Best family cabrio for under £12k

[Sim75]

Drawing on some good ol' Piston wisdom.

Summer fun, nothing more.

Mandatories:
Needs to fit a couple of boys in the back (12 and 6).
Needs to put a smile on your face.

Manual or Auto? don't mind.
Providing gearchanges aren't slow and sloppy like some of my old BMW's (Pre ZF)

...what do you reckon?

[Integroo]

If you want something that isnt too old with less bork factor: 135i/335i, Mini Cooper S/JCW.

If you are brave and can stomach the running costs: M3, XK8.

Left field: Lexus SC 430.

[kambites]

If you want to be able to get a 12 year-old in the back in any sort of comfort, most GT type cars probably aren't going to work; you need something saloon/hatch based. My choice would probably something like a 3-series.

[Prinny]

W124 e-class. Proper 4 seater, as a family car it’s more than acceptable.

Good build quality, lots of specialist knowledge out there.

Looks are subjective - I still think they’re good.



Look after it & you’re not likely to lose much money either. IMO.

[berlintaxi]

Bit of negotiation;

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

[jeremyh1]

It is not much fun in the back of a 4 seater convertible in the UK once your doing over 35

[anonymous-user]

Saab 9-3 2.8 V6 Aero.

Pre-2006 for lower tax.

That's what I am looking for, same criteria, sub £5k.

[Big GT]

Prinny said:

W124 e-class. Proper 4 seater, as a family car it’s more than acceptable.

Good build quality, lots of specialist knowledge out there.

Looks are subjective - I still think they’re good.



Look after it & you’re not likely to lose much money either. IMO.

1) ^^^these ^^^
2) 9-3 aero
3) clk cab

[Phil Dicky]

E-class 2010 vintage
Audi A5 Cab

Might be iffy condition at this price and likely low spec engines.

[0a]

Prinny said:

W124 e-class. Proper 4 seater, as a family car it’s more than acceptable.

Good build quality, lots of specialist knowledge out there.

Looks are subjective - I still think they’re good.



Look after it & you’re not likely to lose much money either. IMO.

Utter class and a proper future classic (though they are already firming up in value).

[Jag_NE]

i was recently in a similar boat OP however my budget was halve of yours and my kids younger.

i went for a bmw e30 as i wanted something sufficiently old/interesting as it was only to be used on summer rides out and always garaged. for your budget you could get a very nice one. mine was 5k but needs a new hood and a few bits of paint, crucially it seems to be rot free however. its really a 6k factoring in that work.

there are a reasonable amount to choose from and plenty online and parts support.

pitfalls: you probably wont use it as much as you assume you will. our weather is largely quite crappy here and the novelty of family rides out does begin to subside over time.

depreciation: yes these cars may not lose money but i dont believe they are going to rocket any time soon. annual costs of insurance, tax, MOT and repairs/maintenance will cancel out any creep in value, unless you get lucky!

good luck!

[anonymous-user]

The Lexus IS 250 C cabriolet is pretty superb for that money. Steel roof, proper four seater, quiet, reliable etc etc.

[JonChalk]

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

Plenty of these, with good specs on PH For Sale