Sub 5k convertible

[iacabu]

Hi all, we're looking for a cheap convertible for me and my partner to use, that ticks a few boxes but won't be our only car so there's no real criteria for it.

4k or under would be ideal.
4 seats required
Hoping for minimal running costs and ~£400 or less to tax
I'd like a bit of power to keep it more enjoyable
Auto much preferred but I'm willing to get a manual if the car is right

So far, ideas are:

E46 330ci - likely regular maintenance required but look and sound great. The Mrs isn't sold on something this old
E93 330d - I don't mind it being diesel too much, more punch than the 330ci and will do enough longer trips to keep it running ok.Will probably avoid the N53 330i found in the e93 cars
R52 Mini Cooper S - I don't particularly see myself as a convertible Mini driver, however I think they look good, sound good and should go pretty well. Being manual aside it actually ticks most of the boxes
R57 Mini Cooper S - As above and will have the N18 so reliability not as concerning
Merc E350cdi - I think I prefer the image of the BMWs but they're a nice car and seem worth considering

I've pretty much discounted any of the lesser engines of these models to satisfy my own wants. I test drove my brothers e93 320d and it was lacking too much power for me

Any experience with the above, or alternative suggestions would be great

[LankyFreak]

ticks a few boxes...

[davek_964]

Saab 9-3?

I've always thought they were nice looking cars (no idea what they're like to live with)

[ColinsCornflakes]

My searches have been along similar lines recently.

You can get 1 series cabs in various engines from £2000 upwards, prices are up from a few months the ago though for obvious reasons.


I really fancy this though...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202607114...

[shiversaint]

A bit left field but how about a Volvo C70?

[Pablo Escobar]

[Josemartinez]

How about an A5?

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202607084...

You can get S4's in budget but the tax is £800 !ma year which is just ridiculous.

[M.F.D]

BMW 125i Coupe/Vert.

N52B30, which can very easily be made to same power as the 265bhp 130i - (just software iirc)

[LightningBlue]

A Mini Cooper S Roadster could be near that budget and they look way better than the Convertible you’ve mentioned

[ZX10R NIN]

CLK 500:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202602069...

350:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202606273...

200:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202604201...

E350cdi:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202511308...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202605202...

630i:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202607154...

E90 330i:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202607134...

S5:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202607134...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202605222...

2.0T:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202607104...

[tiger roll]

Haven't ever had or driven any of the others so can't compare but FWIW I love my 325ci E46 from 2003. Isn't flash so if that's what you're looking for look elsewhere. If you do get one, get the manual for sure. Autos are cheaper to buy but manual is the answer

[Blue_star]

Would a cheap saab be a bad idea? Enjoy for 1-2 summers get rid

[iacabu]

LankyFreak said:

ticks a few boxes...

For some reason I hadn't given these a look

davek_964 said:

Saab 9-3?

I've always thought they were nice looking cars (no idea what they're like to live with)

They're on the radar, and come in well under budget for seemingly good ones. I've previously owned a 9-5 Aero estate but I guess I'm just one of those who prefer a BMW

ColinsCornflakes said:

My searches have been along similar lines recently.

You can get 1 series cabs in various engines from £2000 upwards, prices are up from a few months the ago though for obvious reasons.


I really fancy this though...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202607114...

1 series have appeared back on the radar thanks to this thread, I'd previously discounted. I also like the 306, especially in sundance yellow

shiversaint said:

A bit left field but how about a Volvo C70?

I've given them some thought but probably not for me

Pablo Escobar said:

I actually quite like the coupes of these, but not the convertibles

Josemartinez said:

How about an A5?

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202607084...

You can get S4's in budget but the tax is £800 !ma year which is just ridiculous.

I certainly want to avoid high tax on this car. It was worth it on my M3 though.

For some reason I have been somewhat ignoring the A5 but I do think they look smart for the money. Will give them another look

M.F.D said:

BMW 125i Coupe/Vert.

N52B30, which can very easily be made to same power as the 265bhp 130i - (just software iirc)

The winning answer so far! I hadn't realised that was the only difference and discounted the 125i assuming it would be a lesser engine. My excitement has dwindled a little given how few M Sports are currently for sale but they are now firmly up there as an option

LightningBlue said:

A Mini Cooper S Roadster could be near that budget and they look way better than the Convertible you ve mentioned

There's a rather nice one very close to me for sale at the moment. The only thing keeping it off the list is 2 seats. I could get away with a 2 seater to be fair, but if we have a convertible we'd occasionally want to use it for days out as a family of three

ZX10R NIN said:

CLK 500:


350:

200:

E350cdi:

630i:

E90 330i:

S5:

2.0T:

I really like the CLK but the Mrs doesn't so much. Originally was after something not as thirsty as a V6 but more pokey than the lower models, after previously discounting they never really made it back on the list.

I can't put my finger on it, but there's something about the E convertibles I'm not so sure about. Appear to be great cars for the job though.

