View Full Version : 4 seater sports car/ convertable
Bluefish
10-07-11, 04:59 PM
Just looking, but fancy one, around the 4-6k mark, i like the Toyota Celica obviously is not a convertible, Mazda mx5 great but only 2 seats :( Astra, well we have an Astra estate at the moment so would want something different. To get a 4 seat convertible i guess it would have to be one with a hard top, Merc, BMW, Volvo, any recommendations in that price range, still like the Celica though, i mean how often would you get the top down where i live, it's been raining all bleeding day.
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/2007-HYUNDAI-COUPE-Petrol-HYUNDAI-COUPE-2-0-SE-3dr-/260814194825?pt=Automobiles_UK&hash=item3cb9bcc889
1210tech
10-07-11, 06:04 PM
A4 convertable ?
Bluefish
10-07-11, 06:40 PM
ty_uk, had forgotten about that one, mmm newer for less money, possibly, and 1210 tech, the a4 just seems a bit bland to me, + they're quite large. ps, you're post count don't go up when you post in idle banter.
I used to own a BMW328 convertible (97 P plate). Looked fab with the roof down, loads of room and a decent boot. Problem was the price of servicing, tyres and group 17 insurance. Water leaked on the passenger in the rain so you need to check the roof. If you test drive a convertible, take it to a jet wash and see if it leaks. IMO it was a great car just a little expensive to run.
Also own 2 new Hyundia Coupes. The 1.6 was rubbish but the 2.0 SE was good (98 R reg). Good curvy lines, not bad interior and lots of toys for the year. Check the electrics though.
Ever thought of a Smart Brabus Roadster....what a laugh to drive, looks cool, no depreciation, and cheap to run.
Saab 93 turbo convertible - £5k should get you a decent aero model - 210bhp, reliable, very comfortable to drive - and it is not a BMW ;-)
Bluefish
10-07-11, 08:14 PM
Smart car, nah + needs to have 4 seats, Saab, possibly, though after just watching top gear, that merc looked ok, what's the insurance likely to be on one of them lol. Just checked f/c £800 ish, that was on this http://www.vcars.co.uk/used-cars/cardetails.php?t=autoexposure&u=244225
4-6k budgets gone already then? Lol.
Dicky Ticker
11-07-11, 07:29 AM
Volvo convertible----often overlooked and reasonably priced,with loads of room in the rear
Bedhead
11-07-11, 12:02 PM
Go retro with an Escort convertable.
If it's a good one, running costs will be buttons.
Although it's not a soft top, I like the Hyundai Coupes as well, 2.0 is the best for all round performance, the 2.7 drinks fuel and the 1.6 is a bit gutless.
The Hyundai Coupe outsold the Fiat Coupe in Italy by a big margin when they were sold together.
Soft top Golf is always worth a look too.
wyrdness
11-07-11, 12:30 PM
Go retro with an Escort convertable.
If it's a good one, running costs will be buttons.
Although it's not a soft top, I like the Hyundai Coupes as well, 2.0 is the best for all round performance, the 2.7 drinks fuel and the 1.6 is a bit gutless.
The Hyundai Coupe outsold the Fiat Coupe in Italy by a big margin when they were sold together.
Soft top Golf is always worth a look too.
If you go for the Escort, you'll need to open a salon in Essex to go with it.
If it's got to be a convertible, then take a look at the Saab 93. Otherwise the Hyundai is probably worth considering.
Go retro with an Escort convertable.
If it's a good one, running costs will be buttons.
Although it's not a soft top, I like the Hyundai Coupes as well, 2.0 is the best for all round performance, the 2.7 drinks fuel and the 1.6 is a bit gutless.
The Hyundai Coupe outsold the Fiat Coupe in Italy by a big margin when they were sold together.
Soft top Golf is always worth a look too.
Wierdly, the Escort is the only 5 seater convertible on the market - we took one to the South of France with 3 kids in the back (at the time aged 7, 13 and 14). No surprise that the next year we tok a Citroen Synergie people mover instead:rolleyes:
Bluefish
11-07-11, 07:54 PM
4-6k budgets gone already then? Lol.
Lol, i wish, was just looking to see what it would cost :rolleyes:
Mrs would like a 2 seater convertable, but that's not going to happen at the moment, mind you so would i, she saw a porsche convertable by her works for 7k nom nom, will have to wait a couple of years till the child flees the nest, befor even thinking about that, ah well will see what happens you never know might win the lottery :rolleyes:
Mazda RX8. I've seen them for £4k, should be reliable, entertaining but they like to drink oil.
