Which convertible/coupe?

bogmanfan

The missus wants to change her RX-8 after 2.5 years. Great car, but she fancies a change. And, she fancies a convertible, but could be swayed by a nice coupe. Something sporty, and good to drive anyway.
Budget is around e15k. I've looked at 3-series, Saab 9-3, Audi A4 (all 2004/2005) and the 3-series is looking the best of the bunch.
Any other recommendations?

Owen

If size isn't an issue, Cooper/Cooper S cabrio. One of the best handling cars out there.

bogmanfan

Agreed, but she's not a fan of the Mini I'm afraid. She'd prefer something a little bigger I think.

1867IE

Focus Cabrio!

Look fabulous, and would be in that price range. Had one for a while, great car.

smash

BMW Z4 - the 3.0 that Onyx have advertised at the moment is with Merlin Car auctions. You'd have it for 10-11k.

Big Nasty

Personally I would stay away from the Saab, I like the A4 but hear it's quite uncomfortable. The 3er would be my choice but you should also consider the Z4 Roadster or the 350Z Sports Covertible seeing as she's coming out of a Japo. Could get a Boxster for that price too if you're prepared to drop a couple of years.

Gumbo

2000 BMW Z3?

http://www.bmw-driver.net/forum/showthread.php?t=4690

Cionád

C70 T5 Coupe

http://www.carzone.ie/search/Volvo/C70/T5-NCT%27D/200948195997694/advert?channel=CARS

smash

gumbo wrote: »

2000 BMW Z3?

http://www.bmw-driver.net/forum/showthread.php?t=4690

man he has 15k to spend, he'd pick up a lot more car than a 10 year old Z3!

Or the C70 for that matter.

colm_mcm

TT roadster?

daltonj7

i think you should go for the 3series, it might be slightly more expensive when buyin but it will not depreciate as rapidly as the others, the c70 is nice but the 3 series oozes style class elegance and reliablily, everything your wife would need. the 350 z is some car but 3.5 litre engiine wud be a gas guzzler.

Cionád

steve06 wrote: »

man he has 15k to spend, he'd pick up a lot more car than a 10 year old Z3!

Or the C70 for that matter.

Doesn't have to spend the full 15k though, and that T5 has everything.

She could get a new Fiat 500 with the change

daltonj7

check out this link for 3series http://www.carzone.ie/search/results?searchsource=finder&nParam=4294911133%2B102548%2B200288%2B200299%2B285%2B335&channel=CARS&cacheBuster=1265120025736853

smash

Cionád wrote: »

Doesn't have to spend the full 15k though, and that T5 has everything.

She could get a new Fiat 500 with the change

haha

unkel

I like that C70. Maybe not that sporty, but plenty of poke. Nice elegant design. Nice price!!!

Atomic Pineapple

How much for the Rx8?

I'd pick the 3 series

Tea 1000

unkel wrote: »

I like that C70. Maybe not that sporty, but plenty of poke. Nice elegant design. Nice price!!!

Is the T5 in that a turbo? It would want to be cause I drove the new model C70 with the 2.4 and it was as slow as a wet week.
C70's, A4 Cab's, all those kind of things are going to be dynamically far inferior to the RX8. She'd need to be looking at roadsters to be on a level playing field in terms of fun. How about a Boxter? Plenty of earlier S models around now a days for very reasonable money!

unkel

Tea 1000 wrote: »

Is the T5 in that a turbo?

Oh yeah. 2.3 turbocharged straight 5 cylinder engine, 240BHP iirc

Tea 1000 wrote: »

How about a Boxter? Plenty of earlier S models around now a days for very reasonable money!

Great suggestion. That would mean a big step up from the RX-8 in every way, except it doesn't have 4 seats. Is that a problem, OP?

Cionád

Tea 1000 wrote: »

Is the T5 in that a turbo? It would want to be cause I drove the new model C70 with the 2.4 and it was as slow as a wet week.