I like the 6 series, may keep an eye on them.

I've decided to avoid the N53 in the 330i cabs, with minimal justification. Perhaps I shouldn't?

I hadn't looked at an S5 as I assumed for this money they would be the V8 and simply too expensive. Those two have surprised me so I'll have a further look into them. I always get the impression Audis are dear to maintain, although a close friend is a VW tech and has a diesel sporback with minimal issue.

Will reconsider the 2.0T as they look smart and tick the boxes.

tiger roll said:

Haven't ever had or driven any of the others so can't compare but FWIW I love my 325ci E46 from 2003. Isn't flash so if that's what you're looking for look elsewhere. If you do get one, get the manual for sure. Autos are cheaper to buy but manual is the answer

I think I'm coming around to a manual for certain cars and I love the e46, I've owned three in the past... an 2006 330ci coupe, 2000 325i saloon and a 2000 328i touring. The 330ci was stand out for me.

Blue_star said:

Would a cheap saab be a bad idea? Enjoy for 1-2 summers get rid

Not a bad idea at all. I've spent a bit of time considering them.

[biggbn]

LankyFreak said:

ticks a few boxes...

Love these!!

[Nickp82]

VW EOS worth a look?

[Mr Tidy]

iacabu said:

M.F.D said:

BMW 125i Coupe/Vert.

N52B30, which can very easily be made to same power as the 265bhp 130i - (just software iirc)

The winning answer so far! I hadn't realised that was the only difference and discounted the 125i assuming it would be a lesser engine. My excitement has dwindled a little given how few M Sports are currently for sale but they are now firmly up there as an option

I really like the CLK but the Mrs doesn't so much. Originally was after something not as thirsty as a V6 but more pokey than the lower models, after previously discounting they never really made it back on the list.

I can't put my finger on it, but there's something about the E convertibles I'm not so sure about. Appear to be great cars for the job though.

I like the 6 series, may keep an eye on them.

I've decided to avoid the N53 in the 330i cabs, with minimal justification. Perhaps I shouldn't?

If it matters to you the 130i also had bigger front brakes than the 125i, so an upgrade might be worthwhile if you go down that route.

Some 6 Series also had the N52 engine which doesn't suffer from the injector and High Pressure Fuel Pump issues that seem to afflict the N53 so I can understand why you might want to avoid the N53. I bought an E91 and replaced it with an E90 and only looked at early cars with the N52 - and Hydraulic PAS.

[paul_c123]

You missed an obvious contender - the mk6 Golf (and its near equivalent the Audi A3 2008-2013. I have had a 1.6 diesel and 2.0 diesel auto but there’s more powerful petrol versions too. It is a very competent car. Also don’t ignore the Eos, find a good one and it’s a delight. I’d much rather have an Eos over the BMW E93 (I also own one of these).

[alangla]

If you’re looking at the Golf/Eos, also consider the Focus CC, dirt cheap for the last few years (£1500 would get you one), only problem is that the autos are like hen’s teeth and the orthodoxy when they were new was that the diesel coped with the weight far better than the petrol, the auto was petrol only. 6 speed box on the diesel, but watch for emissions control issues and make sure the cambelt has been done at the appropriate intervals, both can be expensive if they need done. CC3 with the luxury pack is a lovely place to be though (slightly biased as I owned one for 6 years, my dad bought it off me and is still running it as a weekend toy, now 18 1/2 years old)

[Vroom101]

shiversaint said:

A bit left field but how about a Volvo C70?

On the same platform as this suggestion

alangla said:

If you re looking at the Golf/Eos, also consider the Focus CC, dirt cheap for the last few years (£1500 would get you one), only problem is that the autos are like hen s teeth and the orthodoxy when they were new was that the diesel coped with the weight far better than the petrol, the auto was petrol only. 6 speed box on the diesel, but watch for emissions control issues and make sure the cambelt has been done at the appropriate intervals, both can be expensive if they need done. CC3 with the luxury pack is a lovely place to be though (slightly biased as I owned one for 6 years, my dad bought it off me and is still running it as a weekend toy, now 18 1/2 years old)

Be aware that they both had issues with water getting in the roof, even when brand new. I know that Ford issued a Technical Service Bulletin - ie a recall on the sly, to supposedly fix the issue. It often didn t. I know of two Focus CC owners whose cars were as watertight as a teabag.

My vote would go on the aforementioned 125i Cab. I wouldn t worry too much about waiting for an M-Sport, as they re more of a cruiser than backroad blaster.

Although here’s one for under 5k…

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202607144...

[ilikejam]

I bought an A3 cabrio for £5.5k as a runaround for 6 months when a new car order was delayed post-covid. Not the purists choice but I loved it and ended up keeping it for 2 years! Would highly recommend one if you can find a good example. I'd imagine prices will be on the higher side just now given the recent weather.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202607164...