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Something different maybe..?...Saab Linear convertible.?...you can get them up to 11 or 12 reg....a VERY comfortable car and 4 seats.
I've had it's predessor and loved it.
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I'd go for the Mercedes if you have a specialist nearby. For 5,000 miles a year, don't buy a diesel.
I'm not up to date, but convertibles with a diesel engine were always a rare conversion. Not sure how many EV convertibles are available either.
But why not go for something more traditional ? The Pug 306 convertible was admired in its day, and most of the small number of decent 306s now for sale are convertibles, 1997-2001.
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Most of the Mercedes E class convertibles in my price range are actually diesels, so would agreed that petrol seems to be the way to go.
Not sure about the 306 as I tend to have a pathological distrust of Peugeot electrics.
Edited by Ian Etherton on 24/06/2022 at 18:32
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Not sure about the 306 as I tend to have a pathological distrust of Peugeot electrics.
You shouldn't take much notice of malicious rumour. In 30 years of Pug ownership I have never suffered electrical gremlins.
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"In 30 years of Pug ownership I have never suffered electrical gremlins."
I had a Peugeot 306 HDi for a number of years. It was a great car, but at one point the wiper motor failed (wouldn't park) and the stalk for the direction indicators etc. on the steering column also had to be replaced. Both were well-known faults, apparently.
You were lucky.
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I had a Peugeot 306 HDi for a number of years. It was a great car, but at one point the wiper motor failed (wouldn't park)
When I got my 24-year-old 306 a few years ago its wiper wouldn't park - as you say, a known problem. Simple to replace the whole wiper mechanism with a used one from E-bay, £25 IIRC. It's a fault inside the motor. I don't expect a car of that age to be faultless, so I am happy to do cheap DiY if I can.
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I'd go for the Mercedes if you have a specialist nearby. For 5,000 miles a year, don't buy a diesel.
A left field suggestion - how about a Vauxhall Cascada? You will get something newer below budget. It's not really a Vauxhall, it's something American with a different badge
The Cascada is based on the Astra, designed and built by Opel in Poland and rebadged as Vauxhall for the UK, Holden for Australia and Buick for USA - it's definitely not an American car.
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For a midlife crisis I’d be looking at something for less than £10k . My choice would be a bmw e46 with the 6 cylinder petrol motor, or a Mercedes clk with the v6 engine. These are affordable and fixable at reasonable cost with loads of Indy specialists out there that are enthusiasts . The last of the Volvo C70 models were based on a Focus . Engines on these late bmw and Mercedes models are not reliable.
Edited by elekie&a/c doctor on 24/06/2022 at 18:53
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I agree with e/doctor, I’ve no experience of the e46 but I’ve had 21 year old CLK 320 for over 6 years which has been reliable and cheap to run. The hydraulically operated roof is a potential headache and I’ve had many soft tops so was happy with the coupe. My classic car insurance costs less than £150 offset by the £360 road tax. Over the last 2,000 miles I’ve averaged 35 mpg. My car cost 40k plus new ( the leather was a £3,400 extra and the wooden trim cost £1,000 extra from memory) . The 320 cost 5k more than the surercharged 230k the model below. Every now and then a lovely pampered 320 will come onto the market and hours of poring over the internet is required so you be the first to see these adverts.
You tube is full of information and reviews of these cars. Ownership is helped by club forums and many good Merc independent work shops. If you’re feeling brave then there’s a lovely CLK500 convertible for sale on MB Club forum for around £6k however the 320 has more than enough power for most.
Edited by johncyprus on 24/06/2022 at 20:42
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Lexus IS 250 - petrol & V6
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If Lexus, I'd go for the beefier SC, not the IS. I'd also consider a Chrysler Crossfire. It has Mercedes mechanicals which should be familiar to your local MB specialist.
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If Lexus, I'd go for the beefier SC, not the IS. I'd also consider a Chrysler Crossfire. It has Mercedes mechanicals which should be familiar to your local MB specialist.
OP would prefer four seats though. The Crossfire only has two, and while the SC does have rear seats, (like the Merc SL amongst others) they are really only a token gesture. You might get two modestly sized folk in there if the front occupants were willing to compromise on their own comfort (and were themselves not very tall), otherwise it would be best to view the rear seats as extra storage space.
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If Lexus, I'd go for the beefier SC, not the IS. I'd also consider a Chrysler Crossfire. It has Mercedes mechanicals which should be familiar to your local MB specialist.