Yes, the T5 in the old model is faster than the new model. It's 240bhp, 0-60 in 6.7sec, not quite as fast as an RX-8.

I assume the 2.4 you drove was the petrol, which has only 170bhp I think.

Dish

Audi TT

VolvoMan

Tea 1000 wrote: »

Is the T5 in that a turbo? It would want to be cause I drove the new model C70 with the 2.4 and it was as slow as a wet week.
C70's, A4 Cab's, all those kind of things are going to be dynamically far inferior to the RX8. She'd need to be looking at roadsters to be on a level playing field in terms of fun. How about a Boxter? Plenty of earlier S models around now a days for very reasonable money!

That C70 is a totally different animal to the current model you drove. The T5 model in fact has too much poke that it can barely put it down on the road, so I wouldn't worry about performance.;)

It's far more of an elegant coupe rather than the tin-top poser mobile the current model is. Driver involvement wouldn't be a strong point but comfort/speed/looks are in abundance.

The Recliner

draffodx wrote: »

How much for the Rx8?

*Cough*
See Sig. Price is negotiable
*Cough*

Back on topic would she consider an Alfa Brera, fantastic car if a bit small in the back seat

RobAMerc

the old model C70 was a bit of a dog to be honest, it has a chassis like a piece of wet cardboard - same goes for the 9-3

I drove all of these including an A4 before buying a 3 series.

the 3 is a much better allrounder and except for being a bit noisier gives very little away to the coupe if you buy a big enough engine ( cope with the extra weight )

The hood is well enough lined to make it an all year car too.
Very easy to live with.

stevenmu

Mx-5? Not as fast as the 8 overall, but would probably feel a bit better at lower revs. It's convertible and good to drive. 15k should get a very nice one too.

VolvoMan

RobAMerc wrote: »

the old model C70 was a bit of a dog to be honest, it has a chassis like a piece of wet cardboard - same goes for the 9-3

It's strange really, as the 850 that it was based on was quite a dynamic car. It should've been a cracker really with those looks and 850 T5 running gear, not to mention involvement from Tom Walkinshaw Racing in its development.

RobAMerc

VolvoMan wrote: »

It's strange really, as the 850 that it was based on was quite a dynamic car.

yes but it had a roof !
I drove a new one when they came out first ( brothers company car ) and was shocked at how the rear view mirror was useless due to the scuttle shake!

VolvoMan

RobAMerc wrote: »

yes but it had a roof !
I drove a new one when they came out first ( brothers company car ) and was shocked at how the rear view mirror was useless due to the scuttle shake!

Oh no, I'm talking about the Coupe. The Convertible was a very beautiful car but definitely a structural disaster.

Marlow

unkel wrote: »

I like that C70. Maybe not that sporty, but plenty of poke. Nice elegant design. Nice price!!!

Sportier than you think. The whole setup around engine and suspension was done by Tom Walkinshaw Racing for Volvo. I had a '04 convertible myself and was very happy with it. Also has superb interiour.

Highly recommended to go for the last years of the covertible. They were stiffer, bad turning circle though.

Can highly recommend the C70 as convertible, but it clearly has to be '05 or before. The new model from '06 and on it's just a Ford (well .. looks like a S60 with two doors).

/M

RobAMerc

Marlow wrote: »

it's just a Ford

/M

which it is all the better car for - also the latest C70 is actually hand built, thats why it's so expensive so I doubt you'll get one in budget.

Marlow

RobAMerc wrote: »

which it is all the better car for - also the latest C70 is actually hand built, thats why it's so expensive so I doubt you'll get one in budget.

The old C70 was build on a seperate production line for itself in Uddevalla, not much different to the way the current C70 is build, but that's a matter of opinion.

As for my Ford remark, the interior is not as good anymore, nor does the new C70 have the uniqueness and beauty, that the old one had. It's just a 2 door S60, which the old C70 definatly wasn't.

