You can buy these convertibles for the whole family for €15,000

With fifteen grand in your pocket you can buy plenty of nice used stuff. Used, because new the offer is meager and very pricey. In addition to the three topless used cars portrayed, you could also think of a roofless BMW 3-series, a Saab 9-3 Cabriolet or the less on the radar Lancia Flavia and Opel Cascada.

Audi A5 Cabriolet 1.8 TFSI Pro Line S – 2012 – 188,443 kilometers – €13,950

When the A5 was introduced, opinions were unanimous: a beautiful car. Unfortunately, the sleek coupe, later followed by a convertible and a five-door hatchback, arrived at a time when quality and reliability were in reverse gear at Volkswagen/Audi. The result: a bad reputation and little retention of value. Because take this Audi A5: priced the same as the E-class and C70, but two years younger and with less experience than the latter. It is at a Volvo dealer and comes with a standard one-year statutory warranty. Then we might dare to purchase it. For that money you drive a beautiful, gracefully lined convertible whose fabric top can be closed in 17 seconds. The interior has a fairly businesslike design, but everything is where you expect it to be. Fortunately, the sports seats, covered with a combination of leather and Alcantara, with electrically adjustable lumbar support, are not too hard. The possible fifth passenger would have that experience: the topless A5 is strictly four-person, because a hard storage compartment separates the rear seats.

Under the hood is a blown 1.8, good for 170 hp. That is more than sufficient for a convertible; After all, it is more touring than scrubbing with such an open car. In addition, the steering, albeit sharp, is somewhat distant and the 76-TBG-5 (two ex-owners) only has front-wheel drive. Despite its promising appearance, a relaxed driving mode of the driver best suits this occasion; in this it does not differ from the other two. The first owner checked quite a few boxes on the options list, so that this four-wheeler is nicely complete. Seat heating, MMI navigation, climate control, LED daytime running lights, alarm, xenon, headlight washers and heated windshield washers are some of the features. Even a removable towbar (1,500 kilos braked towing capacity) is available. The photos show a used car that is in excellent condition. Who dares?

Signaling

Brand Audi
Type A5 Cabriolet 1.8 TFSI Pro Line S
Construction year January 2012
Mileage 188,443
Asking price €13,950
Where to buy? Volvo dealer Ton van Kuyk, Alkmaar

Technical data
Engine 4 cyl. in-line, 1,798 cc, turbo
Max. assets 125 kW/170 hp at 3,800 rpm
Max. couple 320 Nm at 1,400 rpm
Luggage compartment 320 l/nb
Max. trailer braked 1,500 kilos
Avg. consumption 1:16.1
0-100 km/h 8.7 sec
Top speed 222 km/h

All data according to factory specifications

Mercedes-Benz E 200 CGI BlueEfficiency Cabriolet – 2010 – 168,403 kilometers – €13,950

If convertible driving requires more of a stroll than a sporty approach, then a comfortable cruiser à la Mercedes-Benz E-class is of course also not to be sneezed at. We found this Mercedes-Benz E-class: the same asking price as the A5 (unfortunately there is a significant surcharge for the warranty: including extensive delivery, no less than €1,145 for no more than 6 months on rotating engine and gearbox parts), two years older, but less walked for miles. The 75-XZV-2 is from May 2010, has been in our country since September 2012 and has had four owners since then. He is standing at a universal car company in Dronten waiting for a sun-worshiping boss or mistress. He or she buys a used car that can beat the A5 in terms of equipment.

Its compatriot also has the same list of safety and comfort-enhancing items that we mentioned above, except for a few nuance differences. No leather and Alcantara upholstery here, but full leather, where we prefer Alcantara because of the support it offers. Also present: a windshield to prevent swirling and wind noise in the absence of rear passengers, and a five-speed automatic transmission instead of the Audi’s six-speed manual gearbox. We have no complaints about the materials used and build quality. Taller people have the most space in the front, but in the back this car is the tightest of the three and rear passengers, again a maximum of two, prefer to sit in the A5. The C70 is somewhere in between. The E drives like it looks: relaxed, but with some dynamics (rear-wheel drive, multi-link rear suspension) when you ask it to. Its 184 hp from a blown 1.8 is also sufficient. Its performance is the highest, the petrol consumption is slightly higher than that of the A5 and the speed at the same speeds is also higher. In terms of maintenance, we think the E is actually more wallet-friendly than the A5. The rear seat cannot be folded down, but it can tow 1,800 kilos when braked.

