Spec me a cabriolet...

RoboCod · 4 Aug 2009 at 14:01

Wahey a spec me thread, because you all love em! I guess they're not so much a spec thread as they are opinion threads but here goes:

The requirements are:

Convertible
4/5 seats (for kids in the back)
Boot
Fast(ish)
Diesel*
4WD*

*not essential but preferable

Vehicles that spring to mind are...

Audi A5 Cabriolet 3.0 TDI quattro S line
BMW - 3 SERIES DIESEL CONVERTIBLE (320d M Sport 2dr Step Auto)

Any input is welcome

Firestar_3x · 4 Aug 2009 at 14:03

My input is i don't think i could live with a diesel engined convertible, other than that both car platforms along with the A4 cab seem like a good choice.

Why not spend less on a petrol engined one and then spend the rest on fuel?

RoboCod · 4 Aug 2009 at 14:09

Firestar_3x said:
My input is i don't think i could live with a diesel engined convertible, other than that both car platforms along with the A4 cab seem like a good choice.

Why not spend less on a petrol engined one and then spend the rest on fuel?

Looking at the A5 TDI it is quicker than any of the petrol models

[TW]Fox · 4 Aug 2009 at 14:14

Captain Planet said:
Looking at the A5 TDI it is quicker than any of the petrol models

Yea but the diesel noise ruins the convertible experience. Pair a convertible with a nice 6 cylinder petrol engine or cruising along with the top down will be a little like being on a canal boat holiday. You can't be that bothered about speed if you've got a 320d there! The 325i, 330i and 335i are considerably faster than the 320d!

mjt · 4 Aug 2009 at 14:16

Captain Planet said:
Vehicles that spring to mind are...

Audi A5 Cabriolet 3.0 TDI quattro S line
BMW - 3 SERIES DIESEL CONVERTIBLE (320d M Sport 2dr Step Auto)

Any input is welcome

what's your max budget?
diesel convertibles are one thing, but spending £30k on a 320d is another
if you're going to get a diesel, at least get a proper 6pot

for £30k, you can get a 335i or a 330d, both significantly better than a crappy 320d
http://pistonheads.com/sales/1113032.htm
http://pistonheads.com/sales/1134612.htm
http://pistonheads.com/sales/1175500.htm <- this looks awesome

yes, they might be a bit older, but that's not really a problem

and if you want 4wd, then an audi is your only option afaik
what do you need 4wd for? do you live somewhere where it snows a lot in winter?

Firestar_3x · 4 Aug 2009 at 14:17

Captain Planet said:
Looking at the A5 TDI it is quicker than any of the petrol models

Never driven or been in an A5, but i really like the current 3 series cab, i'm waiting for robbie g to come into this thread but if i was spending this sort of money i'd rather have the BMW, silly as that might sound....

Not sure how much a 330 cab goes for but i'd guess its less than 30k?

RoboCod · 4 Aug 2009 at 14:27

Is the 320d considerably slower/sluggish? How does the price of a 2/3year old diesel compare to it's petrol equivalent? i.e. in that time I'm right to assume a new petrol A5 will drop considerably more than diesel.

mjt said:
what's your max budget?
diesel convertibles are one thing, but spending £30k on a 320d is another
if you're going to get a diesel, at least get a proper 6pot

and if you want 4wd, then an audi is your only option afaik
what do you need 4wd for? do you live somewhere where it snows a lot in winter?

Budget, practically speaking max £30k (of course it doesn't need to be that much!). Which proper 6-pot? 4WD because of bad experience in a RWD!

[TW]Fox · 4 Aug 2009 at 14:29

Captain Planet said:
Which proper 6-pot? 4WD because of bad experience in a RWD!

If you cant drive get a Nissan Micra CC. If you can, get a 330i M Sport.

Thread closed.

Firestar_3x · 4 Aug 2009 at 14:34

If a footballers wife can manage to drive one on a rainy day to her fav shoe-shop without crashing i can't see why you would have a problem

Dorje · 4 Aug 2009 at 14:37

By the sounds of it you're probably not looking for a 55 AMG variant.

But here's one anyway:

http://pistonheads.com/sales/1122811.htm

L0rdMike · 4 Aug 2009 at 14:37

Firestar_3x said:
If a footballers wife can manage to drive one on a rainy day to her fav shoe-shop without crashing i can't see why you would have a problem

Because RWD will be the death of us all!

Captain Planet said:
4WD because of bad experience in a RWD!

So basically you drove like a **** and now are scared of RWD?

paradigm · 4 Aug 2009 at 14:39

L0rdMike said:
Because RWD will be the death of us all!

So true, I've died at least 3 times in the last week alone.

mjt · 4 Aug 2009 at 14:43

i miss rwd. 4wd is so boring, and now that i've got new tyres all round, i haven't seen the esp light in months

iaind · 4 Aug 2009 at 14:45

Volvo C70?

paradigm · 4 Aug 2009 at 14:47

mjt said:
i miss rwd. 4wd is so boring, and now that i've got new tyres all round, i haven't seen the esp light in months

You should see the ESP light constantly.

1) Get in the car
2) Ignition on
3) ESP off, turning ESP light solid

jamief · 4 Aug 2009 at 14:48

The A5 3.0TDI Cab is quite nice - the noise isn't too bad at all. The 2.0TDI is a bit noisier, but nothing to worry about. If you go for either, get quattro (it's standard on the 3.0TDI), as there can be a fair bit of torque steer when you put 350Nm through the front wheels.

merlin · 4 Aug 2009 at 14:50

It's an instruction, not a warning.

L0rdMike · 4 Aug 2009 at 14:51

Whats it like to have Traction control? All 4 of my RWD cars havnt had it. In all the years I can only think of one situation where I prob would have benefited from it. All the other times I have been :cool:

and managed to correct and sideways action I have had.

jamief · 4 Aug 2009 at 14:55

Traction Control - generally if you boot it, and the wheels break traction, it'll cut power.

merlin · 4 Aug 2009 at 14:56

Traction control is crap and pointless, especially in the snow.

It's Driver Stability Control that's useful as a get out of jail card - perhaps that one day where there's a bit of diesel on the road that upsets the car when you're not expecting it. If I'm having some fun it all gets turned off anyway, because it's annoying.