2006 Opel Tigra

Opel Tigra

Finding an Opel Tigra for sale in South Africa is like spotting a unicorn in rush-hour traffic on Jan Smuts Avenue. The tiny two-seat cabriolet segment once had some life, back when the Tigra squared up against cars like the Mazda MX-5 and Peugeot 206 CC. But time’s moved on. The Tigra’s targa-style hardtop always made it a bit more usable than a basic soft-top, at least on paper, if you pack smart. Right now, there’s just one showing on the classifieds: a single 2006 1.8 Sport, listed at R74,950. That price says “weekend indulgence” rather than “everyday runabout”—and that’s before you consider parts are a headache now that Opel’s barely present in SA. The spec sheet’s straightforward: one petrol motor, a manual ‘box, and not much else. That example’s sitting on 210,074 km, which would scare off a lot of folks, but the old-school Opel 1.8 is known for taking a beating if it’s been serviced properly. If you’re hoping for effortless ownership, look elsewhere, because sourcing bits for these is getting tough, and local dealer support is thin on the ground. What sets the Tigra apart from a similarly priced MX-5? That clever folding hardtop, which makes all the difference on a windy N1 or parked under a Joburg thunderstorm. Still, the market’s gone cold on two-seat cabrios, and that matters—what you’re really buying here is a slice of 2000s nostalgia, not a practical daily.