OP would prefer four seats though. The Crossfire only has two, and while the SC does have rear seats, (like the Merc SL amongst others) they are really only a token gesture. You might get two modestly sized folk in there if the front occupants were willing to compromise on their own comfort (and were themselves not very tall), otherwise it would be best to view the rear seats as extra storage space.
Yes indeed, I do really need 4 seats, otherwise I'd go with my heart and buy an SLK
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passed the mid point of summer and heading back to winter. must be some crisis to even consider a convertible in our climate unless you have a garage. Anything with a canvas roof such as an old SAAB left out on a frosty morning not for me!
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The position is this.
For the past 4 years I've driven a Skoda Octavia 1.5 estate, which is a great car but intensely boring. My mother has just given up driving, thank God, so I've inherited her 2005 Honda Jazz. With only 25000 miles on the clock I've decided to keep this to use for local journeys - which most of mine are. I therefore want a car to do long journeys in, and as I've always wanted a convertible, I'm minded to sell the Skoda and buy the car I've always wanted.
This is where the Forum comes in. I agree with the choice of petrol rather than diesel. Having just had another look at some other review sites, I'm quote taken by the revised Audi A3 cabrio which was introduced in 2014. I can just stretch to one of these, and they will be relatively familiar after my Skoda.
Edited by Ian Etherton on 25/06/2022 at 16:07
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I'm quote taken by the revised Audi A3 cabrio which was introduced in 2014. I can just stretch to one of these, and they will be relatively familiar after my Skoda.
Not sure the A3 would qualify as a mid life crisis car though, probably about as sensible as a convertible can get!.
On a more serious note, personally, I wouldn't be wanting a DSG auto, too much a question mark over its reliability. In all honesty, if you are looking for a fwd hatchback based convertible, I'd sooner have the Vauxhall Cascada mentioned earlier. More interior space and the auto is a t/c.
With the low mileage you mentioned earlier, I'd be more inclined to get something a little more 'special' than either though. A well cared for 6 cyl Merc (especially so with your specialist locally) or BMW with good history doesn't sound too bad!. The Volvo C70 too (though I am a bit vague on which, if any, use the Ford Powershift DCT), or a nice SAAB 9-3. The Lexus IS250 also mentioned earlier would undoubtably be very reliable, but I find its proportions odd and unbalanced, so (IMO) the saloon is a nicer looking car!.
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passed the mid point of summer and heading back to winter. must be some crisis to even consider a convertible in our climate unless you have a garage. Anything with a canvas roof such as an old SAAB left out on a frosty morning not for me!
The convertible roof on even the earliest 900 had triple layer insulation and a proper glass rear window, so there is absolutely no cause for concern re cold weather. Were it not for the wobble from the structure not being particularly rigid causing whistling from the framelsss side windows, the convertible would be more refined than the hardtop.
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I'm quote taken by the revised Audi A3 cabrio which was introduced in 2014. I can just stretch to one of these, and they will be relatively familiar after my Skoda.
Not sure the A3 would qualify as a mid life crisis car though, probably about as sensible as a convertible can get!.
On a more serious note, personally, I wouldn't be wanting a DSG auto, too much a question mark over its reliability. In all honesty, if you are looking for a fwd hatchback based convertible, I'd sooner have the Vauxhall Cascada mentioned earlier. More interior space and the auto is a t/c.
With the low mileage you mentioned earlier, I'd be more inclined to get something a little more 'special' than either though. A well cared for 6 cyl Merc (especially so with your specialist locally) or BMW with good history doesn't sound too bad!. The Volvo C70 too (though I am a bit vague on which, if any, use the Ford Powershift DCT), or a nice SAAB 9-3. The Lexus IS250 also mentioned earlier would undoubtably be very reliable, but I find its proportions odd and unbalanced, so (IMO) the saloon is a nicer looking car!.
Many thanks for your sage advice as always. I'm on my second DSG gearbox car and have never had any problems.
You are correct that I want something a bit more "special" than either an Astra or a Focus in a posh frock. I need to investigate BMW's a bit more as I'm not keen on the 3 series and I think the 1 series is a bit small. I keep coming back to the Merc then.
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The position is this.
Are you thinking of a soft-top or a hard-top ? Or even a 'roadster' (both) ?
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A few years ago, I had an MGF with a hard top. The headlining had been removed by someone so the roof was just a sheet of glass fibre, where my own breath would condense and drip back on to me all winter. It was alright really.
