Fun to drive convertible up to £50k

[Kettmark]

Looking to dip my toe into the convertible market as above. I have 5 hard top cars already of varying sorts but want to scratch the roofless itch.
What do you suggest?
I was thinking Elise or MX5 or maybe Merc SL.

[biggbn]

911 997.2? Engine problems all sorted, wonderful to drive, painless to own, great image if that matters to you.

[jamesbilluk]

Jaguar F type R V8, amazing sounding thing!
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202302184...

Alfa Romeo 4C spider, like a mini Super car
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202306258...

987 Boxster Spyder
https://www.carandclassic.com/car/C1533304

Mustang 5.0 convertible
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202307139...

R8 Spyder
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202306128...

Edited by jamesbilluk on Sunday 20th August 19:11

Edited by jamesbilluk on Sunday 20th August 19:14

Edited by jamesbilluk on Sunday 20th August 19:17

[Louis Balfour]

biggbn said:

911 997.2? Engine problems all sorted, wonderful to drive, painless to own, great image if that matters to you.

Not sure the image carries through to the convertible model, to be honest. Coupe yes.

For 50k I'd be looking at Boxsters, or maybe even an MX5 and keeping some cash in the bank.

[Kettmark]

I've got a tin top 911 already so Porsche is off the list.

[jonny996]

Need a lot more info.
Do you want waft or focused
Is it for you or family
Are you fit & nimble or “powerfully” built

[biggbn]

Louis Balfour said:

biggbn said:

911 997.2? Engine problems all sorted, wonderful to drive, painless to own, great image if that matters to you.

Not sure the image carries through to the convertible model, to be honest. Coupe yes.

For 50k I'd be looking at Boxsters, or maybe even an MX5 and keeping some cash in the bank.

I never get the distaste for the cabrios. In days gone by, a soft top was de rigeur for a sports car. A 997.2 3.8 Carrera S with one set of driven wheels and the PDK box would be my 911 of choice...one day, hopefully!! Boxster is a great choice, I'm strangley drawn to the newer four pot versions.

[LRDefender]

I’d take a look at a nice clean Honda S2000.

Not everyone’s cup of tea but I think they’re wonderful little cars, engaging to drive and will become more sort after as time goes on. A nice one should be well within your budget too.

[Kettmark]

jonny996 said:

Need a lot more info.
Do you want waft or focused
Is it for you or family
Are you fit & nimble or “powerfully” built

Focused. Just for me. I'm fit ish, early 50's.
Other cars are:
Maserati Granturismo
M3 csl
Porsche 911 997.1
BMW e36 318is
205 Gti 1.9

[Deerfoot]

https://bbrgti.com/blogs/cars-for-sale/2015-mx5-nd...

£25000 to spare...

[andburg]

If you can stretch or haggle….Ferrari 360 might just be doable

[Kettmark]

andburg said:

If you can stretch or haggle….Ferrari 360 might just be doable

I have been looking at those. Am tempted.

[andburg]

The current bargain of Ferrari ownership.

Though let’s be honest, if you’re stretching to afford it you can’t afford to run it.

For fun, I love my little 124 spider, perhaps the abarth 124 could fit the bill with its

[andburg]

Fun…scarey maybe a TVR? Chimaera/Griffith/Tuscan/Tamora all in budget with spare for the odd reliability scare

[Venisonpie]

If you want focused then I'd say the only car that meets the brief is an Elise. Pork is too mainstream and an SL is a convertible GT. I've owned all three in one guise or another and would heartily recommend the latter but its not focused. A supercharged Elise is a riot.

[sawman]

With the existing garage, i’d be tempted to go a bit more off piste, maybe a 2cv or if you want to go a bit faster a classic morgan

Edited by sawman on Sunday 20th August 20:32

[Glenn63]

A smidge over budget but comes with a V10 and a manual.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202303235...

Or a TVR is where I’d be going,

https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/15037760

[NDA]

jamesbilluk said:

Jaguar F type R V8, amazing sounding thing!
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202302184...

Clarkson has just bought one and reviewed it in todays Sunday Times... gave it a very good report.

[ZX10R NIN]

Kettmark said:

Focused. Just for me. I'm fit ish, early 50's.
Other cars are:
Maserati Granturismo
M3 csl
Porsche 911 997.1
BMW e36 318is
205 Gti 1.9

In which case I'd look at Jaguar mainly the XKR-S which is a very focused soft top:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202306158...

Now you can get a newer F Type R for the same money as the S above but they drive differently:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202306038...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202307189...

Exige:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202210140...

Alfa 4C good cars that with a little fettling from Alfaworks turns into a great steer:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202306258...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202308160...

Now if you can live with a Targa/LHD, then the C6 Z06 really is the pick they're an amazing car & a great steer that'll give a GT3 nightmares so it's certainly focused & it's a manual:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202308190...

Or you can get a nice C7 with the very necessary Z51 package:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202308050...

[swanseaboydan]

I’d go for a c63 cabriolet. Try one - you’ll get a lovely one for 40k.