A friend of mine is looking to buy a 2 seater covertible for 20Kish and is looking for ideas.

I've obviously told him there is only one choice but he doesn't want the same as me.

What would you buy?

 

If you are not allowed an S2000.......

20k will not get you a Boxster, TVR etc. so you are looking at MX-5, MR2, MGTF, TT territory. Probably get banned from this board for life for saying this but.......probably go the TT route. Liked them when they first came out (far too common now though) and really not a big fan of MGTF or MR2. MX-5 doesn't really work for me either.

What's the problem with having the same car as you??. My approach would be to buy the best car I could with the cash I had. If he buys any other 2 seater he will see far more of them on the roads than if he got an S. Also.....he can go to meets etc. with you!!.

 

I drove an MX5 before getting an S2000. I'm a real fan and won't hear a word said against them...... Not hugely fast, but immensely chuckable and great fun to drive.

That said, the motoring mags seem to agree that the revised MR2 might just have the edge over the MX5 in terms of the overall package and driveability. I've never driven one so I can't really compare.

For me, the MR2 would have been too impractical as an only car, given what I understand about the complete lack of storage space.

 

Smart Roadster?

 

Agree!. MR2 gets good write ups........just not a fan of the looks and the storage is meant to be non-existent!.

Not dissing the MX-5........just that looks don't work for me personally.

All things being equal I'd be down the Honda garage with my 20k in two seconds flat, even if my mates all had them as well!. For the price, nothing compares.......but then I guess we all know that!!.

 

Fiat Barcetta....... if you can still get them new...... more exclusive than an MX-5 and faster too...... shame they are left hand drive.

 

The Vauxhall VX220. Internet price for a new one is

 

Does he want new or second hand?
Is he a driver or a poser (serious question, honest!)?
Is it a daily driver or a weekend car?

If I had 20 grand and the S2000 didn't exist - I'd be looking at the following (assuming second hand is OK):-

Weekends only - (drivers cars)- Late TVR Griffith 500, TVR Chimaera, Elise.
Daily driver (drivers cars) - errrmmmmm, dunno, this was the reason I got the S2000, what else is there for the money that you can drive every day?
Poseurs car - TTR 180, SLK, Z3 (wouldn't touch them myself, but if you're not too worried about driver involvement then all are good quality, reliable, solid and apart from the Z3, good looking).

New
Drivers cars - MX-5, MR2 (probably not - no storage whatsoever).
Poseurs cars - StreetKa, Smart convertible (as long as he doesn't mind the jibes....)

 

I agree with MT, I had an MX-5 before the S, great fun to drive. Unfortunately very common, more so than the TT. Dont like saying it but TT is his best option.

 

He doesn't mind buying used so boxsters and TVR's (although quite old) come into play.

MX5 nice car but not quick enough, MR2 could you really live with those frog eye headlights?

I suggested either a Boxster, Elise or TT.