Car choice: Head v heart, BMW v Alfa, petrol v diesel...
Carol Crosswaite wants an Alfa Romeo convertible. It is her dream car, but wonders whether there are any alternatives. The budget is around £8,000
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.A Car for the Head
The thing about Alfa Romeos is that they are stunningly styled and sporty to drive, but the ownership experience can be less than brilliant. So if Carol wants a no-nonsense cabriolet, which is sporty, reliable and with a folding metal roof, then the easy answer is to buy a BMW 3 Series. With £8,000 to £9,000 to spend it is easy enough to find a model from 2007. On my search I found a BMW 335i Convertible reduced by £1,000, but I thought that a 325i would be a more practical buy and slightly cheaper to run. Around £8,000 will secure a 50,000-mile example.
A Car for the Heart
Then again, Alfas are so very pretty, aren’t they, so let’s answer Carol’s heartfelt car buying prayer and buy the very best Alfa Romeo convertible on sale today. What she needs is an Alfa Romeo Spider, which is a very striking vehicle. I would suggest that in this politically uncertain climate, go for a petrol- rather than diesel-powered model. That would also suit Carol because she does not cover huge mileages, and so wouldn’t have that much bigger a fuel bill, diesels normally returning better fuel economy than petrol-engined equivalents. I found a 2008 example in red, arguably the best colour, with a full service history and recent expensive service and cambelt change, all for £8,495, supplied by a dealer with a warranty.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments