A german convertible

[R Mutt]

I've found myself looking at predominantly BMW, Audi and Mercedes for a £4-10k powerful convertible. Presumably this is because these are what come with the largest engines. Am I doing it wrong?

That said I would have the TT 225 BAM already were it ULEZ complaint. On the other hand I just want to enjoy a British Summer of 2 weeks driving down country roads with the top down so maybe longevity is not an issue and I could just move it on before the rules change November.


I'm still trying to sell a Jag XF so not being stuck trying to sell 2 cars at the end of the year would be a preferable, meaning I'm leaning more towards category b but can I have suggestions for either category please?

a) Bit of fun. Something for a few grand that worse case is scrapped by the time the year is out
b) Something I'd keep, pref 5 seats, hard top convertible ULEZ compliant.

[brillomaster]

BMW E93 convertible. 4 seats, folding hard top, whatever you want in terms of engine and gearbox. job jobbed.

[R Mutt]

brillomaster said:

BMW E93 convertible. 4 seats, folding hard top, whatever you want in terms of engine and gearbox. job jobbed.

I do like them. Been watching a few. Open minded to gearbox even SMG...

Perplexed by engine and power options though. Basically what's faster than my Jag 239BHP and 6.7 sec 0-60 ?

[PaulW100]

Two options... Both 335i, both will be brilliant cars - i have E92 myself.

1. Grandfather spec. Decent because its unusual.
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202012026...

2. Dual Clutch (DCT) Gearbox and summer spec. This is the one, Needs some 405M wheels though.
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202102289...

[ChrisH72]

330i if you want naturally aspirated or 335i for more turbo power.

I'm not sure there are any other options for a powerful 4 seat convertible with folding hard top?

[R Mutt]

ChrisH72 said:

330i if you want naturally aspirated or 335i for more turbo power.

I'm not sure there are any other options for a powerful 4 seat convertible with folding hard top?

XK?

Soft top not a deal breaker but won't be garaged and next to a river. The neighbour's soft top is growing a bit of moss.

[davek_964]

According to the checker I just used, the 2010 TT 2.0 TFSI S-Line Roadster I bought a couple of weeks ago is ULEZ compliant.

Seems a nice enough car - relatively quick although these things are always relative.

(But fails the number of seats requirement)

Edited by davek_964 on Thursday 18th March 11:20

[R Mutt]

davek_964 said:

According to the checker I just used, the 2010 TT 2.0 TFSI S-Line Roadster I bought a couple of weeks ago is ULEZ compliant.

Seems a nice enough car - relatively quick although these things are always relative.

(But fails the number of seats requirement)

Edited by davek_964 on Thursday 18th March 11:20

Also got a van so 2 seats not a deal breaker either

[davek_964]

R Mutt said:

davek_964 said:

According to the checker I just used, the 2010 TT 2.0 TFSI S-Line Roadster I bought a couple of weeks ago is ULEZ compliant.

Seems a nice enough car - relatively quick although these things are always relative.

(But fails the number of seats requirement)

Edited by davek_964 on Thursday 18th March 11:20

Also got a van so 2 seats not a deal breaker either

Definitely worth a look then. Seems really nice quality inside, drives very well (hides the fact that it's FWD very well), seems pretty quick to me (although acceleration seems the same at 3k rpm as 5k rpm, so screaming the nuts off it doesn't seem to achieve much).

I bought mine for a specific purpose - not sure yet whether it will actually meet my requirements so won't know for a month or so whether I actually keep it. But I am quite impressed with it.

[ChrisH72]

R Mutt said:

XK?

Soft top not a deal breaker but won't be garaged and next to a river. The neighbour's soft top is growing a bit of moss.

XK isn't German either!

But I'd say it's good that you are broadening the criteria. I had an E92 325i which I bought because I wanted RWD, petrol, manual, coupe, 4 seats and in really there wasn't much choice other than BMW. Having never owned a BMW I thought why not? And to be fair it was a decent car albeit a bit heavy and quite expensive to maintain as expected.

[R Mutt]

davek_964 said:

R Mutt said:

davek_964 said:

According to the checker I just used, the 2010 TT 2.0 TFSI S-Line Roadster I bought a couple of weeks ago is ULEZ compliant.

Seems a nice enough car - relatively quick although these things are always relative.

(But fails the number of seats requirement)

Edited by davek_964 on Thursday 18th March 11:20

Also got a van so 2 seats not a deal breaker either

Definitely worth a look then. Seems really nice quality inside, drives very well (hides the fact that it's FWD very well), seems pretty quick to me (although acceleration seems the same at 3k rpm as 5k rpm, so screaming the nuts off it doesn't seem to achieve much).

I bought mine for a specific purpose - not sure yet whether it will actually meet my requirements so won't know for a month or so whether I actually keep it. But I am quite impressed with it.

I was thinking about a Quattro for no other benefits than if I am going to drive this round country lanes for fun then I can do so in the wet just not with the top down

[davek_964]

R Mutt said:

I was thinking about a Quattro for no other benefits than if I am going to drive this round country lanes for fun then I can do so in the wet just not with the top down

Don't think I've driven it in the rain yet, but I think mine would probably be fine - it is FWD not RWD after all. I specifically wanted simple and cheap, so ruled out the 3.2s - but it sounds like they would suit you more.

[R Mutt]

davek_964 said:

R Mutt said:

I was thinking about a Quattro for no other benefits than if I am going to drive this round country lanes for fun then I can do so in the wet just not with the top down

Don't think I've driven it in the rain yet, but I think mine would probably be fine - it is FWD not RWD after all. I specifically wanted simple and cheap, so ruled out the 3.2s - but it sounds like they would suit you more.

6 grand for a 3.2 Quattro with 60k odd on the clock I've spotted, very much my bag

[Orangecurry]

R Mutt said:

I've found myself looking at predominantly BMW, Audi and Mercedes for a £4-10k powerful convertible. Presumably this is because these are what come with the largest engines. Am I doing it wrong?

That said I would have the TT 225 BAM already were it ULEZ complaint.

They are, I think? I've just checked on TFL and only the congestion charge is applied.

ETA

Edited by Orangecurry on Thursday 18th March 12:27

[R Mutt]

Orangecurry said:

R Mutt said:

I've found myself looking at predominantly BMW, Audi and Mercedes for a £4-10k powerful convertible. Presumably this is because these are what come with the largest engines. Am I doing it wrong?

That said I would have the TT 225 BAM already were it ULEZ complaint.

They are, I think? I've just checked on TFL and only the congestion charge is applied.

Oh what year's yours?

I assumed this was a single variant and as only made up to 2003 none would be compliant

[davek_964]

R Mutt said:

6 grand for a 3.2 Quattro with 60k odd on the clock I've spotted, very much my bag

Sounds like a bargain. I would say though that I saw several cars before I bought mine - similar mileage and price (but that was for just the 2.0 TFSI) and the quality was not great. Fine in photos, but poorly repaired door dents, small holes in worn leather bolsters, scrape down one side of the car.......... I was quite shocked at how knackered some TTs seem to get!

[Orangecurry]

I think they went to 2005 just, and the facelift 225s (changed in 2002 sometime) had sports suspension as standard.

[R Mutt]

Orangecurry said:

R Mutt said:

I've found myself looking at predominantly BMW, Audi and Mercedes for a £4-10k powerful convertible. Presumably this is because these are what come with the largest engines. Am I doing it wrong?

That said I would have the TT 225 BAM already were it ULEZ complaint.

They are, I think? I've just checked on TFL and only the congestion charge is applied.

ETA

Edited by Orangecurry on Thursday 18th March 12:27

Oh you're right..I saw one on eBay listed as Euro3 and took that as gospel then mistook 'charge applies to this vehicle' as that being ULEZ

Pretty misleading when you Google ULEZ check, and enter your reg on the page that says "Check your vehicle
Find out if your vehicle meets emissions and safety standards required to drive in London, or if you need to pay a daily charge."

I'd worry that the database would soon rule these out as done on the EURO standard at registration. Although not sure if the VAG emissions trickery is going to keep it under their radar...

Edited by R Mutt on Thursday 18th March 12:44