1.6 Cabriolet choices/opinions

Santa Claus · 03-04-2008 2:49pm #1

OK, looking at 3 cars at the moment and just wondering if anyone has any opinions.

Ford Focus cabrio 1.6L
Opel Astra twintop 1.6L
Renault Megane cabrio 1.6L

Not really interested in soft tops, hence only hard-tops and ideally something under a 2L engine. Ruled out the VW Eos as heard from a VW mechanic that he's seen lots of them come back with recurring problems.

Won't be buying brand new, either a 08 demo or 1 year old model.

whippet · 03-04-2008 2:55pm

how about the MX-5 roadster with the folding tin top ? A new one would be in the region of €32K don't know the price of the 2nd hands.

bazz26 · 03-04-2008 2:58pm

Of that bunch I personally think the lines of the Astra Twintop look the best with the roof up or down.

Lex Luthor · 03-04-2008 3:06pm

my mates wife is selling her '04 206cc black with black leather in the next few weeks if you're interested

Santa Claus · 03-04-2008 3:15pm

Not interested in an mx5 or 206, looking for something with 4 seats and a decent enough boot when the top is up (big enough to fit golf clubs anyway)

T J Hooker · 03-04-2008 10:20pm

what kind of budget are you sticking to?

colm_mcm · 03-04-2008 11:57pm

Focus is awkward looking, and the Megane is a bit old now. I'd pick the Astra in this case.

Santa Claus · 04-04-2008 12:14am

T J Hooker wrote: »

what kind of budget are you sticking to?

30k ish

cianclarke · 04-04-2008 1:57am

Santa Claus wrote: »

OK, looking at 3 cars at the moment and just wondering if anyone has any opinions.

Ford Focus cabrio 1.6L
Opel Astra twintop 1.6L
Renault Megane cabrio 1.6L

Not really interested in soft tops, hence only hard-tops and ideally something under a 2L engine. Ruled out the VW Eos as heard from a VW mechanic that he's seen lots of them come back with recurring problems.

Won't be buying brand new, either a 08 demo or 1 year old model.

OK this isn't particularly decent advice, however I have to say those three cabrio's are miserable looking cars, the cabrio element screams "trying to tart up a bread and butter car". Personally I'd drop a few years and get something decent.

..feel free to take with a grain of salt!

MercMad · 04-04-2008 10:20am

From a,looks point the Renault is the clear winner follwed by the Astra then Focus. However if you take age into consideration the list works exactly the opposite way !

ShayK1 · 04-04-2008 12:20pm

have you considered a 03 Audi A4 1.8T? Not sure if they're hard top but they're really nice.
Same story with a 318 BMW

Santa Claus · 04-04-2008 1:22pm

ShayK1 wrote: »

have you considered a 03 Audi A4 1.8T? Not sure if they're hard top but they're really nice.
Same story with a 318 BMW

Audis are only soft top and they're just impractical as too easy to break into (it'll be parked in underground car park and a neighbours soft top got cut open with a stanley knife a few months back).

I don't want a BMW as there's so many of them about.

Zonda999 · 04-04-2008 7:56pm

Do be warned that these cars are NOT fast. they are very heavy so they wont be the most economical either.Then again, i suppose they put such small engines in these cars are for people who dont want a fast car.If i was to pick one from the three you mentioned, i'd take the astra.If they have the newer 112 bhp 1.6 as opposed to the 99hp unit, it might not be too bad.
You know, it might not cost that much more to upgrade to a slighter bigger engined car.This is just about within budget and would be much better than the 1.6. Nice alloys as well.

http://www.carzone.ie/used-cars/Opel/Astra/1.8-TT/961986/

Get the astra if you want the best of the 3 you mentioned, Renault is a bit outdated and the focus is dearer than the astra and about to be facelifted

1.6 Cabriolet choices/opinions

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