Car suggestions for Euro road trip: up to £15k
Discussion
Hi chaps, so I'm starting to do the planning for a Euro road trip for June 2017. It will be just me and the wife (last holiday before the inevitable kids!) and we're looking to go for 3-4 weeks around France, Italy, Switzerland as we've both got some extended leave due.
The only car in the family is a 2009 VW Scirocco DSG that my wife drives to work, but I'm looking to sell this and get something a bit more exciting for the trip. I'm working abroad from next August, so will need to sell anything I buy before then so it won't be a long term keeper (so looking to keep depreciation as low as possible). Rough criteria as follows:
- Convertible of some type (seems like the best way to experience the sights?)
- Happy with a 2 seater conv (but concerned if there'd be enough boot space with the roof down? We've got to take enough stuff for 2 people for a month... and my wife struggles to travel lightly
)
- Budget: max £15k
- Prefer an auto (wife will be doing some of the driving on the trip and she'll drive it to work when we get back to the UK and she doesn't do manual
)
To give you an idea, I've been thinking about the following:
1) BMW Z4 (something like the sDrive 30i or 35i)
2) Audi TTS Roadster s-tronic
3) Merc SLk55 AMG (always wanted one of these cos of the glorious engine).
Only concern with the above is the lack of boot space with the roof down. I've also looked at the Audi A5 convertible, but it's a bit of a barge and I can only get a slow cooking engine for my budget (I only like the facelift model).
Grateful for any thoughts on the above or other suggestions you guys may have
The only car in the family is a 2009 VW Scirocco DSG that my wife drives to work, but I'm looking to sell this and get something a bit more exciting for the trip. I'm working abroad from next August, so will need to sell anything I buy before then so it won't be a long term keeper (so looking to keep depreciation as low as possible). Rough criteria as follows:
- Convertible of some type (seems like the best way to experience the sights?)
- Happy with a 2 seater conv (but concerned if there'd be enough boot space with the roof down? We've got to take enough stuff for 2 people for a month... and my wife struggles to travel lightly
) - Budget: max £15k
- Prefer an auto (wife will be doing some of the driving on the trip and she'll drive it to work when we get back to the UK and she doesn't do manual
)To give you an idea, I've been thinking about the following:
1) BMW Z4 (something like the sDrive 30i or 35i)
2) Audi TTS Roadster s-tronic
3) Merc SLk55 AMG (always wanted one of these cos of the glorious engine).
Only concern with the above is the lack of boot space with the roof down. I've also looked at the Audi A5 convertible, but it's a bit of a barge and I can only get a slow cooking engine for my budget (I only like the facelift model).
Grateful for any thoughts on the above or other suggestions you guys may have
You mentioned not wanting to take the hit on depreciation, but for 15k or probably less have you considered getting something newer but less exciting, like one of those Kias with the 7 year warranty? Sounds better than breaking down somewhere in southern Italy and paying a local mafia-run garage the same amount you would have lost due to mileage anyway.
Edited by stev58 on Wednesday 26th October 19:07
For you budget you could get an Audi S5, which is a car with decent handling but the space you needplus it shouldn't depreciate to much.
2009 S5 80k FSH
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2016...
2006 M3 57k FBMWSH
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2016...
2004 CLK55 AMG 80k FSH (Same engine as the SLK in a more practical package & it's still fun)
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Mercedes-CLK-55-AMG-5-4-...
2005 3.2S Porsche Boxster 57k FSH
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2016...
2009 S5 80k FSH
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2016...
2006 M3 57k FBMWSH
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2016...
2004 CLK55 AMG 80k FSH (Same engine as the SLK in a more practical package & it's still fun)
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Mercedes-CLK-55-AMG-5-4-...
2005 3.2S Porsche Boxster 57k FSH
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2016...
Thanks for the suggestions guys.
I must admit I do like the thought of the 3.2 Boxster S and hadn't really thought about them! There don't seem to be many tiptronics around (for obvious reasons) but I'll keep my eye out. It's got the small bit of storage in the front boot as well which is a definite bonus.
Mikeyr, I like the thought of a 911 as well, but I think the smaller 987 Boxster is more 'us' at the moment. If the budget stretched to a 997 then that would be a bit more of a difficult choice!
I must admit I do like the thought of the 3.2 Boxster S and hadn't really thought about them! There don't seem to be many tiptronics around (for obvious reasons) but I'll keep my eye out. It's got the small bit of storage in the front boot as well which is a definite bonus.
Mikeyr, I like the thought of a 911 as well, but I think the smaller 987 Boxster is more 'us' at the moment. If the budget stretched to a 997 then that would be a bit more of a difficult choice!
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