Convertible on a budget?

Thanks for the input chaps, I wholeheartedly agree an e36 (or pretty much anything else!) would be a far better buy than the Escort, that said, "She likes them!" - Women eh? lol.

Not sure if a 328i Convertible will be doable for her though, she had a fault claim recently and I think the Insurance may be a tad high for her....
Engine size is not really an issue as she's far from a petrolhead.

The MX 5 is one I'd also considered but she seems to think it "a bit small" (how on earth this is small compared to an Escort I don't honestly know! lol)

Cheers for the thoughts, I'll have to have a serious anti Escort chat with her! :D
 
Part of me is hankering after an MX5, even though I don't need another car at the moment.
 
Slightly OT, but since we're on the topic of MX5's, has anyone had dealings with Bloomsbury garage nr. Newport? They always have a load of them in stock, I quite fancy taking one for a drive given how everyone rates them so highly. If they are a friendly bunch who will let me take one then I'll go up there some time.
 
TimBrad said:
I'm gonna be different, and, as usual suggest an MGF ::)
Click to expand...

Funnily enough, she rang me earlier saying she'd seen a couple in the local rag and she really likes them.

Now I've always assumed they were shoddy Rover cack, then again is not the MGF the only "Rover" that the Chinese are still producing???

I personally can't stand the MGF, bit if she likes them, fair enough. Are they any good?

I can't see an MGF being a better buy than an e36 even a 318i!
 
My GF has one, she's had it since October 2007, no issues to speak of, 1999 bought for about 3K with a few minor bits of work needed doing (exhaust mounts and wiper motor), bought it at 56K miles, hasnt missed a beat.

In all honesty they are fun little cars, most people on here will cry out OMG-HGF! which as I'm sure you know does happen a lot on the Rover K Series engine, but if you find one that has had it and had the gasket replaced with a land rover one, that reduces it no end.

They are really good fun little cars, nice enough place to be for what it is, done a few 300mile trips in it, no discomfort or anything, I honestly can't fault them, to the point where I'm looking at TF's for myself for this summer :)

Let her go test drive a few, she could even get the 160HP VVC model that I'm sure you'd approve of more ;)

DSCF0697.jpg


Now has the wheels in the photo below (Not her car)

mgmgfconvertiblepetrol7.jpg
 
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^
Cheers Tim, thats interesting. I note you mention a Land Rover gasket reduces the HGF rather than eradicating it.... and I am wary of this.

A mate of mine had a V8 MGF which was a hoot to drive, but it spent more time in the workshop than on his drive.

The last thing I want is to let her have an MGF and then it be problematic as it will be my fault despite me already warning her of the pitfalls of some Rovers (although i doubt she understood!) :D

She's found 2 at circa £2k, so I will have a look at them on the weekend.

£10 she ends up with something totally different.... :D - Cheers. :)
 
Yeah, sadly the HGF issue at the end of the day is with the engine for life, but the LR one does a better job of protecting it, as I said (touching wood as we speak) Claire's hasn't had it since she's had it, unsure on before in all honesty!

I can imagine the V8 would be a beast :D

As I said, its an issue with the Rover K series engine, same as some BMW engines from E36 times (i'm not gonna pretend to know which, especially here!) suffer the VANOS failure, its just a "personality quirk" of the cars :D hehe

Good luck with the viewings anyways, they are lovely little cars and even the 118hp 1.8 mpi is about 8.5 to 60, hardly fast as I know, but not mind numbingly slow and a fun little thing to do it in :)

Good luck to her!
 
Update:

She ended up with a 2001 Mondeo 2.5 V6 Ghia X Saloon......

Whilst the car is more sensible than a convertible, I'm not so sure about the engine...
 
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Yes, it's a Mk3. Not sure how sensible the choice of a 2.5 V6 was given the requirement for limited running costs but that aside it's a great car.
 
Pretty reliable, iirc pete had a decent time with his? I dont see the huge running costs on one other than i guess a bit of petrol compared with a 4pot?
 
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