Car Choice: Astra or Audi for a practical cabrio?

Madeline Garfield wants a comfortable car. It must seat four adults, should ideally be automatic and she fancies a convertible. The budget is around £2,000

(Vauxhall)

A car for the head

If Madeline likes the idea of a convertible then, provided she does not mind sacrificing a couple of rear doors, there have been some generously sized four-seat open tops. With a tight budget she could consider a Vauxhall Astra convertible which has been one of the most successful of its kind and is a practical buy. It should be cost effective to run. Not a huge amount of room in the back, but certainly enough for her needs. We found a 2004 example with a full service history and 65,000 miles at just £2,000.

(Audi (Audi)

A car for the heart

Madeline could go for a more prestigious badge and would not have to up her budget. She need search no further than an older Audi A4 convertible (provided she sticks with a petrol engine and is prepared for slightly higher fuel consumption than a diesel). With the 3.0 litre engine it will be something like 28mpg overall and the best bit about an Audi, even an older one, is the quality – and the interior is usually very well finished. We found a 2003 model with 98,000 miles from a dealer who was happy to sell it on for £1,795.

If you would like James Ruppert to help with your car choice, email james@freecarmag.com. For more motoring views visit freecarmag.com