FabSwingers.com forum: What's the best convertible car?

By *ittle_brat_evie!! OP Woman
over a year ago

evesham

I've got a Peugeot 207cc which I love but it's at a point now where everything seems to be going wrong on it.

I will be looking to buy a new (to me, really not worth buying new new) one at some point and would love another convertible.

I would prefer one with a hard roof that folds away in to the boot as I have now. Engine size 1.6 or above, manual gearbox (hate driving automatics!)

Hit me!

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Mazda mx5, reliable and fun if you only need two seats

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Depends how much you want to spend.

£15,000,000 will get you a very nice example of a Ferrari 250 Gt California, or at the other end of the spectrum, for 50 quid you can pick up an absolute dog of an Astra convertible.

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By *rad670Man
over a year ago

South Lakes

If you are not bothered about age then there's a lot more fun to be had in older cars, I've had a couple of BMW Z3 and have 2 MG midgets, all been lots f driving fun, the Z3 are of course more comfortable and modern but now classed as old cars.

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By *antric ecstasyMan
over a year ago

Co Durham

Series 3 Landrover... you can swap between hard and soft top and fit a small flock of sheep in the back!

Not altogether facetious

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Porsche Boxster S, lovely car and you can't find them at pretty much any price point xx

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

205 cti

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Got to be an Aston Martin.... how big is your budget?

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

What's your budget?

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By *ittle_brat_evie!! OP Woman
over a year ago

evesham

Haha OK. More specific!

I'm not a high end kind of gal but haven't really set a top budget yet. I'm thinking maybe 5k though if the bank of dad will help me out.

As I say, main thing is hard top that folds away. No soft tops (which seems to rule out most bmw's, audi etc) or removable hard tops like on the mr2 roadster my dad had years ago.... No where to store the hard top when it's off.

I would prefer one with 4 useable seats. My current one has 4 seats but the space in the back is tiny so it's more for show really.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Ooh, you really wouldn't like my suggestion as it literally ticks none of your boxes

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By *ittle_brat_evie!! OP Woman
over a year ago

evesham

"Ooh, you really wouldn't like my suggestion as it literally ticks none of your boxes

It's not that I wouldn't like it. I just wouldn't buy it possibly

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"Ooh, you really wouldn't like my suggestion as it literally ticks none of your boxes

It's not that I wouldn't like it. I just wouldn't buy it possibly"

Worry about the car you own ? Haha

Did you make it ok ?

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By *arker secrets 321Man
over a year ago

West Bromwich

Hard top as 2 b merc slk .x

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By *ittle_brat_evie!! OP Woman
over a year ago

evesham

"Ooh, you really wouldn't like my suggestion as it literally ticks none of your boxes

It's not that I wouldn't like it. I just wouldn't buy it possibly

Worry about the car you own ? Haha

Did you make it ok ? "

I do worry about it.... Constantly

Yep. A good and got a fancy 208 to play with while it's there.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Saab 93

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By *ittle_brat_evie!! OP Woman
over a year ago

evesham

"Hard top as 2 b merc slk .x "

Yeah seen a few of those.

The only reason I want a 4 seater is for ferrying my niece and nephew around. I can do it now but it's a squeeze.

Guess if I genuinely can't fit them both in then I get out of taxi duties

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"Ooh, you really wouldn't like my suggestion as it literally ticks none of your boxes

It's not that I wouldn't like it. I just wouldn't buy it possibly

Worry about the car you own ? Haha

Did you make it ok ?

I do worry about it.... Constantly

Yep. A good and got a fancy 208 to play with while it's there. "

See happy ending to a crappy ass morning !

Delighted you didn’t mount any roundabouts or cause injury!

That’s always a bonus

And a 208 ? Now you can hit asda carpark

go nuts

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By *ealitybitesMan
over a year ago

Belfast

Yellow Camaro. They convert into a giant alien.

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By *urchoicenowCouple
over a year ago

Ashford

I loved my focus cc until some pratt in a van wrote it off

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"Porsche Boxster S, lovely car and you can't find them at pretty much any price point xx"

Yes someone that knows boxster is about the best you can pick up 6-12k for a 987 just have to make shour it’s in good working order as they do get pricey to fix being a Porsche and all

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By *2000ManMan
over a year ago

Worthing

"Porsche Boxster S, lovely car and you can't find them at pretty much any price point xx

Yes someone that knows boxster is about the best you can pick up 6-12k for a 987 just have to make shour it’s in good working order as they do get pricey to fix being a Porsche and all "

Also service at a specialist rather than dealer.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"Ooh, you really wouldn't like my suggestion as it literally ticks none of your boxes

It's not that I wouldn't like it. I just wouldn't buy it possibly"

I'd guarantee it.

They were never sold officially in the UK and are pretty rare here.

Been out of production for 19 years

Engine at least more than twice the size you're after.

Cloth top, not folding metal.

Mind you, some other more recent alternatives, but all with much bigger engines than you're looking for and none with a folding metal roof.

Oh, and all will have the Steering wheel on the left

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By *hunky GentMan
over a year ago

Maldon and Peterborough

If you want a hard top convertible then maybe a BMW 2 or 3 series.

Mercs - difficult to find a manual.

Porsche - hard too are manual so do you want to have to take it on and off?

Most autos have a steptronic (semi-auto) override.

