A PETROLHEAD has revealed the top three summer-friendly convertibles costing under £10,000 including a modern classic.
James Russel, a car dealer and founder of The Motor Grid, picked out the best cars to get this summer.
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In an exclusive chat with Sun Motors, the car expert first picked out the evergreen Porsche 987 Boxster – specifically the Gen1 model with the 2.7-litre engine.
“The perfectly balanced, perfect under £10,000 sports car has got to be the 987 Boxster,” he said.
“Manual, flat-six, you just can’t go wrong.”
Motorists should keep a particular eye on the late 2006 model to avoid any “IMS bearing issues”, according to James.
A 2001 Porsche 987 Boxter with around 32,000 miles on the clock will set you back around £7,000 on AutoTrader.
The car dealer also pointed out the wildly popular first-generation Audi TT, particularly the Quattro Sport edition.
He said: “It’s got that black roof, which makes it really iconic, and not many people know about that.
“They’re a bit of a hidden gem, these cars, and of course, they have Recaro seats.
“It’s just a little bit special, so I think that would probably be my second choice.”
The Audi TT has become synonymous with the modern classic genre, especially after the German brand decided to discontinue the model.
It was first produced in 1998 and had a successful stint until November last year.
The German motor can reach top speeds of 155mph and accelerates from 0-60 in 5.7 seconds.
A 2012 Audi TT with less than 44,000 miles is available for just under £10,000 on AutoTrader.
The iconic Lotus Elise S2 is another car James claimed was perfect for cruising around this summer.
When asked to name the quintessential modern classic, he said: “For me, it’s the Lotus Elise S2 – it pops into my brain I think because they were so iconic in their era.
“And now they’re snowballing into excellence, I think they are so underappreciated.”
The ultra-lightweight Series 2 Elise, built between 2001 and 2011, was truly a pocket-sized supercar – designed to be small, nimble and exciting.
However, the 111S model, which came out in 2002, packed even more punch – with 156 bhp helping it top 130 mph and reach 0-60 mph in five seconds.
It featured a host of extras, including carpets, leather trimmings and even air conditioning.
James added: “There’s nothing better, it’s like being inside a mini Le Mans car – you’ve got that wonderful wrap-around screen, single wiper blade.
“You’re sitting in this thing and you feel like you’re sitting on the tarmac.”
It comes after a car expert revealed the best three used motors for new drivers that are “super reliable” and cost under £5,000.
And a major car brand is set to release a new model of its popular hatchback to celebrate its 50th anniversary.
