4-7k 4 seat cab

[Macron]

Hello all,

Four proper seats, or at least possible to get child seat in the back. Usable boot ideally. Euro 4 petrol min. Reasonably low insurance and tax.

Basically one kid has bought a 2005 A4 1.8T for a couple of K, her brother in the centre of car hating Birmingham now wants a roofless car, but kids will be on the way.

Contenders seem to be:

Another A4, although the droopy post 06 front is not appealing, and no one has anything good to say about the A5.

3 series with folding hard top. Seems a no brainer to me, although the roof going in the boot means there is little luggage space, but what can you do. 2.0 petrol, so some show, if not go.

Merc CLK, decent boot, up to 2009 available, although the engine would be the 1.8 supercharged one. I think they look smart in Sport spec, is the fabric roof much cop?

No interest in Mini, Volvo/ Ford.

What else is there, Golf? Are they much cop?

Suggestions and experience welcome!

[paradigital]

Not exactly the same, but I run a 440i convertible with a 3 year old and a newborn. This would roughly equate to the size and usability of the 3-series on your list. I find there is just enough room in the boot for a day-trip, and easily enough for running around to grandparent's places or friends houses, etc. Even with the roof down there's enough luggage space for the kind of paraphernalia we take to the aforementioned places.

You do have to be careful with choice of buggy/pram though if you want to be able to slot one in. As the 3 year old can and will walk, it's easier to keep the newborn either in her car seat when sleeping, or in a sling with mummy if we are taking the 4-series out though.

I wouldn't entertain the idea if it were our only car however. The wife has a Skoda Yeti (that we'll probably replace this year) that does us proud for longer trips away (domestic holidays and the like).

[KomodoWagon]

I had an A3 Cabriolet for a while and it was pretty good on all fronts -- although when it came to putting baby seats in it (for my nieces and nephews, I don't have kids myself), it was a total pain. Mainly to do with gaining access to the back seat.

I don't think I'd have been able to fit a folded buggy in the boot -- more to do with aperture than boot size, though.

That said, for two people it was great and the roof was excellent -- triple layer fabric, and when it was up the car was virtually as quiet for road and engine noise as an A3 hatchback.

For up to £7k I think the options are basically A4, A5, CLK, 3 Series, Volvo C70 or Saab 9-3. Maybe Lexus SC430 if you can find one (most of them that are under 7k are older and won't meet emissions standards for Brum -- see below).

Overall I'm not sure 'two-door convertible' and 'new baby' mix very well. Unless your lad's got room for two cars, I'd be suggesting he went for something more practical.

What's more, with Birmingham's Clean Air Zone coming in from June this year, he'll need to find a car that qualifies. Just another dimension to factor in.

[Macron]

Indeed, Brum is the same Euro 4 petrol/ 6 diesel as everywhere with charges, so all those on my OP are good.

SC430 back seats look comical, I would think the others in my OP are more likely candidates.

I agree they're not a great mix, I can see this being a short lived affair! They're used to no car and trains though, personally I don't fancy that with a kid anytime, I have four and think I can count on one hand how many times that was done!

Edited by Macron on Friday 9th April 12:08

[ZX10R NIN]

Leftfield first:

V70 T5 Sport

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202103300...

I'd say the CLK200 Sport would be my pick:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202104081...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202104061...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202104030...

2.0T A5 S Line

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202103160...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202103210...

3.2 A4

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202104030...

320i M Sport

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202009304...

[Macron]

T5 is nice, even in fridge white, but £565 tax is a no.

What do you make of the CLK with the weedy engine ZX10? I think from memory you're a fan of one's with a real engine, but this will be a diet version. I've walked past two 07 plates today, one hard one soft, both with rusty back arches. Is that a stock feature? Anything else to look out for?

[ZX10R NIN]

The 200 is adequate but a nice place to be the front of the rear arches can suffer with surface rust from constantly being hit with tiny stones from the rear tyres, it's a £200 fix but if you get a good one that shouldn't be an issue.

Also the first one I linked to has obviously just had it's wheels refurbished as they've managed to put the drivers side rear wheel on the front & vice versa.