Hey folks,

 

So we've been pondering over getting a second car for a while now and as it will be a second car we're not bothered about a massive boot like the Octavia etc.

 

We then thought why not a convertible.

 

I'll address one thing straight away. We can't have an MX5 or similar sized car as I'm tall (6'7").

 

It has to be an automatic (through choice).

 

Our dream car would be an E220 CDI convertible but that's out of our price range for now!

 

I have so far been looking at a VW EOS, Golf or a Saab 9-3.

 

EOS would be with a 2.0 CR140 DSG around 2008/2009. Familiar with this platform and engine/gearbox etc so I'm quite comfortable with this choice. Anyone owned one? Any comments? I have heard that they can leak but then doing some searches suggests that you just need to clean and maintain the rubber seals on the roof.

 

Golf convertible may be way out of budget as I'm struggling to find many DSG ones that aren't brand new. Did they do a 2.0 DSG? Most seem to be 1.6 DSG (7 speed).

 

And finally the Saab. Looking at a 1.9 TID 150 Auto. I think it's fair to say the Saab wins hands down aesthetically (around a 2008/09 we're looking at which seems like it got a facelift). They have a lovely interior and I hear they are extremely comfortable. They are also the biggest of the cars so a bonus on the space. The things that put me off them is the fuel economy isn't great with it being a torque converter which also bumps the tax up too. Anyone any experience of them? This is my other half's favourite of them aesthetically.

 

Anyone able to offer any advice, opinions or suggestions of other cars I may have forgotten about?

Edited 9 September, 201510 yr by Phil-E

Not owned any of those, but recently looked at convertibles, and automatic convertibles and liked various SAAB i looked at.

But can i suggest, check out a Volvo C70 because there are some great bargains around in various prices and engines and the VED is not too silly on some.

 

http://autotrader.co.uk

57,000 mile example at a Dealers in Edinburgh with an asking price of £8,000 is a beaut.

I love a bit of 'G-Plan' in a car.

I have had 2 Saab convertibles the cooking Vector Diesel and the twin turbo diesel.  With the first one I didn't have any problems at all but with the twin turbo it was a pain from start to finish.   It would start a regeneration of the DPF but for some reason it wouldn't finish and then smoke would pour out from under the bonnet looking quite alarming.  Because it hadn't finished it would try again very quickly on the next journey.  At the time I was doing a 12 mile journey into work each day most of which was on NSL roads at normal speeds and then it would have a couple of miles in town stop start.

 

This was when Saab were still building cars and the dealer never did manage to correct the problem despite numerous software updates and visits to them.  In the end I got rid and they took it off me at a very fair price because I think they realised it was a lemon and didn't want it going anywhere else with the problems it had.  Neither the dealer nor Saab themselves could sort it and that put me off the marque.

 

Having said that I still think it is one of the best looking rag tops out there and still like the look of them.  Would I have another one?  Yes without a doubt but what really finished me off was the Service Manager telling me I shouldn't have bought a diesel with the mileage I do.  Shame the salesman never told me that when I was handing over my hard earned.  Had diesels since then and on the same journey they never had a problem nor even tried to regenerate without finishing.

 

Volvo is another one I would consider.  Strangely enough it is a question I am trying to find an answer to myself at the moment.  We are thinking of chopping our two cars in as we don't need two and one of them will always be sat doing nothing.  I am looking at BMW 1 convertible and Golf convertible with maybe the A3 thrown in for good measure.  They are all a bit pricey at the moment so maybe I will delay for a couple of months and wait for the bad weather tos et in then loo for a bargain.

Was just about to make the same suggestion as George. C70.

 

Older 3 series?

 

Do you need 4 seats?

Check out Wheeler Dealers episode on the 9-3 http://www.questtv.co.uk/video/wheeler-dealers-8-saab-9-3/ if you've not seen it. Covers quite a few points on what to look for, etc.

My only comment would be on the Saab.   In 2006 I had an extended test drive (~3 days?) with a 9-3 estate (1.9TID 120) and was somewhat underwhelmed.   The comfort and power seemed ok if not sparkling, but the interior seemed plasticky and poorly put together.  If it was like that new, what would the intervening years and mileage have done?   However, quality may have improved following the facelift you mention?  

 

I was also concerned about the higher lease cost at the time - the way our system calculated it, it would have cost me ~40% more than an Octavia PD140, although the RRP was only about £3k higher.   The Octy was much better all round for my purposes, and introduced me to Briskoda!

 

 

My Father in Law is still very happy with his 2003 9-5 Aero, so it did seem to be that the 9-3 was the poorer sibling.

Check out Wheeler Dealers episode on the 9-3 http://www.questtv.co.uk/video/wheeler-dealers-8-saab-9-3/ if you've not seen it. Covers quite a few points on what to look for, etc.

IIRC that is the old style 9-3 they have and many of the problems were resolved when the newer model came out.

If the Saab, and if diesel, go for the 150 TiD (identified by the red T on the rear, or is it D, unless someone's had a go with a paintbrush, and the position of the oil filler cap on the engine), as opposed to the 120. I have no experience of the twin turbo version. Post 53-plate cars had the bulkhead cracking sorted out.

I had a 2006 manual 150, pre facelift, in LIME YELLOW for 4 years, and thoroughly enjoyed it. BUT I kept a spare EGR valve, and became quite skilled at replacing it, and I bought a (Fiat part No) semi blanking plate for the EGR inlet. There is (was?) a good OC forum, even if they did get a tad an*l about what was a "proper" Saab, ie before becoming part of GM.

As for mpg, it wasn't bad at all, I saw 61 mpg on a fairly gentle run from Herts down to Devon, but that was a one-off, early-mid 40's IIRC being the norm overall.