Back to the point; I quite fancy a convertible and wouldn't be bothered by the cold (which is why I mentioned the MGF). The problem always seems to be that either that back seats or the boot are too small to be of much use, even when you get up to e-class size. I feel like the older style pram-top that kind of sits on top of the boot is probably more sensible than the clever modern ones.
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The position is this.
Are you thinking of a soft-top or a hard-top ? Or even a 'roadster' (both) ?
The thread title says it all really!. There are of course different names for cars that can expose the occupants to the elements, but to get bogged down in those individual names is probably a waste of time. Having said that, the term roadster generally refers to a car with two seats.
Personally, I'd steer clear of a retractable hard top because of the compromises in the looks, packaging and weight. Also because of the potential for problems with the roof operation as the car ages.
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Many thanks for your sage advice as always. I'm on my second DSG gearbox car and have never had any problems.
No question that DSG/DCT boxes can be reliable, but that depends very much on how previous owners have treated them. As we are talking about a car, in the case of the A3, at least 11 years old (within your £12k budget and assuming you don't want big miles), that is a risk I wouldn't take.
You are correct that I want something a bit more "special" than either an Astra or a Focus in a posh frock.
I was actually including the A3 here, which is just a Golf in a more exclusive suit!.
I need to investigate BMW's a bit more as I'm not keen on the 3 series and I think the 1 series is a bit small. I keep coming back to the Merc then.
I agree the 1 Series would almost certainly be too cramped, so if you don't like the 3 Series, that would only leave the (E64) 6 Series within budget. Not sure I'd be keen on one of them without a well respected independent specialist nearby!.
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A few years ago, I had an MGF with a hard top. The headlining had been removed by someone so the roof was just a sheet of glass fibre, where my own breath would condense and drip back on to me all winter. It was alright really.
That sounds awful, I think I'd rather keep the top off and wear a warm waterproof jacket!.
The problem always seems to be that either that back seats or the boot are too small to be of much use, even when you get up to e-class size. I feel like the older style pram-top that kind of sits on top of the boot is probably more sensible than the clever modern ones.
Difficult to establish just how much rear space there is without physically getting in the car. It is quite common for the pics of cars for sale to show the front seats in their rearmost positions, which will make the rears look more cramped than they would with someone of average height in the front.
Not sure about others, but certainly with the SAAB, the space taken by the hood while retracted was not 'fixed', it was more like a bag hanging down into the boot. So with the hood up, you could use velcro straps (if memory serves, possibly studs) to hold this up out of the way leaving a boot space big enough for the needs of most.
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Yes, it's a real shame Saab went under - they did the whole sensible/comfortable/handsome/quite fast thing really well before they started building fancy vectras.
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Many thanks for your sage advice as always. I'm on my second DSG gearbox car and have never had any problems.
No question that DSG/DCT boxes can be reliable, but that depends very much on how previous owners have treated them. As we are talking about a car, in the case of the A3, at least 11 years old (within your £12k budget and assuming you don't want big miles), that is a risk I wouldn't take.
You are correct that I want something a bit more "special" than either an Astra or a Focus in a posh frock.
I was actually including the A3 here, which is just a Golf in a more exclusive suit!.
I need to investigate BMW's a bit more as I'm not keen on the 3 series and I think the 1 series is a bit small. I keep coming back to the Merc then.
I agree the 1 Series would almost certainly be too cramped, so if you don't like the 3 Series, that would only leave the (E64) 6 Series within budget. Not sure I'd be keen on one of them without a well respected independent specialist nearby!.
I'm now confusing myself when more - which isn't really difficult lol
If I stretch my budget a little bit, I could get a BMW 2 or 4 series cabrio, both of which I greatly prefer over the 3 series. Help!!!!!
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If I was going for a BMW, I'd go 3 series. Much more choice and probably cheaper. I wouldnt go for a BMW, though, just because the interiors always seem to be knackered on used ones. Easy enough for you to check! I don't personally like the way they drive because you have to change gear a lot, but the autos seem fine - I much preferred an auto 330ci to a manual M3.
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If I stretch my budget a little bit, I could get a BMW 2 or 4 series cabrio, both of which I greatly prefer over the 3 series. Help!!!!!
Horses for courses and all, but I'm baffled as to why you'd find the 2 or 4 Series convertible acceptable, but not the 3?. They look so similar, I doubt most folk would be able to tell them apart without looking at the boot badging.
I much preferred an auto 330ci to a manual M3.
That is the niche Alpina have tapped into, offering the performance (or more) of the M whatever, but in a more relaxed manner.
