Club class

I'm seeking a nearly new folding hard top convertible and have narrowed the selection down to three, these being the only ones that my golf clubs will fit into (with the roof up): New Ford Focus CC2 2.0, Volvo C70S 2.0D (08 with 12k miles £19,995 at a local Volvo dealer),
BMW 320iSE (2007/57with 4k miles £23,925 at a local BMW dealer). I have read reports that the Focus CC does occasionally leak and so I'm trending towards the Volvo or the BMW, which I believe are leak free but I don't really know. Besides a leak-free roof, my other main considerations are the running costs (MPG, tax band, general reliability, servicing etc). I'm not averse to diesel engines.

Asked on 7 March 2009 by

Answered by Honest John

The Focus emits 179g/km CO2, so is £175 tax next year, £200 the year after. The Volvo emits 161g/km CO2, so is £175 tax next year, £180 the year after. The BMW emits 157g/km CO2, so is £150 tax next year, £155 the year after. Not much in it tax-wise. But the BMW is obviously the classiest car on your list. And, though the Focus has the simplest (two-piece) roof, it has been the most leak-prone along the screen rail. (It doesn't have a very nice petrol engine, either.)

Tags: buying convertibles co2 emissions new cars road tax ved

Dear Honest John,

Please help me choose my next car. I would like it to have:

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