We may be looking at a replacement for the super reliable KIA shopping trolley this year. It's only done 15000 in five years since new but she fancies a change.
It must be replaced by small convertible4 seaterautopetrol job 2 or 4 door with 4 seats.
As it's only going to be another shopping trolley I'm obviously thinking second hand;
Fiat 500, Mini, Vauxhall, I know from experience that Peugeot are costly on parts & I know nothing about the VW product.
I would be interested if anyone on here has experiences or recommendations I might find useful.
Why Four seats Joe? Most small Convertibles have small boots - it goes with the overall size. A two door with rear seats can be a pain in the back, if you use the rear seats to load the shopping, unless you drop the top that is. Never had a convertible myself, though I have had several sportscars - - - - -. (A’hmmm)
Focus CC3s are quite cheap. Getting rid of a diesel one soon, which is of not much use to you, but reliability has been impeccible. Huge boot with roof up, and still decent size with roof down (access not that great though). Clarkson kind of liked it. Post 2008 models are best; not only facelifted, but Ford pretty much redid the Pininfarina factory where they were made to ensure they were leak proof. The Volvo equivalent convertible was made at the same place.
Only 4 door will be a Lincoln, circa 1965. Or a 110 Defender…
It’s a real pain Jerry but we often go to Swansea to stay with & help out one of my daughters who has 2 young daughters (6 & 7) so back door do not matter. sometimes I am forced to go in the shopping trolley so there is a back seat for the girls; I still cannot understand why they can’t go on the bus but grandma says noo.
I have a Saab 9-3 1.9TiD ‘09’ which was purchased 3 years ago for myself and 3 adults to tour Germany. At the time my intention was to sell it after a year but it is such a well built and comfortable car I have every intention of keeping it for a few more years. In fact we are off again to Germany in July!
Were I to do the exercise again I would purchase a 1.8 / 2.0 petrol Turbo, as in the long run they are cheaper to run than the diesel and have fewer long term issues.
Joe Understand the problem re grandchildren. I have to use the Octavia to pick up grandson from Sheffield. I suggested that Grandma goes on the bus and me and grandson in MX5. Can’t repeat what her reply was!.
Before I bought the MX5 I looked at both the Audi A4, VW Golf convertible and the Beetle. You get Audi/VW reliability but they are not cheap even secondhand.
But they’re built on Vauxhall Vectra underpinnings … so don’t expect it to corner anything like as well as an MX-5.
I had a Vectra diesel as a company car some years ago. I say without a shadow of a doubt that it was by far the worst handling car I’ve ever driven.
I gave it them back as soon as I was given a choice. So did almost 200 other employees! They had to rent a field to park them all until they could be auctioned off.
Volvo do a nice drop top, if a little too big for my tastes. So do BMW (3 series), if you want rwd and good handling
