Purpose built convertibles, quick and under £15k?

Trifid

Trifid

Trifid

Soldato
Joined
18 Feb 2006
Posts
9,950
Hello,

I'm thinking of what else is out there for the money and I'm struggling to be honest! Ideally I'd want the car to do 0-60 in 6 seconds or less and be more comfortable than my VX. I'd also be looking for a 2006 car or newer.


BMW Z4 - I have always liked these
S2000 - insurance is too expensive and road tax is depressing. I do like them though
Boxster - doesn't really do anything for me
SLK - again, doesn't really do anything for me

Can anyone else think of any cars to add to this list?

Thanks.
 
I'd agree with the Z4M... Other options:

350/370z roadster.
Audi S4 convertible (not purpose built)
BMW 135i (not purpose built)
 
GT3 said:
Z4M Roadster, one up round here on an 07 plate for £13k. Stonking value!
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The fact he thinks insurance is 'too expensive' an on an S2000 makes me think its out of his running costs budget. People who complain about insurance costs don't buy cars which have Inspection 2 services that cost 800 quid :p
 
15k is the maximum I'd consider spending on any car, the cheaper the better as the money is coming out of my house deposit savings. :) I did an insurance quote on the s2000 last year and it was nearly £2000 compared to 800 on the vx which is too much to spend imo. I don't partially fancy the running costs of the z4m either.
 
A 3.0i Z4 will go from 0-60 in 5.9 seconds and cost you less than £10k for a nice one. Running costs are reasonable, roof motor failure aside.
 
How old are you and where do you live? My insurance stayed roughly the same when I went from a MGTF to a S2000.

I didn't consider a Z4M, but that's a hell of a shout. I think the BMW would suit my lazy driving style much better. The S2000 is actually quite sedate if you're not ragging the balls off it.

I probably should have got an early 2006 or 2005 car to save on road tax. There are few differences between the cars in real terms, and you can just about get a rev 4 car which was registered before the tax hike. If you really want to spend less money, a pre-facelift or very early facelift S2000 might knock £6-7k off your budget and give you everything that the newer car would.

Other than a TVR Tuscan (pushing it at £15k) I can't think of much else that you haven't already suggested.
 
Well Z4M is the option I would go for at this purchase price but I've got to agree with Fox. If S2000 insurance puts you off then running an M is not for you. A nice 3 litre Z4 for £10K or under will get you a car you like the look of and running costs that fit your wallet. (no offence intended)

If running costs aren't a problem then get a TVR Tuscan :)
 
tom_nieto said:
I didn't consider a Z4M, but that's a hell of a shout. I think the BMW would suit my lazy driving style much better.
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There is nothing lazy about the driving style of a Z4M. It's a very high revving engine, it isn't a waftable low-down-torque affair at all. It revs to 8000rpm and peak power is just 100rpm below that!
 
Try Competition Car Insurance (CCI) for quotes on S2000's, i was getting quoted £400-600 depending on age of S2000 when other places were £1k+.
 
[TW]Fox;22326891 said:
There is nothing lazy about the driving style of a Z4M. It's a very high revving engine, it isn't a waftable low-down-torque affair at all. It revs to 8000rpm and peak power is just 100rpm below that!
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I think the difference is the BMW has torque, whereas the S2000 has none. Foot down to the floor in 4th at 30 mph = not a lot in the Honda.
 
tom_nieto said:
I think the difference is the BMW has torque, whereas the S2000 has none. Foot down to the floor in 4th at 30 mph = not a lot in the Honda.
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Foot down in FOURTH at 30Mph = not a lot in anything.

OP - Have you actually got any S2000 quotes yet? You can escape Road Tax increase by buying an early 2006 or 2005 or earlier model. An 05 will be as near as dammit the same as an 05 except be throttle cable instead of DBW and have no VSA as per the option on 06+ (You won't want/need it anyway). Just buy a well looked after 05, get the lower tax bracket and find a decent insurance quote if you like them. You will make a some of the money back in cheap as chips servicing compared to other models you are considering.
 
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I'm sure if you actually drive a Boxster S and ignore whatever Clarkson may have mentioned 10 years ago about it being a 'poor mans' Porsche it would do something for you as they are brilliant cars.
 
tom_nieto said:
How old are you and where do you live? My insurance stayed roughly the same when I went from a MGTF to a S2000.

Other than a TVR Tuscan (pushing it at £15k) I can't think of much else that you haven't already suggested.
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I'm 22 and live in Southend. Also last year only drove 6000 miles but it would be my only car.

A TVR wouldn't really be suitable as a everyday car.

BigT said:
If S2000 insurance puts you off then running an M is not for you.
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I'm more against getting ripped off and S2000 insurance (and later models, tax) is far too expensive for what the car is.

Sin_Chase said:
OP - Have you actually got any S2000 quotes yet?
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A couple of quick quotes and it is still just under £2000. I'm also getting prices more expensive on the VX this year too.
 
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