20 cheap used winter convertibles
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Convertibles in cold weather
© MiniOh, the weather outside is frightful, but there’s never been a better time to buy a convertible. Demand for drop-tops takes a seasonal dip in the winter, which means prices tend to be lower. With this in mind, we’ve selected 20 cheap convertibles that are perfect for beating the winter blues. Our choices are presented in alphabetical order. The list also includes three wildcards that might tempt you into splashing a little more cash.
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Alfa Romeo Spider: from £5,000
© Alfa RomeoLaunched here in 2007, the Alfa Romeo Spider was based on the Brera coupe and was just as beautiful to look at. There are three engines to choose from – 2.2- and 3.2-litre petrol units or a 2.4 diesel – with the petrol V6 available with Alfa’s Q4 all-wheel-drive system for some winter reassurance. The Spider is surprisingly reliable for an Alfa Romeo, but don’t expect sports car thrills; this is more of a grand tourer.
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Audi A4 Cabriolet: from £1,500
© AudiThere are several different Audi convertibles available at the bottom end of the market, including the TT and A5, but for the best blend of style and price, we’re recommending the A4 Cabriolet. At its launch in 2001, this four-seater rag-top was one of the most desirable cars on the road – and the passing of a quarter of a century has done little to dilute its appeal. The electric folding roof opens or closes in just 24 seconds.
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BMW 3 Series Convertible: from £1,500
© BMWAt the turn of the millennium, the BMW 3 Series Convertible was the drop-top to be seen in. Although the E46 3 Series debuted in 1998, we had to hold on a couple of years for the 3 Series Convertible, but it was worth the wait. Along with the build quality and strong image you’d associate with the tin-top models, the 3er Convertible performed miracles by offering similar levels of agility and finesse. While other four-seat convertibles were designed for boulevards, the BMW felt equally at home on a B-road.
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Ford Focus CC: from £1,000
© FordThe Ford Focus CC (Coupe-Cabriolet) was billed as two cars in one: ‘a sporty coupe with the roof up; a sophisticated cabriolet with the roof down’. While it couldn’t live up to the ‘sporty’ tag, it was certainly classy and one of several coupe-cabriolets available in the UK. In many ways, convertibles with metal folding roofs make perfect sense in the UK, because you can drive a coupe on the 360 days when it rains, then lower the roof on the five days of sunshine.
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Jaguar XK8: from £6,000
© JaguarLaunched in 1996, the XK8 (X100) was a return to form for Jaguar. Alongside the equally alluring coupe, the XK8 convertible was powered by a new 4.0-litre V8 engine mated to a five-speed automatic transmission. The supercharged XKR arrived in 1998, before Jaguar replaced the 4.0-litre engine with a 4.2-litre unit in 2002. Convertibles are more expensive than coupes, but you’re worth it, or something.
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Jeep Wrangler: from £5,000
© JeepAnd now for something completely different. While we accept that a Jeep Wrangler probably makes more sense on the American West Coast than it does in Weston-super-Mare or West Bromwich, few other convertibles offer the same blend of presence and off-road ability. While most of the convertibles on our list will take you to the beach car park, the Wrangler will allow you to continue to the shoreline – with the appropriate permission…
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Mazda MX-5: from £1,000
© MazdaIf in doubt, buy a Mazda MX-5. For around 35 years, the MX-5 has been the default choice for buyers looking for affordable fun, helping it to become the world’s best-selling sports car. Pound-for-pound, the third-generation (NC) model is arguably the best choice at this end of the market, although rust is something you need to pay close attention to. Other junior sports cars are available, but the MX-5 should be on your shortlist.
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Mercedes-Benz SLK: from £2,000
© Mercedes-BenzWhile you could opt for the earlier and cheaper ‘R170’ SLK, we reckon the smart money goes on the second-generation ‘R171’ model. Although it might look similar to its ground-breaking predecessor, the R171 SLK was an improvement in just about every department, including rust protection, ride and handling. At this end of the market, it’s best to buy on mileage, history and condition rather than engine size, although we’d still lean towards the SLK 350 and its creamy 3.5-litre V6.
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Mini Convertible: from £1,500
© MiniIt only seems like yesterday when people were queuing around the block to get their mitts on one of the most desirable small convertibles on the planet. And yet, in a blink of an eye, two decades have passed since the launch of the Mini Convertible. All versions were powered by the same 1.6-litre petrol engine, although a supercharger was added to create the Cooper S. It’s huge fun to drive with or without the top down – and it still looks a million bucks.
