Intro – keeping it chill
We’re not hunting traffic-light trophies or shaving milliseconds off the 0-to-100 sprint. Top speed? Meh—on the autobahn a limiter or a speed camera will win that game anyway. And the trademark diesel clatter? Sure, it can grate while you’re idling in city traffic, but out on the open road it dissolves into wind noise and your road-trip playlist. The goal here is different: buy a cabrio for peanuts, drop the roof, and clock your first 2,000 km of adventure while spending less than a week on the Baltic coast would cost you. If that sounds like a plan, this guide is for you.
Below you’ll find five models that combine a bargain purchase price with low running costs, decent range, and—crucially—a boot you can still use with the roof stowed. Prices come from big European classifieds sites; fuel economy figures are factory WLTP/NEDC numbers; tank sizes and boot volumes are straight from the spec sheets.
| Model | Typical price (EUR)¹ | Powertrain | € / 100 km² | Theoretical range | Boot (roof down) | Purchase + 2 000 km (EUR)⁴ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Peugeot 206 CC 1.6 HDi | 1 100 – 3 000 | diesel | 8.33 | 1 020 km | 175 L | ≈ 2 220 |
| Peugeot 207 CC 1.6 HDi | 3 200 – 5 000 | diesel | 8.84 | 960 km | 187 L | ≈ 4 280 |
| Renault Mégane II CC 1.5 dCi | 1 000 – 2 500 | diesel | 8.16 | 1 250 km | 190 L | ≈ 1 910 |
| Opel Tigra TwinTop 1.3 CDTI | 3 000 – 5 000 | diesel | 7.82 | 980 km | 250 L | ≈ 4 160 |
| Mini One Cabrio R52 1.6 (90 hp) | 2 500 – 6 000 | petrol | 12.96 | 694 km | 120 L | ≈ 4 510 |
¹ Average asking prices on AutoScout24 / theparking.eu, March–June 2025.
² Diesel = €1.70 / L, petrol = €1.80 / L.
³ Range = tank size ÷ average consumption.
⁴ Mid-range purchase price + cost of 2 000 km at the given €/100 km; rounded to the nearest €10. Excludes insurance, servicing, tolls or vignettes.
Quick takeaways
- Cheapest to run: Opel Tigra TwinTop tops the charts at just €7.8 per 100 km and—even with 250 L of boot space (pack soft bags!)—is surprisingly practical.
- Ultra-marathoner: Renault Mégane II CC and its 60-litre tank will cover roughly 1 250 km on one fill-up—perfect when Spanish motorways are longer than the list of fuel stops.
- Lowest buy-in: Peugeot 206 CC is still the king of cheap metal roofs—find a runner for ~€1.5 k and its 175-litre boot swallows two carry-ons.
- Extra practicality: Peugeot 207 CC brings ESP, a fresher cabin and a slightly bigger boot than the 206 CC—while sipping nearly the same amount of fuel.
- Petrol wildcard: Scared of DPFs and dual-mass flywheels? The Mini One delivers go-kart fun, but drinks almost as much cash as a diesel and offers just 120 L of luggage space.
Summary
- Cheapest “all-in” (purchase + first 2 000 km): Renault Mégane II CC 1.5 dCi. If spending the absolute minimum on day one is your priority, the Mégane wins.
- Lowest per-kilometre cost over really big mileage: Opel Tigra TwinTop 1.3 CDTI—an honest 4.6 L/100 km keeps the wallet happy.
- Longest range and four real seats: Again, the Mégane 1.5 dCi—that 60-litre tank and 1 250 km between fuel stops make motorway stints painless.
- Rock-bottom entry ticket for shorter hops: Peugeot 206 CC 1.6 HDi—grab one for about €1 500 and its running costs stay delightfully low.
- Petrol alternative if diesel just isn’t your thing: Mini One Cabrio (R52). Accept the 120 L boot and higher thirst, and enjoy a smoother soundtrack and that famous Mini chuckability.