Signaling
Brand Mercedes Benz
Type E 200 CGI BlueEfficiency Cabriolet
Construction year May 2010
Mileage 168,403
Asking price €13,950
Where to buy? FLEVO Mobile, Dronten

Technical data

Engine 4 cyl. in-line, 1,796 cc, turbo
Max. assets 135 kW/184 hp at 5,250 rpm
Max. couple 270 Nm at 1,800 rpm
Luggage compartment 300 l
Max. trailer braked 1,800 kilos
Avg. consumption 1:12.7
0-100 km/h 8.6 sec
Top speed 231 km/h

All data according to factory specifications

Volvo C70 2.4i Intro Edition – 2010 – 198,764 kilometers – €13,950

As an alternative to the Germans, we offer you something Swedish: this Volvo C70. It is just the oldest, has the highest mileage (driven together by two owners) and although the asking price here is also €13,950, there is no Bovag warranty. Where the Germans wear a cloth cap, the C70 has a steel folding roof; so it is a coupe and convertible in one. This can be an advantage in colder seasons (insulation, sound). Naturally, the roof can also be operated electrically. It folds into three parts, creating a visual spectacle.

Naturally, such a construction requires luggage space. Volvo has partly solved this by lifting the roof parts in the trunk a bit, so that there is still 200 liters available underneath. With the hood closed it is 404 liters. In addition, the rear seat can be folded down in parts. Under the hood rests a naturally aspirated 2.4. Compared to its competitors, it has the lowest performance and the greatest thirst, but you don’t buy a convertible for that. Well, for that delightful five-cylinder roar. The engine produces 170 hp, which in the 65-LDT-5 is linked to a sequential five-speed automatic transmission. We also think that is sufficient. In our experience, it makes this open touring car a more homogeneous whole than the 220 hp T5, whose front wheels sometimes had difficulty with all that violence.

The clean Volvo architecture of yesteryear is striking in the interior – including the ‘waterfall’ center console – with, of course, the fantastic furniture. As mentioned, its interior space is roughly halfway between A5 and E-class. Compared to the E, the Volvo lacks certain safety items (autonomous emergency braking assistance, knee airbag, tire pressure sensor), but hits back with, for example, memory on the electrically adjustable front seats. Bottom line, the Benz is at the top when it comes to safety items, the Volvo when it comes to luxury features. The A5 is in between. Each of these three topless occasions has its attractions.

Signaling
Brand Volvo
Type C70 2.4i Intro Edition
Construction year March 2010
Mileage 198,764
Asking price €13,950
Where to buy? Car company AIM, Amerongen

Technical data

Engine 5 cyl. in-line, 2,435 cc
Max. assets 125 kW/170 hp at 6,000 rpm
Max. couple 230 Nm at 4,400 rpm
Luggage compartment 404 l
Max. trailer braked 1,500 kilos
Avg. consumption 1:10.4
0-100 km/h 10.0 s
Top speed 215 km/h All data according to factory specifications

Which 15 grand family convertible appeals to you most?

Despite all the horror stories, when it comes to price/performance ratio we put the A5 at the top. Moreover, but that is subjective, we think it is the most beautiful of this trio. The C70 has as unique selling points the hard roof plus the five-cylinder. Moreover, the Swede never becomes vulgar. On the other hand, the C70 is starting to become a bit dated. The most modern – especially when it comes to safety systems – is the E-class, but its past does not completely reassure us. What would your choice be? Or would you rather have an open 3-series, 9-3, Flavia, Cascada or something else? We’d love to hear from you again!