£35k; 4 seater convertible

[bobsavage789]

Evening all,

It’s approaching that most exciting of times for serial car-changers like me: the build up to a new car.

I’ve had a few powerful cars in the past (highlight definitely being a TVR Tuscan), and miss going for a drive just for the sheer fun of it. There are still a few roads nearby which lend themselves to this, so cameras/potholes/execrable driving aren’t such an issue in this respect.

The car would also need to be usable as a daily, and occasionally have to fit two small children in the back. Boot size is not important. My commute is 7 miles each way, mostly through suburbs, with a single-lane A road as well.

Just to help me decide where my desires truly lie, I’d appreciate some feedback/ideas.

Must-haves:
- 4+ seats
- automatic
- 400+ BHP
- capable of dealing with some back roads at a fair lick
- 2018 onwards
- fewer than 40k or so miles
- surround-view cameras (small driveway!)
- convertible
- decent sound system
- £35k absolute maximum

Nice-to-haves:
- CarPlay (or an easy/cheap way of retrofitting)
- Nice exhaust/engine noise
- an “event” to drive
- cheap/easy to run



My top 2 are currently an M4 competition and a 205 generation C63. My budget seems to get me a newer M4 than C63.

I’ve also considered an E53 (feel this may be too barge-like) and a V8 Mustang (I don’t feel like the Ford would feel special enough inside; also not sure on how it handles). Anything else?

Any feedback on the M4/C63 and their suitability for the above requirements?

As ever, thanks in advance for any help!

[Quattr04.]

Audi RS5
Bentley GTC
Aston Martin db9
Late jaguar XKR - not sure about car play but could change the headunit and fit cameras?
Maserati grand cabrio?
C43 is cheaper than a c63?

You could also get S class convertibles for that money but much more barge than the others


All of those cars are on auto trader in your budget, although the c63 and m4 are most popular, I’m not sure the cheap and easy to run will be fulfilled by any though

Edited by Quattr04. on Tuesday 21st January 20:08

[cerb4.5lee]

I've had my December 2018 F82 M4 Coupe for almost 4 years and 34k miles now. They're a great performance car I reckon, and I definitely recommend them.

I also test drove a new F83 M4 Convertible back in 2016 and I really liked it. I thought it made a decent noise roof down as well, and M4's aren't usually known for the noise they make generally, but I liked it.

[bobsavage789]

cerb4.5lee said:

I've had my December 2018 F82 M4 Coupe for almost 4 years and 34k miles now. They're a great performance car I reckon, and I definitely recommend them.

I also test drove a new F83 M4 Convertible back in 2016 and I really liked it. I thought it made a decent noise roof down as well, and M4's aren't usually known for the noise they make generally, but I liked it.

Thanks Lee. I’ve read a fair bit of your M4 thread as it happens.

How do you find it on some of our “lovey” British roads? I’ve heard the suspension is less pliable than that if the C63…

[ZX10R NIN]

The Mustang is a good steer (not as sharp as the M3/AMG/RS options but for a convertible it's good & it feels special at low speed too:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202408072...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202412067...

The E53 is a good steer & worth a test drive:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202411076...

Saying that the C63 S is an event full stop, but it is a smaller cabin:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202412097...

The Gran Cabrio is the obvious pick but it's outside of your age range:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202501208...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202412016...

When it comes to an M Convertible I'd actually suggest the M6:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202501168...

[cerb4.5lee]

bobsavage789 said:

Thanks Lee. I’ve read a fair bit of your M4 thread as it happens.

How do you find it on some of our “lovey” British roads? I’ve heard the suspension is less pliable than that if the C63…

The ride can be a bit harsh at times(but I'm in my 50's now and I tend to moan about stuff generally! ), but being completely honest it is fine to throw down a nice B road in the right conditions. It will move around a bit, but it is a very rewarding car to drive quickly though, and I guarantee that it will raise a smile.

It can be a bit of a handful in less than ideal conditions though in fairness, but it has a good chassis, and yes the rearend is stiff, but that adds to it dynamically in a way though I think. It is very rewarding when you get it right if you know what I mean, but it can also do the boring stuff well too. A very Jekyll and Hyde car I think.

[bobsavage789]

ZX10R NIN said:

The Mustang is a good steer (not as sharp as the M3/AMG/RS options but for a convertible it's good & it feels special at low speed too:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202408072...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202412067...

The E53 is a good steer & worth a test drive:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202411076...

Saying that the C63 S is an event full stop, but it is a smaller cabin:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202412097...

The Gran Cabrio is the obvious pick but it's outside of your age range:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202501208...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202412016...

When it comes to an M Convertible I'd actually suggest the M6:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202501168...

Thanks ZX.

I suspect the Maserati would be the ultimate in the “event” stakes, but am concerned about upkeep costs (I had a quick look at how much brake discs were and it’s not pretty!).

I like the idea of an M6, but have read that the back seats are actually smaller than an M4. I’m also concerned about how boat-like it’d be round a twistier road. Why do you think it is the better M car?

[bobsavage789]

cerb4.5lee said:

bobsavage789 said:

Thanks Lee. I’ve read a fair bit of your M4 thread as it happens.

How do you find it on some of our “lovey” British roads? I’ve heard the suspension is less pliable than that if the C63…

The ride can be a bit harsh at times(but I'm in my 50's now and I tend to moan about stuff generally! ), but being completely honest it is fine to throw down a nice B road in the right conditions. It will move around a bit, but it is a very rewarding car to drive quickly though, and I guarantee that it will raise a smile.

