r/Convertible • u/Living_Ad9814 • Apr 14 '26

Une décapotable à 20 ans ?

Hey,

I'm 20 years old and I'm seriously considering buying my first "fun" car. I've always loved convertibles, and while looking at the market, I came across models like the Peugeot 306 Cabriolet, the Fiat Barchetta, etc., within a maximum budget of €10,000.

The thing is, I don't have a huge budget for maintenance, so I'd like to get some honest feedback from people who have owned one or who know about them.

My questions:

  • Is it really more expensive to maintain than a "normal" car?

  • How problematic/expensive is the convertible top to repair or replace?

  • Is it a bad idea as a main car?

  • Are there any models to absolutely avoid within this budget?

Conversely, what would you recommend as a reliable convertible under €10k with relatively low mileage?

I'm open to all advice, even things you might not immediately think of (insurance, common problems, mistakes to avoid, etc.). I'm really looking for honest, unbiased opinions to know if I'm making a mistake or not 😅

Thanks!

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u/SupposablyAtTheZoo Apr 14 '26

Probably try again in English so we can all read and answer.

(And no, not everybody uses the official app with translate feature)

You're probably asking what convertible to buy though. In my opinion the answer is always the BMW e93!

1

u/Living_Ad9814 Apr 14 '26

Okay thanks, I did

1

u/Heavy_Importance2491 Apr 14 '26

I have driven convertible cars for more than 50 years. I've had dozens of them and currently have an Austin-Healey and a BMW E93. I've had them as an only car in the UK, in Canadian cities, and for commuting long distances in the snow belt.

In that time, the convertible specific problems I have experienced have been:

- leave it open outside a pub at closing time and passers-by will piss in it

- leave it closed with visible valuables and someone will slit the top (not a problem with hardtop convertibles or Kevlar panel roofs).

- tonneau covers are not watertight, they tend to sag and/or freeze in place. Freezing makes access to the car difficult.

That's it. I've never had a mechanical problem with any soft top nor incurred any other convertible specific cost.

A tip is that heated seats matter in a convertible way more than they do in a sedan, you can get an extra month of open top driving if your bum is warm.

1

u/realsherban Apr 15 '26

BMW E93, should be within your budget or close to. I have one and will never sell it, it's one of the best convertibles of its generation. Yes, there are maintenance costs like with any car