4 seat, folding hardtop convertible suggestions needed

[Domdom]

Why does it have to be a hard top?

The wife has a Merc E220 Cab, electric roof which folds away completely. Yes it’s fabric but fully lined etc and you wouldn’t know the difference. Proper 4 seater. C class version is similar but the back is only for pygmies.

 

[pedrobedro]

VW eos is 4 seat iirc?

My friend had one and the back seat is not very generous.

 

[Wedg1e]

One of the girls at work has a BMW something or other with a retracting hard-top... maybe an older 4-series?
I've had a google for pics but can't seem to see one that looks the same
Ford Skyliner would be the way forward

Ford Fairlane 500 Skyliner - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[Wedg1e]

some consider them mobile ash trays and sling tab ends in

I've had some t!t toss a Coke can into the TVR I handed it back to him, politely
Also once stood in a queue at a supermarket till while two knobbers outside tried standing on the rear underwing, presumably to see if it would move?

 

[RWD3M]

Peugeot 308 ?

Looks like they were discontinued around 2013.

But thanks.

 

[RWD3M]

Why does it have to be a hard top?

The wife has a Merc E220 Cab, electric roof which folds away completely. Yes it’s fabric but fully lined etc and you wouldn’t know the difference. Proper 4 seater. C class version is similar but the back is only for pygmies.

Hi Domdom,

Because she's had 2 or 3 soft tops and they have all leaked badly and caused her problems.

I have tried to persuade her otherwise!

On the soft top front though Mercs seem to fair quite well.

Thanks,

 

[slim_boy_fat]

and they have all leaked badly and caused her problems.

I'm sure I've read elsewhere that hardtops can leak too.

 

[RWD3M]

Volvo C70, they're a nice car.

Hadn't thought of the Volvo. They are also getting a bit long in the tooth now but they are a nice looking car.

Thanks Moose.

 

[RWD3M]

I'm sure I've read elsewhere that hardtops can leak too.

Oh no doubt! But she's decided she wants a folding hard top so who am I to argue

 

[Wedg1e]

I asked the bird at work and she said it's a BMW 320 petrol.

 

[CompoSimmonite]

Hi Domdom,

Because she's had 2 or 3 soft tops and they have all leaked badly and caused her problems.

I have tried to persuade her otherwise!

On the soft top front though Mercs seem to fair quite well.

Thanks,

Mate has a newish Golf convertible and plenty of rear room with excellent soft top

 

[CompoSimmonite]

£12-15k isn't going to get a newish car so you are probably looking at something approaching 10 years old

 

[Domdom]

Hi Domdom,

Because she's had 2 or 3 soft tops and they have all leaked badly and caused her problems.

I have tried to persuade her otherwise!

On the soft top front though Mercs seem to fair quite well.

Thanks,

The only way I can get hers to leak water in is to point the jetwash directly at where the windows hit the seals. That's it. We drove home from Kent a few months back in very hard rain, 180 odd miles. Nothing at all came in.

Hard top convertibles are variable on this. Woman next door had a peugeot 308 CC I think it was. Leaked like a sieve. Well it is French I suppose. The MD of our UK business has a convertible Mustang, which also leaks in spectacular fashion.

As with all things in life, Mercs (proper ones - remember that Mercedes starts with an E) are better built than cheap euroboxes. The BMW has similar build quality. My Wife's old XKR convertible didn't leak either, oh and neither did the DB9 Volanté. See the pattern forming? Personally I wouldn't buy a Eurobox thing unless it was a full hard top, well even then I'm not keen on the average fordvauxhallrenaultpeugoet type of mediocrity, but definitely no way I would buy a convertible of any sort from them.

The fabric doesn't leak, it's all the seals which do that. So to say a folding hardtop is more waterproof than a fabric roof is not the right comparison to be making. It's all about fit and finish round the points where the roof joins the rest of the car. Scuttle shake is also a good indicator of engineering, if it's present in any convertible the engineering wasn't done to a high enough standard, which will follow through into other areas of the car.

Hope that helps.

Dom

 

[Moose McAlpine]

Because she's had 2 or 3 soft tops and they have all leaked badly and caused her problems.

What were they?

Since 2003 my mum's has an Audi TT, Jag XK and Audi A5. All soft top convertibles, not a single leak.

I'm sure I've read elsewhere that hardtops can leak too.

Anything can leak. Just look at Land Rovers.

Hadn't thought of the Volvo. They are also getting a bit long in the tooth now but they are a nice looking car.

Thanks Moose.

Yeah, i think they were killed off around 2013. Nice cars though.

Oh no doubt! But she's decided she wants a folding hard top so who am I to argue

You're pretty limited in options then. It'll probably be a Merc SL/SLK/SLC or a BMW 3/4 Series.

 

[RWD3M]

What were they?

Hi Moose,

She's had a couple of MX5's (different vintages), and I think there was a Peugeot or Renault something or other before those.

You're pretty limited in options then. It'll probably be a Merc SL/SLK/SLC or a BMW 3/4 Series.

Yeah it's looking like it. They seemed to be all the rage 10, 15 years ago but surprisingly little out there in the 5 years old league. The 4 Series (that seemed to take over from the 3 series, at least in convertible form) seems to get the best write ups and they can be found within her budget, just, but they're generally very high milers.

Appreciate the input

 

[Mick Annick]

I can never understand why anyone would want a convertable........

You clearly haven’t driven a Morgan

 

[Miranda]

Got a c70 here …. Great chicks car Also got a Grand Vitara 2000 … also a chicks car. Hardly ever take the roof down on either It’s too much effort even with the push button on the Volvo and it’s such a pain to ensure everything is fixed down and won’t fly out at 80 …,,

 

[James1979]

Hi all,

I'm seeking the opinion of the collective here. A friend of mine is looking for a 4 seat convertible. It has to have a folding hardtop rather than a soft top and she has a budget of around 12 - 15k.

Is there anything out there that is definitely worth a look or definitely woth avoiding?

TBH, I'm struggling to find anything that isn't German (not that that's necessarily a problem) but anything will be entertained.

Any suggestions? Even if it is only suggestions as to where I should look.

Cheers,

SWB series land rover?!

well the hard top is removable

 

[bert]

Is the Astra still available? Our accountant has one and that's a convertible hard top

 

[redlig]

try it one day, its nice on a hot summers day

and get your forehead and neck sunburned as well as having to wear a silly cap to keep the sun out of your eyes. I speak from experience not envy.