Ask someone for convertible car recommendations and you’ll get a lot of excellent suggestions very quickly. You’ll no doubt be presented with cars such as the gratifying BMW Z4, the eminently capable Mazda MX-5 or the ever-present Audi TT. Some may even offer alternatives such as the Nissan 370Z or a Porsche Boxster.
However, mention that you need four seats, and examples won’t be so forthcoming. After all, few buy convertibles with that kind of practicality in mind.
Fortunately, there are lots of four-seat convertibles in the £10,000 price range – less than the price of even the cheapest new car. Here are ten options to get your search for practical summer fun in 2024 started in earnest.
Best Used 4 Seater Convertible Cars 2024
- Jeep Wrangler (1996-2006)
- BMW 6 Series Convertible (2003-2010)
- Vauxhall Cascada (2013-2018)
- Fiat 500C (2009-2020)
- Volkswagen Golf Cabriolet (2011-2016)
- Audi A5 Cabriolet (2009-2016)
- MINI Convertible (2008-2012)
- BMW 3 Series Convertible (2007-2013)
- Mercedes-Benz E-Class Cabriolet (2010-2017)
Jeep Wrangler (1996-2006)
There’s always one real oddball in a top-ten list, so let’s get it out of the way sharpish: how about a Jeep Wrangler? After all, you might be in the niche position of wanting wind-in-the-hair fun with off-road capability and four-seat practicality. A £10,000 budget often won’t get you all that far when it comes to the popular Wrangler, but you should be able to get a very clean and presentable example of the long-running TJ generation. Try and find a 4.0-litre version, as that offers far better performance, but the 2.5-litre model is fine if you’re just pottering around your local area. Both engines are very strong, though, especially if they’re well maintained.
Don’t expect good on-road manners. With a solid axle at both ends, and a design focused on the best off-road capability, the old-fashioned Jeep is unsurprisingly agricultural to drive. The Wrangler is well built, but the fuel bills might prove intolerable, and you’ll need to watch out for rust, because older Jeeps are prone to corrosion, but get yourself a good one, make use of its multi-seat off-road capabilities, and it’ll be great fun.
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BMW 6 Series Convertible (2003-2010)
If you like your convertibles big, luxurious and powerful, then the BMW 6 Series won’t disappoint. Its bruiser styling, bags of equipment and powerful engines make it the flagship model of our list, even if you have to settle for an older example at this price point.
The E64 model here was fitted with petrol and diesel 3.0-litre six-cylinder engines, along with a a 4.4-litre V8 petrol and a behemoth of a 5.0-litre V10. Every version is monstrously quick, but they’re also smooth and refined, so they make excellent long-distance cruisers. And yes, they seat four people, and build quality is appropriately strong.
Running costs for large, luxury cars such as the 6 Series do not come cheap – and we don’t just mean fuel bills. It was very expensive when it was new, the tyres are enormous and, while it’s lovely to have so much equipment, there’s a lot that could go wrong. That doesn’t necessarily mean it will, but it does mean a full service history and some cash set aside for repairs are wise.
The 6 Series never sold in huge numbers in the UK so the used market isn’t exactly teeming with them. However, we found a handful of examples registered in the late 2000s within our budget.
BMW 6 Series Review
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Vauxhall Cascada (2013-2018)
If you’re looking for a four-seater convertible with a little more room, you could consider a used Saab 9-3 or a Volvo C70, but those tend to cost far less than £10,000. If you want something newer and with fewer miles on the clock, there’s always the Vauxhall Cascada. Admittedly, the Cascada wasn’t a hugely popular car due to hefty depreciation and the fact that it wasn’t as desirable as mainstream alternatives.
All that plays into the hands of the used car buyer, though, because you can get a super-smart example for comparatively little money. It’s not like the big Vauxhall is bad to drive, either, and there’s a good choice of engines. Space in the rear is limited, but the Cascada does have a fairly large 380-litre boot and plenty of other practical touches.
What’s particularly appealing is that, if you’re spending a good chunk of change, you’ll get a lot of equipment. A late Elite version, for example, will come with leather seats, rear parking sensors, electric front seatbelt presenters, dual-zone climate control, heated seats, 20-inch alloy wheels, an auto-dimming rear-view mirror, and automatic lights and wipers.
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Fiat 500C (2009-2020)
Compact cars with folding fabric roofs, such as the Peugeot 108, make neat open-top conversions, and they usually retain the original model’s four-seat layout. That’s exactly the case with the Fiat 500C – the convertible version of the Italian manufacturer’s immensely popular hatchback, which sports a retractable, full-length canvas roof.
Practical it is not, particularly because the rear seats are quite cramped, with almost no leg room to speak of, but the flip side is, it’s compact, so it’s ideal if you have a tight driveway or regularly have to park in areas where there’s not much space.
However, if the cheeky looks do it for you – as they have for plenty of others – and you only need the rear seats for occasional use, a 500C is well worth considering, and you can get a fine example that’s not overly old or high-mileage with a £10,000 budget. The 500C is not difficult to find, so expect a mid-to-late 2010s example with sensible mileage and in good condition for this money.
