Cabriolets

[Accy cyclist]

I need help folks! It's that time of the year when we fancy a soft top,especially with the recent weather. Yesterday after having my tyre valve dust cap problem sorted out i saw a couple of soft tops up for sale at the nearby motor traders.
https://www.britanniacarsales.co.uk...ble-1-6-one-2dr-oswaldtwistle-202104010850904

https://www.britanniacarsales.co.uk...ble-1-6-one-2dr-oswaldtwistle-202104231726411

The yellow one doesn't appeal so much as i already have a yellow Mini and i think mine looks better than the one in the link. However,the red one does,especially the red interior bits. I've bought my last 2 cars from this place. I just know they'll give me about £1000 for my 2006 Diesel Mini and then sell it for not much less than the cars i'm linking.
What do you reckon.🤔

 

[Accy cyclist]

https://www.britanniacarsales.co.uk...ble-1-6-one-2dr-oswaldtwistle-202104010850904

'Only, Radio WAVE (Radio/Cassette',it says in the write up. Heck,that's a bad selling point! I haven't had a car with a chew the tapes up,cassette player for about 20 years.

 

[HMS_Dave]

What about selling your current one privately? It's about the only way you won't get rinsed by the dealers on your car...

 

[Accy cyclist]

What about selling your current one privately? It's about the only way you won't get rinsed by the dealers on your car...

I haven't sold a car privately in years. The last one was in 2007,when i paid for an advert in the local paper. My,how times have changed eh!😏
I have bad memories of 'let's test the gearbox out' boy racers and 'can i pay you £1000 now and give you the rest next month' experiences. I know you can sell cars online now,but you'll still get the same time wasters coming to have a look.

 

[Bazzer]

Are your requirements for another Mini?
Subjective opinion of course, but older MX5 are much prettier. For example https://www.motors.co.uk/car-57662427/?i=5&m=sp

 

[Bonefish Blues]

Cheap mini diesel in good condition will sell for decent money all day long Accy. The red cab looks nice (hadn't realised these were so cheap) - I like a bit of diamante around my rim too

 

[Bonefish Blues]

Are your requirements for another Mini?
Subjective opinion of course, but older MX5 are much prettier. For example https://www.motors.co.uk/car-57662427/?i=5&m=sp

Buyer beware. They rust for fun - from the inside out.

 

[Gunk]

The red one looks really nice and original, I can’t believe how cheap they are.

 

[sheddy]

BINI: is there a comprehensive online guide on which engines to avoid ? I seem to remember some had timing chain problems.

We'll also need an automatic gearbox if/when when we replace our ancient ragtop.

 

[Accy cyclist]

I've watched a few videos about MK1/2 Mini convertibles.



According to what i've heard,the soft tops are 100 kilos heavier than the hard tops and the insurance for them is quite a lot higher. Also,they sup fuel quicker than my 1.3 Mini diesel. That'll be because of the engine size and the extra weight of the car i suppose.🤔

 

[Accy cyclist]

The red one looks really nice and original, I can’t believe how cheap they are.

They seem to be around the £2,400 to 2,500 mark for that year. You can splash out £22,750 on a brand new one,if you like.
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/new/202104191541894?advertising-location=at_cars
Those prominent headlights remind me of those novelty things like eyelashes for your car.

 

[Pale Rider]

The red one looks really nice and original, I can’t believe how cheap they are.

Seems cheap at first blush, although it is getting on for 15 years old and convertibles tend to depreciate faster than hard tops.

What about selling your current one privately? It's about the only way you won't get rinsed by the dealers on your car...

The dealer will want about £1,000 in Accy's car.

They will achieve that roughly by offering him £500 less than he could sell it privately, and by selling it for about £500 more than he could.

Their price on the convertible will be fairly firm at present, because it's the beginning of the selling season for them.

However, that season is notoriously short.

If they've still got the car in six weeks or so, they will want rid of it, rather than face the prospect of having it hang around the lot for another nine months.

 

[vickster]

How much will it cost to replace the soft top when it gets slashed?

 

[Spoked Wheels]

It isn't. Don't fall for BMW's marketing, count how many "Coopers" you see versus Mini "Ones", (it'll be more than ten to one), then realise how BMW have pulled off a masterclass of using an iconic name on an ordinary product to fool everyone that what they have is special rather than standard. There's nothing "Cooper" about a modern Mini Cooper.

Convertibles in the UK are like central heating in Doha. You might enjoy using it once or thrice in a year.
What makes me laugh is seeing people with the roof down in October, faces grimacing, teeth chattering, inwardly saying "I'm damn well using it regardless because people said I wouldn't!"

I've had 3 BMW cabriolets over the last 20 years and I still love them.

I wouldn't have one in a hot country though, I drove one in Florida years ago and waiting at traffic lights was a pain . Even here can get too hot at times.

I don't mind driving with the roof down in August at all, and when the winter comes I slap the hard roof on. My neighbour has a Mercedes with a foldable hard top but I prefer what I have .

 

[sheddy]

Assuming a proper heater, just drive topless all year round.