Buying a convertible with 4 seats

[notacarguy]

Hi all,

I have had a recent urge to buy a convertible. I'm not really a 'car guy' as such but I want to have the freedom to enjoy a nice coastal drive with the top down. My current car is a merc a160, very practical but boring.

I went to test drive a mercedes sl200 and realised "wow, I don't want to be in a really small car" as I felt exposed.

I also wanted boot space (within reason) and 4 seats, even if the back two seats are smallish. This would be my only car so has to be a daily driver.

I have been looking on the market. It seems like my options are:

- BMW 3 series convertible: all very old, newest is 2012. otherwise, i like them, but don't want to have to replace the car again in 5 years
- Mercedes clk 200 kompressor: i really like them, the look is great, boot is great. however, also very old, ended in 2009
- Mercedes c class: i think this class started in 2015. quite expensive for me, the newer mercedes look is quite flashy, i dont like it as much
- bmw 2 series: very good, however, the 2 back seats are really tiny and i think this is a problem for me
- bmw 4 series: love how it handles but i think its probably lost on me. plus, its probably a bit too sporty looking for my liking

there are other, older convertibles which i dont know much about, eg saab 9-3, i know they were discontinued.

Anyone have any thoughts here? I'm leaning towards an old CLK 200 at this stage

[Scootersp]

IS250C might be worth a look?

[Jayho]

What is your actual budget?

You can get a 2015ish Audi A3/S3/A5/S5 can be had for under £15k.

If it's just purely to cruise around in with the roof down and you don't really care about drivers dynamics you can also got a RR Evoque in budget.

[paradigital]

Interesting that you think the 4 series is a bit too sporty, but the 3 series (that the 4 series replaced for the F3x generation) is ok?

Get an SE 4 series if the M Sport models look a bit sporty for you.

[Scootersp]

...............

[Skodillac]

What's your budget?

If you just want a cooking convertible, VW made the Golf Convertible until 2016.

For example: https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202506123...

Other engine options and trim levels are available of course.

Want some more horses, maybe a Volvo C70:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202506013...

Budget is key to recommendations, though.

[Panamax]

paradigital said:

Interesting that you think the 4 series is a bit too sporty, but the 3 series (that the 4 series replaced for the F3x generation) is ok?

Agreed, it seems to me the obvious answer to OP's question.

[notacarguy]

Scootersp said:

IS250C might be worth a look?

Just had a look, they also seem quite old? Style doesn't really appeal to me

[ZX10R NIN]

E200:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202503290...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202506163...

Facelift:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202505242...

350:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202506123...

A5:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202503310...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202410225...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202307270...

[notacarguy]

Jayho said:

What is your actual budget?

You can get a 2015ish Audi A3/S3/A5/S5 can be had for under £15k.

If it's just purely to cruise around in with the roof down and you don't really care about drivers dynamics you can also got a RR Evoque in budget.

Up to 16k if it was really worth it but looking to spend less than 10k if it makes sense.

Just looked at these audis. The A3 is a bit small. The A5 actually ticks a lot of boxes. The only real problems are 1. I prefer the look of the CLK 200 and 2. it is quite a lot wider than the CLK, and one of the driveways I will regular park in is quite tight, width wise. I also generally prefer narrower cars, a bit easier to maneouvre in the city sometimes.

[paul_c123]

So you want a convertible which is quite long and spacious inside, but also quite narrow?

[notacarguy]

Skodillac said:

What's your budget?

If you just want a cooking convertible, VW made the Golf Convertible until 2016.

For example: [link]
Other engine options and trim levels are available of course.

Want some more horses, maybe a Volvo C70:
[link]

Budget is key to recommendations, though.

Up to 15k or 16k, but hoping to pay a lot less if i can get away with it.

The vw golf is probably a bit small, rear seats a bit on the tight side. Volvo is nice but probably don't need the hp and aesthetics aren't great

[notacarguy]

paradigital said:

Interesting that you think the 4 series is a bit too sporty, but the 3 series (that the 4 series replaced for the F3x generation) is ok?

Get an SE 4 series if the M Sport models look a bit sporty for you.

Yeah, good point. I meant probably that the 4 series is a bit modern and flashy and probably more power than i need. When I said sporty i sort of meant modern aesthetics but realise now that didn't make sense

[Skodillac]

Dunno if they're bigger than a Golf in the back, but an Eos maybe?

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202506043...

Who's going in the back seat, the Harlem Globetrotters?

[paul_c123]

Audi A3 convertible (2008-2013), Golf 6 convertible (2011-2016) and VW Eos are all based on the same platform. I think the Eos is a couple of inches narrower still, in the rear, because the side sections of the roof are accommodated beside the seats once it folds.

I can't imagine a newer A3 convertible (2015 on) will be much better in the back, the main difference is the bigger boot (but its still small). (But then pretty much all convertible boots are small, it goes with the territory).

[macron]

Can tell your username works given it's 29 degrees and you'd like a convertible.

Any seller will bite your arm off with their current significant premium.

Your money, of course, but you will pay through the nose.

If the BMWs are too big in 3/4 series guise, you won't like the 2 series either, which is in the golf/ EOS/ A3 space.

If the A5 is too big, the older A4 is buttons, even at premium times of year, and is marginally smaller. Length 4.57, width 1.77, Vs 4.63 and 2.09 for the A5, although that could include mirrors.

The now ancient CLK claims length 4.65 and width 1.74, so 3cm "thinner" than an A4.

If width really matters, buy a Fiat 500 cab with the foldy roof. Surprisingly ok in the back.

[Jakg]

notacarguy said:

I also wanted boot space (within reason) and 4 seats, even if the back two seats are smallish. This would be my only car so has to be a daily driver.

- BMW 3 series convertible: all very old, newest is 2012. otherwise, i like them, but don't want to have to replace the car again in 5 years

Bear in mind it's got a big metal roof and it has to go somewhere

With the roof up it's not too bad but with the roof down the boot becomes hilariously small.



My old Z4 with a soft-top had a bigger boot.

[ChrisH72]

Here's a 4 seat convertible for a non car person.

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/2025061435...

Not too old.
Low mileage.
Cheap to buy and run.
Not remotely sporty.

Otherwise if you really want a prestige car like BMW, Merc or Audi I would be going for a nice 4 series.

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/2024112266...

They are good cars. Advantage of the folding hard top is that it can be used year round with no problems.

[Billy_Whizzzz]

You know a 4 series is a 3 series, don’t you? BMW changed naming in about 2012 so a 4 series became the 2 door 3 series…

[andrewcliffe]

You can use the Autotrader extended search to fix details like price range, milage range, age range, define convertible and 4 seats, and it will show you the options, which have largely been covered here already.