/M

VolvoMan

RobAMerc wrote: »

which it is all the better car for - also the latest C70 is actually hand built, thats why it's so expensive so I doubt you'll get one in budget.

Driving dynamics aside, I think Ford's are pretty sh1t to be honest.

bogmanfan

Thanks for the suggestions. She'd love a Boxster, but 4 seats are a requirement I'm afraid. Looks like the 3-series is the front runner...

lordnoah

I'd go with the Alfa Brera. Mainly due to the fact that every second person doesn't already own one and they look fantastic. Not as good to drive as a 3 series but so much more character.

Donnelly117

first of the scirocco's might be down to that price?

daithi09

new renault coupe, very nice car..

Donnelly117

daithi09 wrote: »

new renault coupe, very nice car..

for 15 grand? i doubt it

Marlow

Donnelly117 wrote: »

first of the scirocco's might be down to that price?

They'd be way down:
2750 EUR - http://www.carzone.ie/search/Volkswagen/Scirocco/SCIROCCO/200951196235755/advert?channel=CARS

Should it be, that you meant the new series of VW Scirocco, then I'm afraid, that the used market starts around 27k

A Corrado would also be nice: http://www.carzone.ie/search/Volkswagen/Corrado/VR6,/200840190230272/advert?channel=CARS, I get the feeling however, that the op is looking for a somewhat recent car, not a classic.

/M

bogmanfan

Cheers guys.
Yes, she's after something that won't give much trouble. The RX-8 has been perfect since she got it, and since she uses the car for work every day, she can't really afford something that's going to be tricky to repair.
I passed on the Mini suggestions, and she's quite taken with a Cooper S convertible actually. I'll keep ye posted.

Marlow

bogmanfan wrote: »

she's quite taken with a Cooper S convertible actually.

From a reliability and comfort point of view, that is definatly not a bad choice. Very nice car. Funky, too.

/M

smash

Fiat 500 convertible?
http://www.carzone.ie/search/Fiat/500/500-conv/201004196728894/advert?channel=CARS

CLK
http://www.carzone.ie/search/Mercedes-Benz/CLK-Class/240-ELEG/200936195127456/advert?channel=CARS

Astra Twin Top
http://www.carzone.ie/search/Opel/Astra/TT-DESIG/200947195949298/advert?channel=CARS

you could try and haggle on any of those

testicle

lordnoah wrote: »

I'd go with the Alfa Brera. Mainly due to the fact that every second person doesn't already own one and they look fantastic. Not as good to drive as a 3 series but so much more character.

You won't get one for 15k though.

galwaytt

bogmanfan wrote: »

I passed on the Mini suggestions, and she's quite taken with a Cooper S convertible actually. I'll keep ye posted.

I thought you need 4 seats ? Have you actually looked, let alone climbed into, the back of a Mini convertible ?

Very good - if you have no legs
For everything else, there's...........oh, i dunno, see above.......

The Recliner

testicle wrote: »

You won't get one for 15k though.

A couple of Brera's sold last month in Dublin for around the €15K mark, they were 06 if I remember correctly

You could bring an 07 one in from England for that price too

stevenmu

Is she really set on getting rid of the RX-8? It's fairly unique in being a 4-seater sports coupe. In that price range there's a few 2-seaters that it could be argued would be better and would make a nice change, but I don't think there'll be any 4-seaters that would be as nice a drive.

testicle

The Recliner wrote: »

A couple of Brera's sold last month in Dublin for around the €15K mark, they were 06 if I remember correctly

Where, as a matter of interest?

The Recliner wrote: »

You could bring an 07 one in from England for that price too

Again, where? The VRT on an 07 is about 6-7k. If you can find me a 07 Brera for under £10k I'll eat my keyboard, which would still be more than €15k cleared. It'd also be sheer lunacy to bring in a 2007 diesel.

