Buying a new or second car in Spain

marcliff wrote:

Expat in Quesada wrote:

Paul M wrote:Hi John,




. Having the convertible would have been great over in Spain but not very practical as we are too old for getting in and out of it now.

John.

Rubbish. My wife and I are 74. We've always had the bigger cars so we can take the family round etc. Last year we bought a Merc cabriolet and we absolutely love it. My wife is like a little kid when we zoom round with the top down. The family can hire a car when they come over and wouldn't give up the cabriolet for anything. Mind, it cost more than my previous house did but what the heck!

I always like the idea of a Cabriolet growing up, seeing them in movies in hot climates made me think they would be amazing. Then I moved to Spain and had one and hated it. The wind was hellish, hair blasted constantly, the sun beating down was brutal. Now I see its much nicer to have a roof and have the AC on instead.

marcliff wrote:

Expat in Quesada wrote:

Paul M wrote:Hi John,




. Having the convertible would have been great over in Spain but not very practical as we are too old for getting in and out of it now.

John.

Rubbish. My wife and I are 74. We've always had the bigger cars so we can take the family round etc. Last year we bought a Merc cabriolet and we absolutely love it. My wife is like a little kid when we zoom round with the top down. The family can hire a car when they come over and wouldn't give up the cabriolet for anything. Mind, it cost more than my previous house did but what the heck!

Cheers Marcliff, “wife like a kid when we zoom around”. got a laugh out of that. Very good. You are obviously fitter than I am. In my defence, the SLK is very low to the ground. Nothing like a standard sized cabriolet. At 16 stone, I felt like a whale trying to get out if it. Lol.

DO2ES wrote:

marcliff wrote:

Rubbish. My wife and I are 74. We've always had the bigger cars so we can take the family round etc. Last year we bought a Merc cabriolet and we absolutely love it. My wife is like a little kid when we zoom round with the top down. The family can hire a car when they come over and wouldn't give up the cabriolet for anything. Mind, it cost more than my previous house did but what the heck


I always like the idea of a Cabriolet growing up, seeing them in movies in hot climates made me think they would be amazing. Then I moved to Spain and had one and hated it. The wind was hellish, hair blasted constantly, the sun beating down was brutal. Now I see it’s much nicer to have a roof and have the AC on instead.

As I am follically challenged, a car with a roof is a must for me. After years of sun, my poor head needs a rest! Lol

DO2ES wrote:

I always like the idea of a Cabriolet growing up, seeing them in movies in hot climates made me think they would be amazing. Then I moved to Spain and had one and hated it. The wind was hellish, hair blasted constantly, the sun beating down was brutal. Now I see its much nicer to have a roof and have the AC on instead.

Ah, hair, I remember it well! Aircap system on the Merc virtually stops the wind. Wife wears a baseball cap and doesn't forget the SPF 50. Then the airscarf system for the Autumn months. Of course, the option to have the roof up and the aircon on is also there.

When I get old I probably wouldn't like the wind in the hair I have left. Until then it's as much fun as I used to have yonks ago on my motorbike (sadly no more).

But back to original. Yes, second hand cars here are more expensive. A negative when buying but a plus when selling or PXing. Just remember a new car will lose the most in the first few years of its life.

Then there's the EV ones. Might not get anywhere near the listed range if the aircon is used. Hybrid good but they will also be banned from being sold, albeit some 5 years after petrol and diesel. I'm very wary of government advice after they urged us all to buy diesel as they were "cleaner".

Vegar Mercedes in Elche and Torrevieja have lots of used cars on their website. Just be a bit wary of the prices as they generally only apply if you are taking out finance.

marcliff wrote:

DO2ES wrote:

I always like the idea of a Cabriolet growing up, seeing them in movies in hot climates made me think they would be amazing. Then I moved to Spain and had one and hated it. The wind was hellish, hair blasted constantly, the sun beating down was brutal. Now I see its much nicer to have a roof and have the AC on instead.

Ah, hair, I remember it well! Aircap system on the Merc virtually stops the wind. Wife wears a baseball cap and doesn't forget the SPF 50. Then the airscarf system for the Autumn months. Of course, the option to have the roof up and the aircon on is also there.

When I get old I probably wouldn't like the wind in the hair I have left. Until then it's as much fun as I used to have yonks ago on my motorbike (sadly no more).

But back to original. Yes, second hand cars here are more expensive. A negative when buying but a plus when selling or PXing. Just remember a new car will lose the most in the first few years of its life.

Then there's the EV ones. Might not get anywhere near the listed range if the aircon is used. Hybrid good but they will also be banned from being sold, albeit some 5 years after petrol and diesel. I'm very wary of government advice after they urged us all to buy diesel as they were "cleaner".

Vegar Mercedes in Elche and Torrevieja have lots of used cars on their website. Just be a bit wary of the prices as they generally only apply if you are taking out finance.

Some nice cars on the Vegar website! My wife wants something that won’t attract attention or be a target. Perhaps when she has a test drive in a shiny Merc, her sensible head will be overruled.

Love my Audi cabriolet in Spain. Summer heat I tend to leave the roof up and stick with air con but it can be nice in the evenings to have the roof down. However, its great all winter when I fly in from the UK and can drive around roof down sun out in winter months enjoying every ray!

I also have the Mercedes e-classs cab in the UK and agree the air cap and air scarf work superbly in avoiding wind buffeting.

PGA wrote:Love my Audi cabriolet in Spain. Summer heat I tend to leave the roof up and stick with air con but it can be nice in the evenings to have the roof down. However, its great all winter when I fly in from the UK and can drive around roof down sun out in winter months enjoying every ray!

I also have the Mercedes e-classs cab in the UK and agree the air cap and air scarf work superbly in avoiding wind buffeting.

The more I think about a cabriolet, the more it appeals to me. I hadn’t considered a standard sized convertible. My wife’s last car was an SLK 250. A lovely car but not very practical. If we needed shopping, we went in my Qashqai. Needed something from B&Q, again the Qashqai. If we were going out somewhere and were unsure we would get safe parking, the Merc was left at home. I would be equally happy with an Audi so will include it in our search.

Below is a pic of the wife’s car when the garage came to pick it up! There was a tear in her eye when it was driven off!

As Marcliff mentioned, have a look at the Mercedes e-class (I assume that is the model he is referring to as I believe it is the only one with the aircap and airscarf.

I am in the UK at the minute where there is still snow on the ground and have just come back from a trip to B&Q which necessitated the roof down to fit a large piece of wood. Even at these temperatures the airscarf and aircap meant we didn't freeze as it keeps the wind off you. Also a lot more room and less low compared to a SLK.

I don't use the Merc roof down much in the UK due to the weather, but the above is yet another example of how they can be massively practical to have limitless roof space! My Audi cabriolet in Spain is great but doesn't have the same level of refinement as my Mercedes.