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By *ittle_brat_evie!! OP Woman
over a year ago

evesham

"Ooh, you really wouldn't like my suggestion as it literally ticks none of your boxes

It's not that I wouldn't like it. I just wouldn't buy it possibly

I'd guarantee it.

They were never sold officially in the UK and are pretty rare here.

Been out of production for 19 years

Engine at least more than twice the size you're after.

Cloth top, not folding metal.

Mind you, some other more recent alternatives, but all with much bigger engines than you're looking for and none with a folding metal roof.

Oh, and all will have the Steering wheel on the left"

Ok.....

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Bumble bee!

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"Porsche Boxster S, lovely car and you can't find them at pretty much any price point xx

Yes someone that knows boxster is about the best you can pick up 6-12k for a 987 just have to make shour it’s in good working order as they do get pricey to fix being a Porsche and all

Also service at a specialist rather than dealer."

That’s true as well

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By *ereagainlolMan
over a year ago

Lerwick

For about 5 grand you can get a Porche booster, a Mercedes SLK, Mazda mx5 or Toyota mr2. All decent cars, just depends how old and how many miles on the clock you want to go with. Have a look on auto trader.

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By *arkus1812Man
over a year ago

Finedon ,

If you could stick with Peugeot there are some nice 308cc cars about for between £5000 and £6000.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"Bumble bee!"

Fucking hell yes!!!!!

Tony

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By *uke olovingmanMan
over a year ago

Gravesend

Triumph Stag

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By *lutonicMan
over a year ago

Leicester

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By *lutonicMan
over a year ago

Leicester

My Weekend drive is a BMW Z4... Love it but I would drive it daily. To low of a profile, What worries me some say it;s a 'hair dressser's' Car!???

Well it certainly doesn't sound like one.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

I'm with you on the Z4. Great car that can be had fairly cheaply now.

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By *ean counterMan
over a year ago

Market Harborough/ Kettering

Is there such a thing in the UK as a good convertable? Its either too cold, too wet or too damn hot to have the roof down and before I get abuse yes I know conditions are perfect on some days (well about 3 days a year normally in May or September)

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By *hunky GentMan
over a year ago

Maldon and Peterborough

"I'm with you on the Z4. Great car that can be had fairly cheaply now. "

Just stay away from 2.0 litre version.

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By *entlemanDMan
over a year ago

Fareham

"Haha OK. More specific!

I'm not a high end kind of gal but haven't really set a top budget yet. I'm thinking maybe 5k though if the bank of dad will help me out.

I would prefer one with 4 useable seats. My current one has 4 seats but the space in the back is tiny so it's more for show really. "

VW Eos ticks your boxes and would probably fit your budget.

Or if you don't mind 2 seater, you could get a very nice Honda Del Sol for £2k

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By *ean counterMan
over a year ago

Market Harborough/ Kettering

Cant go wrong with an AC cobra

you can pick up a genuine one for around £250,000

Your welcome

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"For about 5 grand you can get a Porche booster, a Mercedes SLK, Mazda mx5 or Toyota mr2. All decent cars, just depends how old and how many miles on the clock you want to go with. Have a look on auto trader."

And only the SLK has a folding metal roof. All the others in your list are soft tops

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By *inkyeroticaCouple
over a year ago

Ampthill

Four seats and folding hard top? Very limited choice!

Without sounding rude, for your budget any example with a prestige badge will be high mileage and high risk! And remember, when they go wrong, the bills are commensurate with expensive vehicles.

Most manufacturers are moving away from the concept of folding hard tops now, for numerous reasons. (For example, BMW have released the latest Z4 and 4 series as soft top convertibles.)

You could look at the later Volvo C70, but if you want hassle free motoring, reliability, driver involvement and slow depreciation, for your budget an MX5 is the car.

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By *inkyeroticaCouple
over a year ago

Ampthill

"And only the SLK has a folding metal roof. All the others in your list are soft tops"

The NC Mazda MX5 is available with a folding hard top in 2.0 guise, but most likely above the £5k budget.

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By *ittle_brat_evie!! OP Woman
over a year ago

evesham

"Four seats and folding hard top? Very limited choice!

Without sounding rude, for your budget any example with a prestige badge will be high mileage and high risk! And remember, when they go wrong, the bills are commensurate with expensive vehicles.

Most manufacturers are moving away from the concept of folding hard tops now, for numerous reasons. (For example, BMW have released the latest Z4 and 4 series as soft top convertibles.)

You could look at the later Volvo C70, but if you want hassle free motoring, reliability, driver involvement and slow depreciation, for your budget an MX5 is the car."

I knew prestige was out of the question

just humouring those responses lol

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By *ryan...Man
over a year ago

1950's Original

Did Tony Blair have a convertible?

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Z4 all the way. For your budget you could pick up a really good example. Best bet is to look at the Z4 ownersforum for sale section (this goes for any car really) as well taken care of ones are to be found there. I used one as my daily car for years and loved it. To be fair though you have to be prepared for it not to be a Focus or Prius or anything other than a Z4. Oh and steer clear of anything under a 2.5 litre.

Damn I miss that car.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Jeep Wrangler

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

You can get a pretty good VW Eos for less than five grand with folding hard top

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By *ittle_brat_evie!! OP Woman
over a year ago

evesham

"You can get a pretty good VW Eos for less than five grand with folding hard top"

Yeah I've been looking at them. They look good

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