Performance Convertible £20k??

[SiT]

So having sold the X5 I am now on the hunt for (I think!) a performance convertible for around £20k.

The reasons for this are because I now run a Mondeo for the work commute, wife has A1 SLine forcnipping about so really want to satisfy my PH’ness with a weekend toy.

With that in mind I started looking at Exige/Elise Club Racer etc. however having a 7 year old daughter and a wife, figured it would be better to have a 4 seat toy.

I moved onto Performance convertibles, the shortlist currently being -

E93 M3
B7 RS4

But that’s as far as it goes at present, pros and cons to both that I have found so far.

Then I started to look at the C63, always been a big fan since they came out and that noise is divine. Obviously it has practicality benefits being either saloon or estate in my price range but wonder how quickly the novelty of sounding like the Apocalypse wears off??

I have a penchant for convertibles and enjoy them all year round not just in summer. With a requirement for 4 seats should I be considering anything else and also am I being short sighted over the C63’s talents???

Would welcome some input, seen a stunning M3 which is very tempting, also a lovely RS4 as well as a host of C63’s.

Any thoughts??

Si

[Yiliterate]

Depending on how big you need the rear seats to be, Jaguar XKR. Plenty of 4.2ltrs at that price but you might just be able to find the odd 5ltr...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Also, there’s the V10 M6...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Edited by Yiliterate on Monday 2nd April 21:31

[SiT]

Good god that M6 seems exceptional value for money!?! Although I would imagine the potential bork factor is HUGE!!

Jag is nice but seats in the back are too small and although it’s the ‘R’ I am not quite sure I am at the Jag stage in my life at 35! Lol!!!!

Si

[Biglips]

POA so likely to bust your budget but proper 4 seater and really special

https://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/...

I owned an estate version and it was surprisingly rapid!

[SiT]

Nice but a bit too classic for me and I think your right about POA - always a sure sign I can’t afford it!! Lol!

Si

[Mo28]

Would a C63 coupe with a pan roof do? You kind of get that open top motoring you're looking for

[SiT]

I was looking at them, however being facelift and coupe they are stretching the budget, higher mileage examples coming in at around £23k + it would certainly seem to tick all the boxes.

Am I right in thinking the coupe came standard with pan roof or was it an option?

Si

[2wheelsjimmy]

Honestly, if it’s a weekend toy don’t get anything but a cabriolet, especially if it’s got a good engine to listen to.

E46 or 93.

Reckon those M6 look dated now at the front. But would be nice.

Go drive all 3 and then buy the best one on condition and the drive you prefer.

[Yiliterate]

Would you consider LHD...?!

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

[SiT]

Wow! That looks a handful, I am not sure haven’t really considered a left hooker.....suppose I would yeah!

Si

[Mo28]

SiT said:

I was looking at them, however being facelift and coupe they are stretching the budget, higher mileage examples coming in at around £23k + it would certainly seem to tick all the boxes.

Am I right in thinking the coupe came standard with pan roof or was it an option?

Si

I've seen silver coupe at £23k on autotrader. You know you want one so why not stretch the budget a little
There is also an estate one with 150k miles on so don't think mileage is an issue.

I'm pretty sure the pan roofs are standard on coupes.

[SiT]

I have seen that estate - guessing it was once someone's company car, nice!!!!

You could be right, maybe the extra £3k might have to be done, have seen some lovely pre-facelift cars but whilst I think the exterior looks better I think the interior looks much more dated and obviously you can't get a coupe pre facelift.

Hmmmm.....

[Yiliterate]

SiT said:

Wow! That looks a handful, I am not sure haven’t really considered a left hooker.....suppose I would yeah!

Si

Oh good! Here’s another for you then (bit above your stated budget but you get the idea )

https://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/...


That said, if it were me, I’d probably give that and the Mustang a lot of thought...before going for one of the Germans or the Jag (whilst making myself a promise of ‘one day...’ )

Edited by Yiliterate on Tuesday 3rd April 18:31

[SiT]

That looks amazing - how angry is that front end!!!! Above budget but.......worth some more research!!!