Edit: Just looked on autotrader, lots on there for 2-2.5k but some reporting of starting problems.
hardhat_harry
11-07-11, 09:49 PM
Rx8 is a Rotary so it squirts oil into the combustion chamber with the fuel to lubricate the seals.
Extremely smooth engine as there are no pistons to go up and down.
Very fast but lack of Torque so needs to be revved hard, 9K red line.
20Mpg is about normal.
If the RX8 suffers from the same problems as the RX7 starting problems when hot normally says the main seal is knackered and is expensive to fix. To check take one out for a test drive, drive it spiritingly, get it warm. Stop and turn off engine wait approx 30 secs to a min and try to start if it refuses walk away.
I love driving RX7's and RX8's but I am not actually daft enough to own one :p
tigersaw
11-07-11, 10:06 PM
Saab 93 turbo convertible - £5k should get you a decent aero model - 210bhp, reliable, very comfortable to drive - and it is not a BMW ;-)
+1
Very nice car, and the back seats have tons of room, proper 4 seater car
barwel1992
11-07-11, 10:39 PM
mazda rx8 4 door sports car
Sounds like you need a hot hatch mate. Should get a mk 5 Golf gti for that. Maybe a focus ST
andrewsmith
12-07-11, 09:36 AM
Sounds like you need a hot hatch mate. Should get a mk 5 Golf gti for that. Maybe a focus ST
+1
or as Top Gear showed.
A mint condition fully loaded Impreza WRX for £6.5k
+1
or as Top Gear showed.
A mint condition fully loaded Impreza WRX for £6.5k
That Impreza was owned by a fella on a subaru forum that I am a member of, and he said he dropped the price to £5.8k not long after filming before eventually selling it.
As an owner of one I can vouch for them, the are fantastic cars, reliable (if maintained properly and if you don't get a later 2.5litre car as they have chocolate pistons and eat head gaskets) properly fast (father inlaw owned volvo t5 and brother has had Leon cupra and octavia vrs and both have driven mine and say its awesome in a different league to their cars) and ok on fuel if you get the right model (wrx 03-05 are best compromise for fuel, emissions and performance) as I have properly calculated mine over a week to give 29.1mpg (not driving mental but not driving particularly economically).
Five seats, big enough boot, 4wd for the snow, lovely sounding flat four burble and should be able to bag many an 03 plate for four grand.
Not a cat in hells chance you would get a mk5 golf gti for £4k.
Bluefish
12-07-11, 09:05 PM
like the sound of an rx8 and the saab's, though wifey says we should wait a bit till we have paid off the dept befor swapping motors, still no harm in window shopping is there? :D she is right after all ;) Oh and not a fan of Golf's. Quick look on ebay brings this http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/2004-MAZDA-RX-8-WINNING-BLUE-BLACK-LEATHER-/270578389124?pt=Automobiles_UK&hash=item3effba9084 damm, shouldn't of looked lol
That Impreza was owned by a fella on a subaru forum that I am a member of, and he said he dropped the price to £5.8k not long after filming before eventually selling it.
As an owner of one I can vouch for them, the are fantastic cars, reliable (if maintained properly and if you don't get a later 2.5litre car as they have chocolate pistons and eat head gaskets) properly fast (father inlaw owned volvo t5 and brother has had Leon cupra and octavia vrs and both have driven mine and say its awesome in a different league to their cars) and ok on fuel if you get the right model (wrx 03-05 are best compromise for fuel, emissions and performance) as I have properly calculated mine over a week to give 29.1mpg (not driving mental but not driving particularly economically).
Five seats, big enough boot, 4wd for the snow, lovely sounding flat four burble and should be able to bag many an 03 plate for four grand.
Not a cat in hells chance you would get a mk5 golf gti for £4k.
Impreza is a great car for the money, I only used to get 25mpg at the most, it needed new tyres every 10k miles (Goodyear Eagle F1s) and the main dealer quoted me £900 for a service and cambelt change. The ride is very firm, and all the chavs want to race you, even when you can't be @rsed.
I bloody loved it :p
Impreza is a great car for the money, I only used to get 25mpg at the most, it needed new tyres every 10k miles (Goodyear Eagle F1s) and the main dealer quoted me £900 for a service and cambelt change. The ride is very firm, and all the chavs want to race you, even when you can't be @rsed.
I bloody loved it :p
All depends on the rubber, rears have been on mine for 40k and fronts 20k. Fronts are getting worn and rears are beginning to degrade so need replacing. Main dealers are effing expensive, quoted me £700 for full service (including diff and box oil change) but many specialists will charge around £400 odd for this. Cambelts, every 50k can be done for £250-300 at specialists and plugs only need changing every 60k but ******* to get at.