It can be a bit of a handful in less than ideal conditions though in fairness, but it has a good chassis, and yes the rearend is stiff, but that adds to it dynamically in a way though I think. It is very rewarding when you get it right if you know what I mean, but it can also do the boring stuff well too. A very Jekyll and Hyde car I think.

I need something that can do the boring bits as well, so that’s good to hear!

I think I’m right in saying you have a non-comp M4: have you driven a competition version to compare the suspension? I read somewhere that the non-comp had a livelier rear end…

[cerb4.5lee]

bobsavage789 said:

I need something that can do the boring bits as well, so that’s good to hear!

I think I’m right in saying you have a non-comp M4: have you driven a competition version to compare the suspension? I read somewhere that the non-comp had a livelier rear end…

Yes and I do have the non-comp. I haven't had a go in the comp to be fair, but I believe that there isn't a massive difference between the later non-comp cars like mine in comparison to the comp cars though. However I do believe that there was a fair bit of difference between the early(2014 onwards) non-comp cars and the comp cars though.

I went non-comp because I wanted the 19" wheels rather than the 20" ones on the comp to help the ride. But I later realised that you could actually get the 19" wheels on the comp cars anyway to be fair.

I had a F13 640d on the 20" wheels, and that was a hard ride, so I was just trying to avoid that really. I have read that most owners are happy with the 20" wheels on the comp anyway, so I wouldn't let that worry you to be honest.

I think the M4 Convertible that I took out back in 2016 was a comp car, but it is that long ago that I can't remember what the ride was like though!

Good luck with your search either way bud.

[DanL]

bobsavage789 said:

Thanks ZX.

I suspect the Maserati would be the ultimate in the “event” stakes, but am concerned about upkeep costs (I had a quick look at how much brake discs were and it’s not pretty!).

I like the idea of an M6, but have read that the back seats are actually smaller than an M4. I’m also concerned about how boat-like it’d be round a twistier road. Why do you think it is the better M car?

The M6 isn’t a four seater - it’s a 2+2, based on my experience owning a 650 cabrio. The 4 series is significantly larger in the back. The 6 looks nicer though!

[bobsavage789]

DanL said:

bobsavage789 said:

Thanks ZX.

I suspect the Maserati would be the ultimate in the “event” stakes, but am concerned about upkeep costs (I had a quick look at how much brake discs were and it’s not pretty!).

I like the idea of an M6, but have read that the back seats are actually smaller than an M4. I’m also concerned about how boat-like it’d be round a twistier road. Why do you think it is the better M car?

The M6 isn’t a four seater - it’s a 2+2, based on my experience owning a 650 cabrio. The 4 series is significantly larger in the back. The 6 looks nicer though!

That’s what I thought. I think the interior of the 6 looks like a step up on the 4, even though it’s supposedly smaller.

[Fessia fancier]

For me it would be the Maserati. Parts from Eurospares are somewhat less expensive

[Swoxy]

[cerb4.5lee]

Swoxy said:

That is a rarity with it being a manual for sure.

[irish boy]

M4’s are a great car but by no means are they cheap to run. Just go in with eyes open.

https://forums.m3cutters.co.uk/threads/m4-ownershi...

[cerb4.5lee]

irish boy said:

M4’s are a great car but by no means are they cheap to run. Just go in with eyes open.

https://forums.m3cutters.co.uk/threads/m4-ownershi...

Other than the routine main dealer servicing, I haven't spent anything over and above on mine to be fair(Coupe).

[bobsavage789]

irish boy said:

M4’s are a great car but by no means are they cheap to run. Just go in with eyes open.

https://forums.m3cutters.co.uk/threads/m4-ownershi...

Absolutely: one of the things the C63 has going in its favour is that it seems to be cheaper to run (insurance is lower) and my research suggests it’s less “highly strung” than an M4.

If I did go with the M4, I’d be looking to get a BMW (not 3rd party!) warranty, to avoid any nasty surprises…

[bobsavage789]

cerb4.5lee said:

irish boy said:

M4’s are a great car but by no means are they cheap to run. Just go in with eyes open.

https://forums.m3cutters.co.uk/threads/m4-ownershi...

Other than the routine main dealer servicing, I haven't spent anything over and above on mine to be fair(Coupe).

Helpful to know, Lee. Thanks!

[TREMAiNE]

ZX10R NIN said:

The Mustang is a good steer (not as sharp as the M3/AMG/RS options but for a convertible it's good & it feels special at low speed too:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202408072...

Personally, I feel that they don't feel special at low speeds at all. It's quite muted and boring unless you're having a play, and I had mine for nearly 4 years.
I can honestly say my MX5 ND feels more special than the Mustang did at 30mph.

[ZX10R NIN]

bobsavage789 said:

Thanks ZX.

I suspect the Maserati would be the ultimate in the “event” stakes, but am concerned about upkeep costs (I had a quick look at how much brake discs were and it’s not pretty!).

I like the idea of an M6, but have read that the back seats are actually smaller than an M4. I’m also concerned about how boat-like it’d be round a twistier road. Why do you think it is the better M car?

Space is a little tighter in the back but I'd say try one as for some it''s not an issue, as for the handling it's a proper M car there's no barge like behaviour, while it's physically bigger it's handling isn't a reason not to buy one.

Then there's the drivetrain which is effortless when you're not on it but an absolute beast when you are (only the C63 S comes close) & it has a much nicer noise.

This is my personal opinion but I would suggest driving one.

The brakes on the Maserati are no worse than the C63 etc BUT they do work through suspension components at a higher rate apart from that if you're using a specialist they won't cost more than any of the above.