.
Might fall down on the drivers car requirement..
OK, they're not track cars, but with 250bhp plus from an Aero and soft enough suspension to absorb the rough on Highland roads, I'd be happy enough in one.

avenger286

Original Poster:

425 posts

121 months

Thursday 7th September 2017
quotequote all
Sorry no saab's to me they are horrid.

vsonix

3,858 posts

181 months

Thursday 7th September 2017
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I'd find it hard to recommend any car at that price point if you're only intending on keeping it for a season/year. £1000-1500 and any car you get is probably going to be in need of a fair bit of work to get it to the level where you feel like it's a proper 'drivers car' - it's bound to need new springs and shocks, bushes etc etc - if all that stuff is sorted already you're likely looking at examples outside the budget range.

However, I agree that it's definitely a buyer's market from about now through till spring. I've already seen a nice, cheap (2k) Z3 3.0 pop up on Facebook that I'd be buying if I didn't already have a pair of 2.8s

And Z3s are pretty good driver's cars IMO, stick with the larger engine sizes and make sure they're running the right wheels and tyres and you have a car that goes pretty well, is stylish and is generally good fun.