The top was down as much as possible, helped by using a mesh windbreak, well worth the purchase, although the Saab one does render the rear seat unusable except for parcels!

Yes, I'd have another, if my circumstances allowed.

Edited 9 September, 201510 yr by Baxlin

The top was down as much as possible, helped by using a mesh windbreak, well worth the purchase, although the Saab one does render the rear seat unusable except for parcels!

 

 

If any convertable you're looking at doesn't have a windbreak you'll need to get one or the air can 'flap'. I'm sure there is a proper aerodynamic name for that.

Liking the comments so far guys. Thanks.

 

The 9-3 certainly sounds like a promising option. The economy isn't a huge issue. As long as it's over 40 then it's affordable but the petrols of this age are terrible on fuel.

 

Will have a look at C70 as that is one option I'd not thought of... although I have a feeling it may not go down too well with the other half! lol

 

Older 3 series... meh... not my cup of tea. Always thought they look a bit "chavy" plus the rear wheel drive is just a big no really!

 

4 Seats would be preferable but not essential as the bulk of the time there would just be 2 adults in anyway.

 

My other half's Aunt has a Merc E350 CGI convertible. It's beautiful! It has a fancy wind break (electronic) at the back as well as a fancy wind diffuser that pops up above the windscreen.

 

Phil

<serious>what is your budget ?

Have you already discounted the A4 cabriolet ?

</serious>

 

If you don't need the 4 seats, would you fit in a Smart ForTwo cabrio ? or a MINI roadster ?

 

If you want a project that needs a little work, how about this:

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201506104189671

A4 cabriolet is great shout, pick them up from £8k upwards for a 6 year old model.

 

 

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201507135157801?sort=default&make=audi&postcode=nn118ea&onesearchad=used%2Cnearlynew%2Cnew&maximum-age=up_to_6_years_old&fuel-type=diesel&model=a4_cabriolet&page=1&radius=1501&search-target=usedcars&logcode=p

If you want a project that needs a little work, how about this:

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201506104189671

 

 

 

Little!!!!

I will agree with the A4 Cabrio, I got to drive the 3.0 TDI Quattro and that drove extremely well!

The top of our budget is £8k. Hadn't thought about the A4 either. I do like them!

 

No projects.

 

Like the idea of the Smart Cabrio... but I think living everyday with the lack of power would just get annoying.

The top of our budget is £8k. Hadn't thought about the A4 either. I do like them!

 

I had an A4 Cabriolet when they first came out and it was a gorgeous looking car. It is the only car I have owned (well for the first year only or thereabouts) where I regularly returned to it in a car park to find people having a good look at it. Occasionally it got a bit embarrassing, for instance when I tried to carefully load a weeks Tesco shop into the boot whilst still leaving enough space to lower the roof - sometimes required careful relocation of packs of toilet roll, wine carriers, etc., etc. all the time being watched!

Porsche?

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/PORSCHE-944-S2-CABRIOLET-3-0-16-VALVE-STUNNING-CAR-/271980072119?hash=item3f53468cb7

 

(just as an example)

 

Or if you're doing £8k each:

 

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201507305627286?page=1&search-target=usedcars&make=porsche&sort=default&body-type=convertible&radius=1500&postcode=bn213uu&transmission=automatic&onesearchad=used%2Cnearlynew%2Cnew&model=968&logcode=p

 

Gaz

Thanks but we can't afford to run a 3.0 car!

 

Also we want something more modern with decent equipment etc.

 

Phil

Did some searching last night.

 

Volvo is a no.

 

I did also look at Smart Cabrios. Found a few Brabus versions (1.0 98bhp and 0-60 of 9.8 seconds which is actually faster than our car) but it was a big NO to that one. Also don't like that it's not a proper cabrio just a big sunroof really!

 

Audi A4 is gorgeous but pushing the budget for decent age/mileage.

 

There is a lovely looking 08 plate EOS 2.0 CR140 DSG near to us. It's anthracite grey (so same colour as the Octavia!) with a red leather interior. Also has a decent spec including auto dimming mirror, rain sensor, MFD (same of maxidot), cruise control, MFSW, parking sensors.

 

 

There are al a few Saab 9-3 1.9 TID between 57 to 09 plates. Liking the blue colour.

 

VW Eos leaks like a sieve.

if an MX5 is too small are you sure the Golf fits?

EOS roof notoriously bad.

 

I am 6 2 and had a MK3 MX5 drove round Europe and found it very comfy.

If you haven't tried one I would not dismiss it yet.

You must be a different 6' 2" to me then because my head sticks out above the windscreen.  Granted it is comfortable enough once I have greased myself down to get in it but there is no seat adjustment left so I am sat too upright to be able to lower myself any further.

I bought a Mini Cooper Convertible for the missus at the beginning of the summer and it's great, I am 6'3" and due to the height-adjustable seats in the front, I can get VERY comfortable in it!

What about something like this, Mileage might be a bit high though but they are nice cars:

 

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201508246310807?radius=1500&price-to=8000&make=audi&postcode=gu124pf&sort=ageasc&page=1&search-target=usedcars&engine-size-cars=3l_to_3-9l&model=a4_cabriolet&onesearchad=used%2Cnearlynew%2Cnew&logcode=p

Older Merc SL

 

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201508196185831

 

Future classic. Sort of thing I'd try to get SWMBO to buy tbh.

 

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201508256351031

 

Honda S2000

 

Fiat Barchetta - http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201507305644370

Not sure if you'd fit.

 

TVR Chimera - http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201508125990407

Save some cash for breakdown cover

 

Jag XJS V12 - http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201508176121929

You know it'll be trouble but V12!