The Recliner

testicle wrote: »

Where, as a matter of interest?

One on the Kylemore road and one in Blanch in the last couple of weeks, estimated price of €15K though, they were asking €16K

Again, where? The VRT on an 07 is about 6-7k. If you can find me a 07 Brera for under £10k I'll eat my keyboard, which would still be more than €15k cleared. It'd also be sheer lunacy to bring in a 2007 diesel.

I looked it up before and got VRT of 4-5K and there were 07 Brera's in the UK for €11K. They aren't exact figures but I will look it up again and get back to you (I wasn't looking at diesels though, only petrol)

testicle

The Recliner wrote: »

I looked it up before and got VRT of 4-5K and there were 07 Brera's in the UK for €11K. They aren't exact figures but I will look it up again and get back to you (I wasn't looking at diesels though, only petrol)

The VRT is 6.5k on a 2007 diesel, so the petrol 2.2 would be more as it's in a higher CO2 band. The petrol ones used to be on the ROS VRT Calculator, but they appear to have disappeared.

The cheapest 07 Breras on ebay are about £15k, and about £14k on motors.co.uk and pistonheads, so I'd be interested to see where you're seeing them for €11k...

(I'm looking at getting one myself btw)

The Recliner

testicle wrote: »

The VRT is 6.5k on a 2007 diesel, so the petrol 2.2 would be more as it's in a higher CO2 band. The petrol ones used to be on the ROS VRT Calculator, but they appear to have disappeared.

The cheapest 07 Breras on ebay are about £15k, and about £14k on motors.co.uk and pistonheads, so I'd be interested to see where you're seeing them for €11k...

(I'm looking at getting one myself btw)

It was about 3 months ago I was looking

I will have another look and get back to you, will PM you as I don't want to take this thread further off topic

unkel

The Recliner wrote: »

I will have another look and get back to you, will PM you as I don't want to take this thread further off topic

It would be nice to have an update on thread too though

A manual 2.2 petrol emits 221g/km, so that's 32%VRT. Even if the OMSP is as low as 15k, this is still 5k. So if you would need to get a Brera in the UK for less than £9k to bring it in for €15k. And that's not taking into account travel costs / ferry, etc.

testicle

unkel wrote: »

It would be nice to have an update on thread too though

A manual 2.2 petrol emits 221g/km, so that's 32%VRT. Even if the OMSP is as low as 15k, this is still 5k. So if you would need to get a Brera in the UK for less than £9k to bring it in for €15k. And that's not taking into account travel costs / ferry, etc.

It's actually 218g/km, but seeing as that's still the same band over here, it's irrelevent.

I won't go posting PMs here, but times appear to have changed. There's some on autotrader for £13k.

The cheapest I've seen is one that sold in cargiant for £11500 or so lately

Edit: Sarsfield Motors allegedly have 2 2006 2.2 JTS V6s (whatever they) are for €18.5k on cbg, but I wouldn't go near them with a barge pole.

The Recliner

unkel wrote: »

It would be nice to have an update on thread too though

A manual 2.2 petrol emits 221g/km, so that's 32%VRT. Even if the OMSP is as low as 15k, this is still 5k. So if you would need to get a Brera in the UK for less than £9k to bring it in for €15k. And that's not taking into account travel costs / ferry, etc.

OMSP is currently €19,950 on Ros and VRT working out at €6150 for petrol 2.2, when I was looking a couple of months ago it was about €4,500 vrt

And it looks like I was either mistaken about the cost of Brera's in England or their value isn't dropping as quickly

So basically it appears that on current data I was talking out of my hole or being very very optimistic, in either case I wasn't intentionally misleading anyone

testicle wrote: »

Edit: Sarsfield Motors allegedly have 2 2006 2.2 JTS V6s (whatever they) are for €18.5k on cbg, but I wouldn't go near them with a barge pole.

I wouldn't be too sure about those ads, they seem to have been around forever