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Tyres  /  Tyre NewsPerformance Tyres  /  5 used convertibles

Summer lovin’: 5 used convertibles from £1,000 to £20,000

 
Mercedes SLC
Continental tyres

Want to soak in the five minutes of British summer, without breaking the bank? Drop the top with one of these five uber-affordable, used cabriolets.

Despite our tepid climate, we Brits go crazy for a good convertible. In fact, we were once crowned the convertible capital of Europe — purchasing more drop-tops per head than many, far sunnier nations. 

And, while recent years have seen that trend begin to tail off — likely due to an unstoppable surge in the popularity of SUVs — there’s still a plethora of new cabs to chose from.

But what if you don’t have a spare £200,000 to drop on a new Aston Martin DB12 Volante? Fear not, the used market is a cornucopia of cut-price convertibles, just waiting to be snapped up.

Whether you like a simple cloth top, or a more refined folding metal roof; an effortless grand tourer, or an engaging lightweight corner carver, our list has something for all tastes and budgets. So, crack out the sunnies and get ready to bathe in those illusive rays, with these five bargain convertibles.

£1,000: Audi TT (MK1)

Audi TT MK1
Audi's MK1 TT has aged remarkably well.Image credit: Audi

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An automotive style icon for the price of two weeks in Corfu? We’re not kidding: higher-mileage examples of Audi’s first-generation convertible TT really can be bagged for as little as £1,000.

So what does that meagre sum buy you? Well, the TT came in wide range of engines and power outputs —150, 180, 220, 240, or even a 247 bhp V6— and most can be had for around a grand if you’re willing to accept some wear and tear. That said, the 180-bhp four-cylinder turbocharged engine (with optional Quattro) is a fantastic all-rounder, and widely available.

As well as aiding performance off the line, that Quattro system, when paired with versatile summer tyre like Continental’s SportContact 7, makes the TT more than capable of tackling the odd unexpected British downpour. Hidden puddles? No problem. Sport Contact 7’s aquaplane resistance has you covered.

Whether you’re pottering around town with the roof down, or leaning on the TT’s respectable grip reserves in the twisties, you’ll struggle to find a more versatile roadster at this price point.

£5,000: Mazda MX-5 (NC2)

Mazda MX-5
MX-5 has always been a true driver's car.Image credit: Mazda

If you’re more concerned about nimble handling and communicative controls than wafting along in comfort, Mazda’s venerable MX-5 is hard to beat.

Now, we know there will be some who say “you’ve picked the wrong one!” about our choice of facelifted NC model, but hear us out. While some earlier versions of the MX-5 might offer an even rawer driving experience, for £5,000, we think the NC2’s improved daily drivability and refinement make for a more compelling package.
 
Sure, it’s a little heavier than its predecessor, but compared to 90% of cars on the road, this roadster still offers a truly immersive, unencumbered driving experience. And you’ll get to wring every last bit of performance out of that finely honed chassis, when fitted with Continental SportContact 7 tyres.

Afterall, when you’ve got engineers who are willing to shave mere grams off a plastic mirror housing to create the ultimate driving machine, why ruin their hard work by fitting sub-par rubber?

£10,000: BMW Z4 (E89)

BMW Z4
Road trips are a breeze in the E89 Z4.
Image credit:  Elis Cora - stock.adobe.com

Going back in the other direction a little, BMW’s second-generation Z4 — with its hardtop roof and luxurious leather cabin — perfects the cosseting grand touring convertible formula.

Given how rarely the British climate permits a roof-down blast, why not have a machine that feels just like a coupe when it’s raining? Thanks to a fully folding hardtop roof that can be deployed in just 20 seconds at speeds of up to 25 mph, the Z4 is the ideal choice for colder climes like the UK.

With that fancy origami roof in situ, road and wind noise are both kept at bay. And if you want to further enhance that refinement, the SportContact 7’s ContiSilent technology can reduce road noise by up to 9 dB(A).

But all that comfort and luxury doesn’t make the Z4 an inert or cumbersome machine in the bends. Let’s not forget BMW wrote the book on rear-drive handling, and the Z4’s 300-bhp straight-6 engine has more than enough grunt to thoroughly work the chassis.

£15,000: Mercedes SLC

Mercedes SLC
Who says convertibles can't be comfortable?Image credit: Mercedes

We’re getting into serious money now, but for what the SLC offers, we think it still represents phenomenal value. Like the Z4, the Mercedes boasts a swish folding metal roof, and excellent long-distance credentials.

Don’t expect razor sharp handling, though. The SLC majors in comfort and refinement, with leisurely cruising high on the agenda. And that’s no bad thing. With optional features like an AIRSCARF system to keep your neck toasty on chillier trips, and a superb Harman Kardon sound system, you’ll not want to rush anyway.

Plus, if you pick the 250d diesel model, you’ll even see an impressive 70.6 mpg! How’s that for guilt-free fun?

£20,000: Jaguar XK 5.0

Jaguar XK 5.0
A 5.0-litre big cat for the price of a Dacia Duster? Count us in.Image credit: Jaguar

And last but not least: Jaguar’s breathtaking XK convertible. Now we know £20,000 is still a lot of money — though early 4.2 pre-facelift examples can be bought for a fraction of that figure — but you’ll be hard pressed to find more luxury and style, for less.

With some considering it a modern-day alterative to the legendary E-Type, the late-model 5.0-litre XK is still one of the best-looking cars on the road. Sure, it’s not quite as sharp as its hardtop brother to drive, but with a sonorous 380-bhp V8 growling away under the bonnet, will you care? Oh, and don’t forget that effortless continent-crossing ability. When it comes to fast drop-top GTs, we think this is as good as it gets.

That said, you will need some serious tyres to rein in all that power and torque — especially in the wet. Luckily, Continental’s SportContact 7 was designed with high-performance rear-wheel drive applications in mind.  As a standard fitment option for exotics like Maserati, the SportContact 7’s Harmonised BlackChili compound should have little trouble transferring the XK’s power to the tarmac.

So there you have it, our five used convertibles under £20,000. Let us know if we’ve tempted you to some wind-in-the-hair motoring this summer, or if we’ve missed your favourite used drop-top.

Hero image credit:  OrthsMedien - stock.adobe.com

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