Best month to buy a cheap convertible?

[jmsgld]

Finally should have enough room for a 3rd car soon, probably a cheap 986 S or possibly an MX5 if my girlfriend puts her foot down.

I reckon September / October is about right as there should still be plenty for sale and the approaching winter lowering demand.

I sold a Chimaera in October once and that went terribly...

[R8Steve]

I’ll be selling my 986S in the next couple of months, not sure if prices fluctuate that much between spring/summer/autumn to be honest after looking at prices year round.

Maybe between Christmas/new year might be the best time to get a good deal.

[jmsgld]

I'm not sure asking prices fluctuate that much, but lack of buyers means sellers are more open to an offer if they want shot.

I sold my '99 chimp in October 12 with 50k on the clock for £6750, the only interest I had was from trade wanting to keep it over the winter and sell it in spring. It was a fantastic example, used daily with FSH and in great condition. I ended up selling it to a neighbour who did just that and made a tidy profit...

[Pericoloso]

I bought mine in December.

I was driving it top down within a few weeks.

[Ian Geary]

There's only one answer to this: Augcember

https://youtu.be/Mmlx-e_u0i8

[GreatGranny]

I'm looking at the moment for a Saab 9-3 or A4 soft top which will be my wife's commuter and a weekend car.
I don't think they fluctuate that much TBH.
I've been keeping an eye on a few especially on Ebay and a lot aren't selling first time round and prices are being reduced.
There are a lot of dreamers who think they can inflate prices just because it's been a nice summer.

I'm on a bit of a countdown as it will replace my lease car (I'll be using her V60 for my commute) and it's due back in the next 3-4 weeks.

[BigMon]

I bought my C70 convertible in early September last year.

Don't think it vastly affected the price to be honest.

[Challo]

Hopefully its this month as got an E46 im trying to shift.

[P700DEE]

I think best time is summer because the myth is buy in the Altumn sell in the spring. There are fewer for sale in the winter so prices can harden as there is a lack of demand. In spring loads come along and this drives prices down over the summer. As the weather gets worse the numbers for sale drop off and prices stabilise through to the spring.

[GreatGranny]

BigMon said:

I bought my C70 convertible in early September last year.

Don't think it vastly affected the price to be honest.

I did have that on my list but prices seem to be a bit keener than the 9-3 and also my wife's comment that they look huge didn't help.

Looked for a D5 but not sure of an auto as the one in both of my XC90's were very slow.

[BigMon]

GreatGranny said:

I did have that on my list but prices seem to be a bit keener than the 9-3 and also my wife's comment that they look huge didn't help.

Looked for a D5 but not sure of an auto as the one in both of my XC90's were very slow.

The 9-3 is nice too, so not exactly a bad option.

I'd say between £1000-£2000 should get you a reasonable one of either model. Mine is a 55 plate and cost £1900.

[j1mmy]

I can probably add a little value for you here as I’ve been looking at buying a BMW Z4. Now I first started looking say in April/May for what I wanted 2.5 2010/11 with under 40k you were looking at around 12k for a nice one. I went away and went off the idea. I looked again the other week and that is now 13.5-14k for a similar car!! Whether they sell is another thing at this price though. All the ones I was looking at in May have gone now.

[treeroy]

the prices don't change that much, certainly not enough to justify waiting months to get the right time. Unless you don't actually want the car in winter, just buy it now, imo.

After summer's finished Oct/Nov probably the cheapest time. Even in the cold months of February there are people thinking on the same lines, get in early before summer starts.

[ZX10R NIN]

+1 to the above yes there's a price difference between now & December but it won't be massive so get it now.

[vsonix]

I'd say any time between the start of autumn and early spring is the optimum time to buy. Reasons being a) many people just want them for the summer months and don't want or need to keep them any longer, b) in the run up to the festive season if people are feeling a bit hard up and are worried they can't afford a turkey or a Star Wars for Little Timmy then the 'fun toy' car will be the first thing up for sale. And since most people aren't really thinking about buying one til the spring the market is depressed so negotiating a better price with a motivated seller should be easier.
Conversely, autumn is the worst time to buy/best time to sell a detachable hard top but late spring/early summer is a buyer's market.

[clio007]

I would go against the grain here and say the summer time is the best time to buy.

Purely because there are so much for sale around this time and less to chose from over the Spring/Winter time.

I tend to sell my cars around Spring time because there is less for sale (especially if its a sports/performance car) and that gets me a better price usually.