Higher management has decided that we would like a convertible as a second car and a budget of about £13k. I'm looking for suggestions on what to be on the short list. Here are the only criteria:

 

1) Petrol - It's not going to do high mileage or very long trips so don't want any DPF issues. Doesn't have to be mega fast but don't want a total slug

 

2) Reliable & won't break the bank in running costs - so nothing with £500 VED please and nothing too old. Certainly no Triumph Stag convertibles as suggested by a work colleague!!

 

3) The tricky one - has a bit of style

 

4) Not a mazda MX5

 

So over to the forum experts for suggestions please

Honda s2000

skyline!

skyline!

Skyline isn't a convertible.

Although 350z or 370z are

Several 1.6 122 bhp Mini ragtops in Norfolk around £10k, under 20k miles and on 63 plates on Autotrader.

Also several Saab 9-3s with 148 and 175 bhp, 61 plates, a little bit more mileage, but you'd have to travel. Excellent car.

 

Dozens of Citroen DS3s and Fiat 500s but not true convertibles. Mini or Saab.

Thanks for the suggestions guys. I'll check out the Saab and Mini. Just wondering what the Mini convertible drives like. Does it stick to the road like glue but at the expense of rattling my fillings out ?

The Honda I'd totally forgotten about and certainly isn't common.

There's clearly a Skyline lover as well, although I'm not certain it met any of the criteria !!!

Thanks to everyone for taking the time to post

Felicia Fun!

 

OK, so that's a no then?

How many seats?

 

If 2 is ok

 

Can't really go wrong with a looked after S2000.

I've friends with an older one. It's never any bother and they reckon the prices bottomed out a while ago and will only go up, future classic they say.

 

If you're buying out of warranty I'd avoid anything with an electric roof if you can. Lots of sensors and switches to go wrong.

Plenty of Porsches advertised on auto-trader under 13K with VED below £300.

Vauxhall VX220? Little Lotusy thing.

You can grab a nice BMW Z4 for well under 13K

 

Does it have to be a sports car? Depending on your view of "style" which varies from person to person and what is pug ugly and what isn't:

Audi A4? Golf? VW Eos hardtop convertible? Vauxhall Tigra Hardtop convertible? Vauxhall Cascada?

 

Good point on the Porsche, the Boxster's a pretty solid buy and the older ones are cheap. Yeah, it's not fast but it's still a Porsche.

3.2 v6 Vw Eos

Confining your search to cars <6 years old, you could choose from about a billion Minis and hundreds of 500s. If you don't fancy that, there are plenty of Audi A3s/A5s or if a 2 seater is alright, TTs. All cost less than £200 a year to tax. You really can't go wrong with an MX-5 either.

Z4 :-)

S2000.

 

Unless like me actual driving talent is limited.  Then perhaps Z4 or something else with toys to keep you out of the hedge.  

Confining your search to cars <6 years old, you could choose from about a billion Minis and hundreds of 500s. If you don't fancy that, there are plenty of Audi A3s/A5s or if a 2 seater is alright, TTs. All cost less than £200 a year to tax. You really can't go wrong with an MX-5 either.

 

 

MX-5 not allowed - first post.