Si

[ZX10R NIN]

Not a convertible but by the time you've dropped the windows & opened the roof it's like having a drop top & lots of space to relax in:

CL63 test drive one you may just look past the C63 coupe.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Or if you don't mind the 500 (a remap will see 500bhp) the 4.7 BiTurbo model.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Or if it has to be a convertible then the E400/500 is a car worth looking at:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

S5

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

[Actus Reus]

Whilst I understand your reasoning and indeed the PHness of a 4 seater V8 toy, make sure you have a go in an Elise or similar. Pretty well depreciation proof too (and I can get a child seat in my VXT).

[SiT]

ZX10R NIN said:

Not a convertible but by the time you've dropped the windows & opened the roof it's like having a drop top & lots of space to relax in:

CL63 test drive one you may just look past the C63 coupe.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Or if you don't mind the 500 (a remap will see 500bhp) the 4.7 BiTurbo model.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Or if it has to be a convertible then the E400/500 is a car worth looking at:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

S5

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Thanks for suggestions, as always you have some extremely good pointers.

The CL’s although superb value for money are quite ‘wafty’ and although I need ability to ferry wife and daughter comfortably I also need to head out with friends early doors on a Sun morning for a good blast across the Mendips.

Same goes for E really, the facelift E400 you linked is very very nice but again perhaps too much comfortable cruiser than Jekyl and Hyde.

Si

[SiT]

Actus Reus said:

Whilst I understand your reasoning and indeed the PHness of a 4 seater V8 toy, make sure you have a go in an Elise or similar. Pretty well depreciation proof too (and I can get a child seat in my VXT).

Would dearly love another 2 seater having owned S2K and VX NA I really love the feeling they give out on the road and I would be considering an Elise/VXT or stretch to Exige would a 2 seater fit the bill.

Sadly it does need to be able to take our wife and daughter occasionally, although arguably with the wife having bought an A1 SLine we could use that.

Si

[SiT]

My head has been turned by an Audi S5 convertible but don’t know enough about them.

I have seen the Chris Harris video of S4 Avant which shares the same 3.0 engine as S5 with a little remap magic it eats a B8 RS4 so I assume the same could be achieved with S5??

Always thought the S5 was a well proportioned car and with canvas roof it keeps weight and complexity down, benefits from Quattro which is nice.

Any thoughts on these??

Si

[ZX10R NIN]

SiT said:

Thanks for suggestions, as always you have some extremely good pointers.

The CL’s although superb value for money are quite ‘wafty’ and although I need ability to ferry wife and daughter comfortably I also need to head out with friends early doors on a Sun morning for a good blast across the Mendips.

Same goes for E really, the facelift E400 you linked is very very nice but again perhaps too much comfortable cruiser than Jekyl and Hyde.

Si

No problem, the E500's are beasts they have two sides to them, you're right they can cruise easily but if you want to get a hoon on then yes they can do that to I'd say the springs are a little soft (they were for me) so changing those helps performance wise the one thing the E500 suffers with is a lack of noise so an X pipe & set of replacement panel filters helps bring back the noise.

You'll want some grippier tyres too as the standard ones are ok but the compound is a bit hard, my E500 (slightly different engine) was very good in standard form it was just a bit to quiet which then made you drive it at a lower pace but break through that & there's a chassis that's every bit as good as the S5 but it cossets you into not bothering to push on,

Also despite being RWD only (with an open diff) both the E400/500 will sprint to 60 quicker than the S5.

The E400 is another super swift car & with some fettling (speak to Weistec) can have C63 levels of performance also they're a rare model that you (it has the same twin turbo 3.0 as the C43) won't see often.

The S5 is another good car but from a driving point of view I prefer the two above looks wise these can look amazing with the right wheels & a set of springs (better than the two above with the same treatment) I've driven a lot of S5's IMO they need a map to come alive as the 4wd slightly nullifies the performance.

All three are good cars so don't write the E400/500 without a test drive you may well be surprised.