Fiat 500 Review
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Volkswagen Golf Cabriolet (2011-2016)
There’s a lot to be said for fuss-free open-air motoring, and a convertible version of Volkswagen’s Golf is hassle-free, top-down motoring defined. It’s not a particularly exciting car to drive, but its straightforward nature will be appreciated by many.
It’s a far more practical soft-top than some of the alternatives, too, with usable rear seats (unlike the Volkswagen Beetle Cabriolet, a decent boot and a range of frugal engines. The peppy and refined 1.2-litre TSI turbocharged petrol engine, for example, is claimed by Volkswagen to average up to 54mpg. Diesels are also available, which could be worth considering if you intend to rack up a lot of miles.
You may well feel inclined to cover lots of ground in the Golf, because it’s a relaxing and comfortable car to drive. You shouldn’t struggle to find one, either, as there are lots of high-quality examples around if you’ve some £10,000 to spend. If you’d prefer your drop-top Volkswagen with a more secure and refined folding metal roof, however, go for the Volkswagen Eos instead.
Volkswagen Golf Review
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Audi A5 Cabriolet (2009-2016)
In the same vein as the BMW 6 Series, the Audi A5 Cabriolet is a plush four-seat convertible, older versions of which are available within our budget. There are other options within our selection if cheeky or outlandish looks are your thing, but for our money, the A5 Cabriolet is the smartest and sleekest car on this list, and that counts for a lot. As is often the case with Audi, the A5 is geared more towards comfort and refinement than performance and fun. It’s based on the A4 saloon and shares the same the interior, among many other elements, which is no bad thing, because the cabin is classy and well-built. There’s also a huge range of engines – everything from relatively modest 1.8-litre TFSI petrols to storming 4.2-litre V8s for the S5 and RS5, via a suite of 2.0-3.0-litre TDI diesels. Four-wheel drive is also an option – or standard – on many models.
The cut-off for an A5 Cabriolet at this price is around 2013, so you can just about pick up a 2012 facelift version. You’re more likely to find a pre-facelift model, which may actually represent more car for the money, as the slightly older examples we found had lower mileage, bigger engines and more equipment.
Audi A5 Review
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MINI Convertible (2008-2012)
The Mini is a cabrio that needs little introduction. One of the most recognisable, not to mention the most fashionable, small convertible cars out there, it manages to combine stylish British-inspired looks with compact dimensions that make it a perfect partner around town. It’s also about as close a driving experience as you’ll get to a proper two-seater sports car or roadster for this budget, with sporty, agile handling, snappy gearboxes and, especially in Cooper form, a range of flexible but frugal petrol and diesel engines. There’s just about room for four inside, too, although the back seats are cramped, and some buyers may find the MINI’s lack of boot space a bit limiting.
This second-generation MINI is not as refined or as comfortable as alternatives such as the Audi A5 Cabriolet, but if you want something with some verve and driving thrills, then it’s a compromise worth making. A wide choice of options and vivid colours are available, but watch out for base-specification models that don’t have air-conditioning. Try and find a car fitted with the Chili Pack, for example, which includes climate control, sports seats, Bluetooth connectivity, and a host of other upgrades.
MINI Review
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BMW 3 Series Convertible (2007-2013)
You’ve a selection of BMWs to pick from if you’re looking for a higher-end convertible. At one end of the scale you’ve got the likes of the aforementioned 6 Series Convertible, while at the smaller end of the scale is the 1 Series Convertible, which is a great car, albeit not particularly roomy.
In the middle ground, however, sits the ever-popular 3 Series Convertible and, with £10,000 to spend, you’ll be able to pick from an array of fine E93-generation cabriolets. We spotted a fairly low-mileage 335i M Sport Convertible within our budget, which blends a powerful six-cylinder engine with sharp looks and excellent handling. The E93 also benefits from a folding hard top rather than a fabric roof, which can be more secure and refined. A solid roof can also be easier to look after and, when it’s up, the 3 Series looks just like a conventional coupe, a trait which will appeal to some.
There’s a good range of engines, including diesel variants, but all are rewarding to drive thanks to sharp steering and rear-wheel drive. If you want a convertible that looks and feels the part on the road, this is one to go for. Buyers seeking something a bit more niche and interesting could, however, go for a Jaguar XK Convertible instead.
BMW 3 Series Review
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Mercedes-Benz E-Class Cabriolet (2010-2017)
If comfort and prestige are what you’re looking for in a convertible, a Mercedes-Benz E-Class Cabriolet will be just the ticket. It isn’t as rewarding to drive as a BMW 6 Series or 3 Series Convertible, but it’s more prestigious than an Audi A5 Cabriolet, and offers tremendous comfort and refinement in a smartly styled and beautifully finished package. Equally, if you just intend to amble around the countryside with the roof down on summer days, the E-Class Cabriolet is a fine choice.
The E-Class also offers the choice of economical diesel engines, as well as four-, six- and eight-cylinder petrols, but don’t expect to see any eight-cylinder models in this price range, let alone hot AMGs. Reliability should be good, though. You get plenty of kit for your money, too. Even the standard SE variants come with features such as dual-zone climate control, tyre pressure monitoring, rain- and light sensors, and the Aircap wind deflector, which improves interior refinement with the roof down.
Mercedes-Benz E-Class Review
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