I'm now confusing myself when more - which isn't really difficult lol
You said earlier you'd go for an SLK if you didn't need 4 seats, so going for a CLK or an E Class convertible (there are a few slipping into your budget on Autotrader) will get you closest (in feel) to what your heart desires. And of course you do have the Merc specialist locally, maybe they could help you source a nice car, or at the very least, assess a potential purchase.
As a DHC driver for nearly fifty years (a few yrs XK120, over 40yrs TR7) you might change your mind about which car to use for long distance. Convertibles are not that pleasurable after an hour or two's long journey on fast roads, as they are obviously noisier. I'd rather do a long fast journey in a Jazz than a convertible.
With respect John, you can't seriously be judging the refinement of the type and age of convertible the OP is interested in based on your experience of an XK120 (1948-54) or TR7 (1979-81)?. Hardly the same thing!. As I said earlier, the SAAB right from the start used triple layer insulation along with a glass rear window in the 900 convertible. The first two generations of 3 Series had a much more rudimentary convertible roof with a plastic rear window, this would probably be similar to your two. I have no doubt later BMW's and the Merc's the OP is looking at will have a similar convertible roof to the SAAB in terms of insulation. So they may not be as refined as their coupe/saloon equivalents (depending on the side window sealing/body flex), but it is very likely that (at least on sensible tyres) they will be more refined than a Jazz (much as I am a fan of the Jazz, they are not the most refined of supermini).
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.... I've inherited her 2005 Honda Jazz. With only 25000 miles on the clock I've decided to keep this to use for local journeys - which most of mine are. I therefore want a car to do long journeys in, and as I've always wanted a convertible, I'm minded to sell the Skoda and buy the car I've always wanted.
As a DHC driver for nearly fifty years (a few yrs XK120, over 40yrs TR7) you might change your mind about which car to use for long distance. Convertibles are not that pleasurable after an hour or two's long journey on fast roads, as they are obviously noisier. I'd rather do a long fast journey in a Jazz than a convertible.
As for winter use, my TR7 has always been 'on the road' all year. Thanks to our variable climate there are usually many sunny still days during the winter months when open top motoring is a pleasure - especially in a car with an old inefficient engine which churns out a lot of waste heat!
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<< Thanks to our variable climate there are usually many sunny still days during the winter months when open top motoring is a pleasure - especially in a car with an old inefficient engine which churns out a lot of waste heat! >>
Unfortunately, cars of that age also churn out quite a bit of waste odour, which is more noticeable with the roof down :-(
I have owned several 205 soft-tops over the years, but haven't mentioned them so far as I doubt the OP might be interested. Soon after we got the first in 1991 we took it to Switzerland and back - roof was only up at nights .... Great little car, and there are still a few for sale.
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I have owned several 205 soft-tops over the years, but haven't mentioned them so far as I doubt the OP might be interested.
I had been thinking of mentioning the MK1 Golf convertible but didn't for the same reason!. I'm sure the little Pug was nice to drive but (IMO) the Golf's lines work better as a convertible than the 205.
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These old cars have a certain appeal but I would rather have a more modern car with better safety features. Both the Golf MK1 and 205 are designs of forty years ago.
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These old cars have a certain appeal but I would rather have a more modern car with better safety features. Both the Golf MK1 and 205 are designs of forty years ago.
You probably wouldn't approve of the 2CV I'd also been thinking of ;-)
Not sure how the OP feels about LHD, but I'd also been thinking of some Yank metal. They'd probably fit more into the label of being a mid life crisis car!. Here are a few that stood out:
C1463426
C1469990
125363499364
Also noticed this fabulous looking early SAAB 900 on Ebay,
295054116220
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Im glad my post has generated so much interest and prompted people to say what they would like as a "mid life crisis " car.
I've always wanted a 2cv but don't really want to go back to a manual. Apart from that, the Jazz is really too uncomfortable for longer journeys. I want to stich with RHD and would love an older car, like a SAAB 900 but wouldn't feel comfortable psychologically driving it on a long journey.
Looks like I'm left with a Merc C or E class or an Audi A3. I just need to drive some cars and see what I feel most at home in.
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These old cars have a certain appeal but I would rather have a more modern car with better safety features. Both the Golf MK1 and 205 are designs of forty years ago.
Well, yes, but I have always thought that what DOES or WILL happen is probably more important overall than what just possibly MIGHT happen. So far I have not been unlucky, and perhaps avoided spending quite a bit.
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