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Nissan Micra C+C: from £1,200
© NissanWait, before you skip to the next slide, give the Nissan Micra C+C a chance. Not only is it surprisingly practical – a 457-litre boot is positively cavernous, even if it shrinks to 255 litres with the roof down – and you almost certainly won’t see another one on the commute to the office. The best bit is the glass roof, which allows light to flood in, even when it’s closed. The Micra C+C is available in pink, but it’s not a car for shrinking violets.
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Peugeot 308 CC: from £1,500
© PeugeotA Peugeot would be a good option if you’re after a convertible for less than a grand and you don’t mind a few electrical gremlins. Take your pick from either the 206 CC, 207 CC or 307 CC. We’d recommend setting your sights a little higher by choosing the 308 CC, for which prices start from around £1,500. It’s not the prettiest convertible on the market – that electric folding roof has to go somewhere – but it’s quiet with the top down and there are plenty of used examples to choose from.
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Renault Megane Coupe-Cabriolet: from £1,000
© RenaultAlthough 2004 is a long time ago, the fact that the Renault Megane Coupe-Cabriolet (CC) achieved a five-star Euro NCAP rating for adult occupant protection is one reason to choose this cheap convertible. Its rating also stems from a time when physical crash protection was more important than a reliance on driver assistance tech, so you stand a better chance of walking away from a collision should the worst happen.
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Range Rover Evoque Convertible: from £15,000
© JLRAlthough this isn’t one of our wildcards – keep reading until the end for those – we reckon you might be surprised by the prices of used Range Rover Evoque Convertibles. One of these would have cost around £50,000 when new, so the fact that you can buy one for as little as £15,000 might tempt you into one of the most ‘Marmite’ cars of the past decade. We reckon off-roading with the roof down could be a lot of fun, especially in the snow.
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Saab 9-3 Convertible: from £1,500
© SaabIf the Audi A4 Cabriolet and BMW 3 Series Convertible are too obvious, take a look at the Saab 9-3 Convertible. It may have been launched in 2003, but this second-generation model still cuts a mean figure, while a network of Saab specialists should ensure that keeping one on the road isn’t as difficult or costly as you might think. This is also one of the safest convertibles you can buy.
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Vauxhall Cascada: from £3,500
© VauxhallAvailable to buy new from 2013 until 2018, about the only thing the Vauxhall Cascada lacked was the right badge. Don’t let its relatively sober styling fool you, because the Cascada felt better made than other Vauxhall cars of the era, with enough space for four adults, plus a fabric roof that could be raised or lowered electrically in just 17 seconds at speeds up to 30mph. Yours for as little as £3,500.
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Volkswagen Beetle Cabriolet: from £1,000
© VWThe Cabriolet version of the Volkswagen Beetle arrived in 2003, four years after the launch of the regular model. It was one of the trendiest cars of the era, with fashion conscious buyers happy to look beyond the limited practicality, tight rear legroom and questionable styling with the roof down. If you’re worried about things going wrong, choose the Luna model, because while the others have an electric roof, you have to do it yourself in the entry-level car.
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Volvo C70: from £1,000
© VolvoWe can think of few better convertibles for the winter than one with a Volvo badge. Unveiled at the 1996 Paris Motor Show, the C70 convertible looks as good today as it did nearly three decades ago – yes, it has been that long. For something newer, it’d be worth considering the second-generation model (2006-2013), which boasts a three-piece roof designed by Pininfarina.
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Aston Martin DB7 Volante: from £20,000
© Aston MartinRight, we’re entering wildcard territory with the Aston Martin DB7 Volante. We’re not saying a starting price of around £20,000 is ‘cheap’, but in terms of badge appeal and desirability, we think it’s worth its weight in gold. On the flip side, an affordable DB7 is likely to be cheap for a reason and running costs will be more ‘Aston’ than ‘Austin’.
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Bentley Continental GTC: from £20,000
© BentleyAgain, you’ll need to buy with your head and your heart if you’re looking at spending £20k on a convertible with a 6.0-litre W12 engine. But just imagine spending the colder months in the company of a Bentley. This would have been a six-figure car when new. Depreciation has taken a huge bite out of the price, even if keeping this thing on the road will be anything but cheap.
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Maserati Spyder: from £17,000
© MaseratiAnd finally, why not try something Italian? No, that’s not a rhetorical question, because owning a Maserati Spyder could be a lot of fun. Power is sourced from a 4.2-litre V8 engine that can propel this drop-dead gorgeous drop-top to 60mph in around five seconds. It boasts the styling of an Italian supercar with the running costs to match.