True about chavs wanting to race you but lets be honest even if you can't be arsed you don't exactly have to try and the little bleeders will be a dot in the rear view mirror.
Hows the Alfa by the way, always wanted one but never had the courage.
All depends on the rubber, rears have been on mine for 40k and fronts 20k. Fronts are getting worn and rears are beginning to degrade so need replacing. Main dealers are effing expensive, quoted me £700 for full service (including diff and box oil change) but many specialists will charge around £400 odd for this. Cambelts, every 50k can be done for £250-300 at specialists and plugs only need changing every 60k but ******* to get at.
True about chavs wanting to race you but lets be honest even if you can't be arsed you don't exactly have to try and the little bleeders will be a dot in the rear view mirror.
Hows the Alfa by the way, always wanted one but never had the courage.
Luckily I have a mate who is a bloody good mechanic - full service inc all fluids and belts with a stamp in the book - £330 ;)
The Alfa is a great car, took it on a 3750 mile trip to Italy last month including the Stelvio pass. From Rome to Naples we averaged 71 to the gallon, we got 703 miles from one tank and overall averaged around 55mpg even with a fair bit of D mode shenanigans. Not quite as quick as the scooby, but a lot cheaper to run and much purdier :D
Quiff Wichard
13-07-11, 02:42 PM
mate has just got an Rx8 it is ace... apart from 28 mpg and 480£ tax !!
there is a good one here.. in Crewe-- but it has a fair few miles on it for an RX8 and they are deffo a 4 seater not a 2+2 .. real roomy
linky >>> scroll right down and there are lots of interior pics too on the traders website.. this is the same colour way my mate has and it looks lovverrrly
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=170641314642&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT#ht_1217wt_1139
mate has just got an Rx8 it is ace... apart from 28 mpg and 480£ tax !!
there is a good one here.. in Crewe-- but it has a fair few miles on it for an RX8 and they are deffo a 4 seater not a 2+2 .. real roomy
linky >>> scroll right down and there are lots of interior pics too on the traders website.. this is the same colour way my mate has and it looks lovverrrly
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=170641314642&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT#ht_1217wt_1139
28mpg isn't that bad really for a car that can get a shuffle on, thats about what my Volvo T4 will do and that is just pootleing, put my foot down and it'll drink more than the scoob.
You will only pay £480 tax if it is 06 plate or newer, anything before is £245 or however much it is now.
mattSV, am slightly jealous, would love to go on a road trip down the stelvio, one day :).
Bluefish
13-07-11, 05:39 PM
Bugger Quiff we like that, nice the black with the red, but not too chavvy, 48000 miles that's not too high?, would they start to have problems at that age and mileage? and the tax being 245 ish ok can live with that, that's gone to the top of the pile if/when we get one. Plus we don't do that many miles, bout 5k per year.
48000 miles that's not too high?, would they start to have problems at that age and mileage?
The ones I saw on autotrader for around 2-2.5k weren't massive mileage, and some of them stated they had trouble starting when hot.
Best bet is to have a look on the net for RX8 owners clubs (advisable for any car your looking at to check for known faults). You should be able to find out all the info you need with regards to the problem, it may be down to neglect or not keeping an eye on the oil for example, but this would just be guessing.
Bluefish
13-07-11, 06:05 PM
Ok rowdy will do, cheers mate.
barwel1992
14-07-11, 06:36 PM
80k milage is problem territory with RX8's as the rotors need retipping EG full engine strip down a rebuild
feed it good oil and it will last a bit longer just dont expect 100k+ because youd be very lucky to get it
Bluefish
14-07-11, 09:20 PM
Yup, have gone off them after looking at the owners forum, seems they cost a pretty penny when the engine goes which can happen quite often, or even hoses need changing £800, no thanks.
metalangel
15-07-11, 02:24 PM
Her dad owns one, it's great to drive when it's working but it's really meant to either go racing or munch the miles. The four or so miles he drives it each day to work and back can't be doing it any good. It's bad for the seals to only give it a short run, it needs you be warmed up, there's a weird trick you're meant to do if you're just doing something like moving it around the driveway or something. Oh, and it's NOT meant for traffic jams, it hates going slowly, and despises sub-10mph speeds.
There are convertible Celicas (http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/cb/Toyota-Celica-T200-convertible.jpg) but they're of the previous (mid-90s) generation.
Audi TT can be had for 4-5k.
Mk1 TT's aren't overtly sporty but go fairly well, more style over substance but will be far less problematic than RX8. Base model is 150 brake but your budget will get a 180 bhp model, maybe even a 225 bhp one, they're all the same engine though and lots of tuning options.
