Which automatic 4 seat convertible for £10k-20k?

[grober]

Closest equivalent to the SAAB 9-3 vert' is probably the VAUXHALL [OPEL] Cascada. The 9-3 was mainly General Motors anyway? so no change there. Designed in Germany but built in Poland best sampled in top spec - make sure you go for one with the double skinned softop. DEPRECIATION will be bad buying new but intelligently bought second hand/demonstrator could be OK

 

[Piff]

Drove the A5 and the E-Class Cabriolet back to back a few months ago.
We've had Audi's before and felt the same about them again - underwhelmed. Perfectly capable cars, but then there is the E-Class............................
Price for price, not much to choose between them as the E-Class is so well spec'd as standard.

 

[jonnyboy]

IS 250C V6 Auto

Reviews poorly and no diesel engine, lacklustre petrol engine.

 

[jonnyboy]

Closest equivalent to the SAAB 9-3 vert' is probably the VAUXHALL [OPEL] Cascada. The 9-3 was mainly General Motors anyway? so no change there. Designed in Germany but built in Poland best sampled in top spec - make sure you go for one with the double skinned softop. DEPRECIATION will be bad buying new but intelligently bought second hand/demonstrator could be OK

Won't buy a Cascada.

 

[WDB124066]

Sat in the new Mustang yesterday...

 

[jonnyboy]

Sat in the new Mustang yesterday...

Tease !

 

[EdmundIJones]

Jaguar XK8 or XKR depending on your need for more power.
I have an 1998 XK8 Convertible, picked it up for only £4K, done 15,000 miles in it with no problems at all. Loads of power, great drive and feel, good looks (I think), very British in general. The V8 returns 22mpg, I've LPG'ed it so it now costs less to run that a Mini.

Only thing to look for is one which has had it's timing chain tensioners and guides replaced, if not, budget in an extra £1000 to be done.

I love mine A LOT.

 

[rockits]

Not sure an XK8 can be classed as a 4 seater can it?

 

[EdmundIJones]

Mine has 4 seats, okay the maximum age to go in the back is probably about 12. Leg space in the rear is "limited". You couldn't put your mum and dad in the back, that's for sure.

 

[rockits]

I guess ok for kids or short trips which may well be enough for most. The Maser 4200 has a decent sized pair of seats in the back. Comfy for kids and even ok for occassional trips for adults. Surprising really as it is not a huge car front to back. Well proportioned I'll say.

 

[Benzmanc]

Just go for the E - if you buy anything else there will always be that niggling doubt at the back of your mind. Doesn't matter which engine as when the lid is off you slow down anyway. I love mine, best thing since....... the EOS i had which i wouldn't recommend as it leaked more than Julian Assange

 

[TheFoX]

One difference between the SAAB Aero Convertible and the CLK Convertible was that the SAAB needed the wind deflector at speed, otherwise you got quite a bit of turbulence in the cabin, whereas the CLK didn't when occupying the front seats. Mind you, Jan got blown to bits sat in the back of the CLK, and was wrapped up with her scarf, revealing just two eyes.

 

[jonnyboy]

Interestingly, both Mrs JB and I were staggered at how much "swirling air" there was in the front of the A5 with the roof down. Unlike the yet-to-be-driven E Convertible, the Audi doesn't have anything built in for wind deflection, it was a separate one lobbed in the boot. Roof down, windows up, we were shocked at just how much icy air was buffeting around the chest/knees/waist area. It was actually a good thing that it was a sunny day with no wind but only maybe 4 degrees as it really highlit the situation.

No idea how the E will perform. Little chance to do anything today, annoyingly, and the guy is closed tomorrow.

 

[Tiim533]

I actually didn't think my old Saab was too bad up to about 75MPH with the roof down, and I never bought the extra wind deflector thing anyway.
Obviously I never sat in the back.
The E Class (well mind anyway) has this gadget which pops up above the windscreen to give even better deflection, and a deflector at the back behind the passenger seats which you can move up and down. I usually keep that one down, but I've only had my e Class since the end of August so haven't had a full summer whizzing around topless.

 

[jonnyboy]

Our Saab is pretty good in the front, as was our old 129. Not so for the rear passengers of course.
The aircap thingy is apparently automatic on some cars, and has a manual button on others. Not sure when it changed (I know the one we viewed yesterday had the button).
That Audi was terrible for swirling. Staggering really.

 

[Piff]

I think the auto pop up aircap came in with the facelift mid 2013. Ours is April 2013 and has the manual switch.

'twas pi55ing down when we tested the Audi so only tested with roof up. E-class roof is "acoustic" as standard - Audi's acoustic roof was an optional extra as was sat nav & leather.
Watch out on the e-class for real leather/artico. MB changed the standard spec frequently and many of the traders don't seem to realise the difference between the two, trying to pass off artico as real leather.

 

[tuonopepper]

Up the budget and get an Evoque convertible....no, OK.....

 

[jonnyboy]

Hell amighty, just seen the thread about 0% at main dealers. Haven't driven an E convertible yet to confirm its what we want, and its damned snowing. Argh. Typical.

 

[BTB 500]

Our Saab is pretty good in the front, as was our old 129. Not so for the rear passengers of course.

I've noticed with our R129 that it's often smoother in the front with the windows down than up, depending on the speed. I very rarely use the wind deflector.

When I was a nipper I used to ride in the back of my grandfather's XK150S drophead ... I needed a WW2 leather flying helmet and goggles for anything other than short trips

 

[jonnyboy]

Saab seems better windows up than down, 129 I agree with you Bill.