Six 1990s convertibles from only £1,000 for spring and summer fun (and the one to avoid)
These days it's difficult to find new convertibles, but in the Nineties you could barely move for the things; seemingly every manufacturer made a chopped-down version of one of its popular hatchbacks and cute roadsters became cool once again.
Now, with some of these cars approaching 30 years old, they're entering that grey area where you might (tentatively, for fear of a tongue-lashing from grumpy old men with beards in MGBs) start to call them classics.
Yet there's not a lot of love for cars like these on the market. Many buyers still think of them as old tat – and prices are consequently depressed.
But if you fancy some eminently affordable fun in the sun, you could do far worse than one of these. They are modern enough to be reliable and simple enough to be cheap to fix, while the ones that have survived have, by and large, been pampered and well maintained.
So if you're pining for a cheap cabrio, don't write them off – there's a lot to like here.
Volkswagen Golf Mk3/4 (1994-2003)
The combination of the third-generation Golf's sensible, solid bearing with easy access to the sun makes this cabriolet a tempting option for those not wanting to push the boat out. The Golf is not fast and nor is it that exciting to drive, but its simple mechanicals and easy-to-find parts make it easy to live with and look after. If you can find a rust-free example, it's worth grabbing. A facelift in 1998 brought with it the frontal styling from the then-new Mk4 hatchback – although the rest of the car remained largely the same.
Price to pay: from £1,000
We found: 1999 2.0 SE, 89,000 miles, 12 months MOT, £1,800
Watch out for: Rusty front wings and floors, poorly maintained auto gearboxes, missed timing belt changes, dodgy aftermarket immobilisers and sound systems, failing electric windows.
Rover 200 (1992-1999)
Lauded by many as one of the best Rovers ever, the R8-series 200 spawned a variety of body styles, one of which was this pert little cabriolet. They're a bit floppy to drive, but the willing engines mean they can still be quite good fun; go for an earlier Honda-engined 216 (instead of the later Rover-engined ones from 1996) for the best reliability. Many of these are so cheap they've been abused, but hold out for a nice one – it won't cost that much more – and check it's been well maintained.
Price to pay: from £1,000
We found: 1994 216, 91,000 miles, full service history, immaculate, £2,250
Watch out for: Head gasket failures (except on early 1.6s), rusty arches and sills, dodgy fuel pump relays.
Audi Cabriolet (1991-2000)
Few cars can offer such a sense of glamour for so little cash right now than the Audi Cabriolet. For a car that was once driven by royalty (and still reeks of Sloane Ranger chic) the Cabriolet is extraordinarily affordable; while the best examples of late V6 versions top out at £8,000, early four- and five-cylinder cars can still be had in good nick for a quarter of that. Inside, you'll find the interior from the 80 on which the Cabriolet is based – beautifully built and modern-feeling, with a surprising amount of room. Buy one now before the rest of the world cottons on.
Price to pay: from £2,000
Watch out for: Tired suspension, defunct hoods, rusting boot floors, airbag lights, failing heater fans.
Peugeot 306 (1994-2002)
Of all the manufacturers which tried to turn a humdrum family hatchback into a dashing convertible in the Nineties, Peugeot probably did it the best. Mind you, they were helped by the fact the 306 was already a looker; in cabriolet form with the roof down, you could kid yourself that you're a stylish French businessperson arriving for lunch at a cafe in Cannes with your significant other. As with all Peugeots of this era, 306s can feel rather brittle by now – but if you can live with that, the reward is a fine drive and looks that belie this car's bargain price.
Price to pay: from £1,000
We found: 1996 2.0, 93,000 miles, full service history, £2,500
Watch out for: Non-functional air-conditioning, coolant leaks, stuttering power roofs, electrical glitches.
Mazda MX-5 Mk2 (1998-2005)
The MX-5 is the go-to affordable roadster, with good reason; it's cheap to buy, cheap to run and brilliant to drive. And unlike the others on this list, it's a distinct model rather than a chopped-down saloon or hatchback. This second-generation car is probably the best value of the bunch at the moment, offering greater involvement than the later third-generation models without the cost of the earlier Mk1s. It looks good, feels great and if you can keep on top of the rust – for which MX-5s are known – it should be reliable and long-lasting. A 1.8 is the one to go for, but don't shy away from a 1.6 if money is tight – they're still good fun.
Price to pay: from £1,000
We found: 2002 1.8, 59,000 miles, full service history, £2,999
Watch out for: Rust everywhere, misfires due to worn coil packs, gearbox rattle on overrun, propshaft squeaking in reverse.
Renault Megane (1996-2003)
The cabriolet version of the Megane caused something of a stir when it arrived in the mid-1990s – and not just because of the particularly loud Sunflower Yellow launch colour. Renault did well to disguise the fact that the Megane came from humble stock. Even with the roof up it looked smart; with the roof down, exposing the two 'speed humps' behind the rear seats, it went from chic to sleek. Of course, it was comfortable and decent to drive, too, though you'd struggle to call it exciting. But these days there are few more eye-catching cars for the price.
Price to pay: from £1,000
We found: 1999 1.6e, 79,000 miles, long MOT, £1,495
Watch out for: Snapped rear suspension, flaky coil packs, dying crankshaft sensors, problematic injection systems on IDE versions.
And one to avoid…
Ford Escort (1990-1998)
Much has been written about the sub-par nature of the fifth-generation Escort, so we won't re-litigate that here. Suffice it to say that the same is true in convertible form, with floppy handling, a thumping ride, shuddering plastics and loose, flappy fabrics the order of the day. True, the 16-valve XR3i version was moderately quick and smooth, while things improved somewhat with a heavy facelift in 1995. But with so many better convertibles available for the money, the Escort is best avoided.
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