Maximum 12K Budget for a convertible (Classic or modern) What would you buy and why ?

Only want a 2 seater

Will only be used to enjoy as a weekend toy and not for commuting

It would be good to hear from anyone who has owned any of the cars below ?

The List so far is:

TVR Chimera or Wedge - Yes it will probably breakdown, but a lovely noise and presence. It's a scratch I've always wanted to itch, but a Money pit ??

Lotus Elise - Tried one and was impressed with the handling

Vauxhall VX220 - Those who've had one seem to rate them highly

Mazda MX5 Mk 3 - Head tells me this is the wise choice ?

Porsche - Mrs P says "NO"

BMW Z4

Classic Car - Project or Otherwise ??


Anything Else ???


Not another 7 as the Mrs won't get in it, She thought the last one was the 'Anti-Christ'

Any help appreciated

Id have another SL500 tomorrow.

Z4

3.2 TT Quattro DSG (Later model)

Why no for the Porsche? For that money, a good boxster s would be hard to beat. Genuinely, a fantastic car in their own right. The bowl at 5000rpm through the air box is worth the money alone. More frugal than you/she may think too.

Maybe an E46 M3 cab?

MX5's are great but in my opinion not special enough or quick enough for a fun/weekend car. Having driven a few MK3's they just seem a bit beige to me.

Hi pal I'd be looking for a lotus elise or a very nice s1 rs turbo classic.Good luck hope you find something nice

Chimaera gets my vote, fabulous weekend car, sound lovely and are appreciating in value. Grab one quick, if you don't like it, sell next year for more money.
Had one for 3 years, never missed a beat, other than a faulty fuel pump, which was a simple replacement.
And you can get it on classic insurance.....


[Edited on 17/6/16 by Wadders]

i would say boxster or z4 , ive went for the z4 simply because the parts prices (£600 for a pair of front discs !!!) and the horror stories of expensive repair bills on the porsche , a guy i know has just been told his steering rack on his late model boxster is on its way out to tthe tune of a £2500 bill :-/

Another vote for the Chim - I'm going along these lines for the motor myself at the moment.

Ultimately, with a tubular chassis, ford based running gear, rover v8 and grp chassis, they're no more unreliable or high maintenance that a kit car really.

Yes, the electrics will go wrong, but there's actually nothing overly complex in there.

I've always wanted one having spent my teenage years in Blackpool and, doing mechanical engineering, design and technology A Levels, used to spend a lot of time on visits to the factory. We even got to sit in the first Cerbera before its was ever unveiled to the world.

Elise's are good - I've had an S1 and S2. Only thing for me is that they're quite serious compared to an MX5 (had a mk1 of those too). The Elise needs more effort where the Mazda is maybe just a little easier to live with (just putting the roof down is a less onerous task for one!).

Been running an s2000 for 4 years now, didn't really like it until I got the geometry set up and now it's transformed great balance and handling. Cheap running costs and never misses a beat.
Just one to add to the list.

My Chimaera I've had for 10 years, now done 90000
Looks awesome
Sounds awesome
Goes awesome
Corners awesome
Never let me down
Cheap parts
What's not to like

[Edited on 17/6/16 by Lightning]

Modern - slk 55 Amg
Classic - probably just about squeak a decent triumph stag or a sunbeam alpine
GT - xkr
Sports - I would go with the vx220 turbo
Off the wall - corvette mid seventies t top

I'd buy a Mk1 MX5 (MOT fail), fit a supercharger (200 bhp),

and wait for the price of a Mk4 to fall within my budget.



I'm very patient.

Paul G

I think the only convertibles not suggested so far are Saab and a battered poo box astra!

Modern - Porsche Boxster, there isn't one car bar an early merc that has the same build quality. The handling is excellent, there cheap and are an absolute bargain, tell the wife this is the car buy one take her out in it, she'll be impressed.......(whats a woman telling a man what car / chariot to get anyway?!)

Classic - Mercedes SL 129, they are on the up, and although they don't handle anywhere near as well as other cars mentioned but they waft along nicely and are comfortable, maybe not a true classsic

Classic 2 - As mentioned Sunbeam Alpine, with wire wheels, if you can get a rot free example with a hard top...or the harrington hard top in a dark green/blue they have a strong hint of aston martin in the flesh.

Ive owned and Elise and it was one step up from a Caterham, bit more comfortable but not as refined as the Boxster. I bought the missus a Boxster and im out in it all the time. Ive had Caterhams in different guises from 120bhp to 300bhp but there far too focused for road enjoyment in pairs.

The 2.5 is great fun, its not underpowered and you can give it some welly, the 2.7 is fine and the 3.2 is great fun but not a prerequisite for Boxster ownership like many reviews say it is, .....as above the 2.5 is a very capable car, remember they share most of the front end with the 996 including brakes and suspensions components as well as bodywork.

TT - Not a chance
Honda - Good car
MX5 - Girls car in any form


...........the Boxsters the Daddy of the moment for roof down fun at silly low prices and running costs.

TVR Chimaera without a doubt. Still regret selling mine. 4.0 V8, sounded glorious, looked fabulous went like shite off a slippy stick. I would have another in a heartbeat.......

Poor build quality and rotten chassis put me off the TVR, they are however 'British', and have nostalgic value a bit like my Vantage v8 and RR, both poorly put together compared to both the Boxster and 996 I had. Plus the handling a not great a bit like the SLR129

nissan 370z

S2000 Would seem a sensible choice.

TVR would at least offer the opportunity to fiddle if not totally rebuild!

I think the Boxster is the best car but if you don't like it you don't like it. Also expensive to keep tip top.

slightly over budget, but a helluva car & probably a future classic,

Z4 Alpina

Of the cars you've listed I think the MX5 would give you the best car in terms of age condition and mileage assuming you spent the full budget on it and probably would be the most reliable and easiest to keep on top of. That said most of the other cars you've suggested are in another league.

In you position I'd be tempted to see what was around and go out and see loads of different cars and just see what felt right.

I was in the same position as you when it came after selling my 7 and my wife hated that too.

I was originally thinking about a forced induction already done MX5, but at the last minute I saw a 111s elise on eBay which I bought we'll under your budget. Only down part was it being a CAT D at one point, and I can't see any previous damage on the car. The Elise is such a great weekend toy.

I've done a few track days this year so far without a glitch.

[Edited on 18/6/16 by van cleef]

quote:

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Originally posted by rdodger


I think the Boxster is the best car but if you don't like it you don't like it. Also expensive to keep tip top.

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S2000

9500rpm, what more do I need to say?

They're going up in value steadily too

Dont' overlook the XK8.

But I prefer the SLK55AMG over an XKR. The SLK is very like a TVR in character, but with the usual German refinement.

quote:

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Originally posted by Matt21
S2000

9500rpm, what more do I need to say?

They're going up in value steadily too

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quote:

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Originally posted by rayward
i would say boxster or z4 , ive went for the z4 simply because the parts prices (£600 for a pair of front discs !!!) and the horror stories of expensive repair bills on the porsche , a guy i know has just been told his steering rack on his late model boxster is on its way out to tthe tune of a £2500 bill :-/

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Thanks everyone for your replies, This place as ever is a great source of info and there's nowt better than hearing personal experience and views.

Plan is to drive a couple of cars and 'go from there'

I recently tried a 'S' type TVR and was really disappointed by it after doing some research and deciding it was the way to go
So you can't beat having a good look and actually driving the thing...

Unless ot HAS to be a 2 seater for that money would get a very tidy E46 M3.