Small windows take a little getting used to, bit like driving a tank at first looking through a small gap (windscreen is ok it's side windows that are odd at first). Boot is a usefull size, rear bench is small and for children only, soft top model strict 2 seater.
Bedhead
16-07-11, 06:17 PM
Audi TT can be had for 4-5k.
Mk1 TT's aren't overtly sporty but go fairly well, more style over substance but will be far less problematic than RX8. Base model is 150 brake but your budget will get a 180 bhp model, maybe even a 225 bhp one, they're all the same engine though and lots of tuning options.
Small windows take a little getting used to, bit like driving a tank at first looking through a small gap (windscreen is ok it's side windows that are odd at first). Boot is a usefull size, rear bench is small and for children only, soft top model strict 2 seater.
The Quattro TT's are actually quite rapid A-B, but the engine isn't the toughest in it's highest state of tune, they're also quite low geared, great for sporty driving but a bit wearing for a gentle cruise.
They also make you look like you own a tanning studio.;)
barwel1992
16-07-11, 09:16 PM
s2000 would be my choice over the rx8 or personally a supra TT is what id spend my money on
s2000 would be my choice over the rx8 or personally a supra TT is what id spend my money on
S2000 is a 2 seater though, I agree with the Supra (as long as it was unmolested) but a bit old now (think they stopped at 97).
Bluefish
17-07-11, 08:49 AM
Mrs likes the Audi tt, well she would, it is a girls car ;) Imo they are not too bad, most i have seen have been 2 seater's but you can get 4 seater's so i believe. seen a couple of saab 9 3's convertables yesterday 07- 08 plates costing around 7-8k too high, and a w plate for 2.2k, too low looked ok, but was not in the best condition and i bet had a fair few miles on it, so s'pose were looking for a 04 ish plater, still got to get the mrs to look at a Celica in person as it were.
Mrs likes the Audi tt, well she would, it is a girls car ;) Imo they are not too bad, most i have seen have been 2 seater's but you can get 4 seater's so i believe. seen a couple of saab 9 3's convertables yesterday 07- 08 plates costing around 7-8k too high, and a w plate for 2.2k, too low looked ok, but was not in the best condition and i bet had a fair few miles on it, so s'pose were looking for a 04 ish plater, still got to get the mrs to look at a Celica in person as it were.
Celicas are good, 190 version quite rapid, Saabs a bit unreliable these days, Vauxhalls in a fancy frock, all TT hard tops are 4 seater all soft tops are 2 seater. HTH
metalangel
17-07-11, 02:17 PM
There used to be a lot more little four seater Japanese sporty cars... not just the Celicas, but also the MX-3s, MX-6s, 180SX. Now there's hardly anything. The MX-3 was tiny in the back seat (too many hours as a passenger in one) and I'm told by a friend of average height the Celica's not much better.
Bluefish
17-07-11, 02:43 PM
Celicas are good, 190 version quite rapid, Saabs a bit unreliable these days, Vauxhalls in a fancy frock, all TT hard tops are 4 seater all soft tops are 2 seater. HTH
Thanks for your help mate, been on the bay, and you can get the older celica for a grand, in what looks like quite good condition, and apparently are quite bullet proof as reguards reliability, i like both the newer and the older style so i recon they are top of the list at the mo, would have gone for a look at some places today but the wheathers so crap, we cba.
Metal, we hardly ever have adults in the back, a small 14 year old occasionally, so the car is for us more than for them, so rear passengers would just have to lump it, no taking dave p down to the ar like we did two years ago just after he had his knee done lol.
Bedhead
17-07-11, 05:46 PM
Thanks for your help mate, been on the bay, and you can get the older celica for a grand, in what looks like quite good condition, and apparently are quite bullet proof as reguards reliability, i like both the newer and the older style so i recon they are top of the list at the mo, would have gone for a look at some places today but the wheathers so crap, we cba.
Metal, we hardly ever have adults in the back, a small 14 year old occasionally, so the car is for us more than for them, so rear passengers would just have to lump it, no taking dave p down to the ar like we did two years ago just after he had his knee done lol.
Celica's are tough as old boots, basic Toyota engineering, and because half of the parts are interchanagble with Corollas and Camrys, the bits are cheap!
If it has a square rear number plate and an old 70's foglight, it's an import.
metalangel
18-07-11, 01:22 PM
Metal, we hardly ever have adults in the back, a small 14 year old occasionally, so the car is for us more than for them, so rear passengers would just have to lump it, no taking dave p down to the ar like we did two years ago just after he had his knee done lol.
That'll be fine then, it's not intended for regular use by adults (though each rear seat has its own cupholder!) so yeah, it'll be fine. You can fold the rear seats down and carry some decent sized loads too.
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