Straw poll: covertible £3,000-£4,000

[swindler]

Fancy a cab for summer and can't make up my mind
Rules
Budget £3-4,000
Cruiser-auto a plus, as will be having a trip to south of france, and also often get a nicer one for your money with old sheds as manuals seem to be more desirable (and thrashed)
Want it to hold money
Economy not of concern as will do about 3,000 max per year (will be garaged)


Have narrowed it down to:

Mint Mk1 golf GTi cab (maybe sportline or rivage if can find)
Mint e30 325i auto
OK M-Benz r129 300/500SL
323/328i cab e36

What do you reckon? Leaning towards Merc... Any wildcards?

[Mattt]

At the risk of sounding like a tired cliché...

Do you need a 2+2 or would a 2 seater do?

[swindler]

2 seater is ok, what u got in mind (MX5???!)

[Mattt]

Yeah, there's a reason why they're popular round these parts. Should get a nice one with that budget.

[bluetone]

I think a 5 would be a bit wearisome on a big tour; the engine's very busy on the motorway/N-route and the lack of refinement could grate after a while. Get a bmw straight-six on the job would be my advice

[kambites]

The MX5 is hardly a cruiser though, is it?

That must be close to Mk1 SLK money?

[swindler]

I did think about mk1 SLK but then I thought why not get a full scale SL and even some change? OK a bit older but it's not going to be an everyday car, and I figure long term will end up worth more???

[kambites]

Depends on whether the folding hard-top has value to you I guess. The SL is from an era when Merc built their cars properly so the age probably shouldn't be much of an issue from a reliability point of view.

[kambites]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

Almost everything of that age rusts. I wasn't aware of the air-con problems though.

[cbcbcb]

If cruising is a higher priority than handling, an old shape Saab 9-3 could be suitable.

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2010...

The classic 900 autos aren't very sophisticated, but a nice manual is also an option.

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2010...

[swindler]

Hmmm never considered Saab... always thought a bit naff?

Where should I look for rust on an R129?

[swindler]

oh and surely XK8s are way more money???

[fandango_c]

Another vote for a SLK, I've just bought a 320 for 5.2k.

http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/1347773.htm


Hard to find a SL for less than 4k.

[v1paul]

Alfa spider? I don't really know if they are any good as GT cars but they sure look good.


Edit: just checked the classifieds and the decent ones look out of budget and the all seem to be manual

Edited by v1paul on Saturday 3rd April 21:17

[ShadownINja]

fandango_c said:

Another vote for a SLK, I've just bought a 320 for 5.2k.

!!! Wow, that's pretty good value for money.

[swindler]

hmmm....@80 cab-in budget...
defo a contender.

There are plenty of R129 SLs at £4k on eBay, oversupply. Dealers mark them up very highly.