Five Sub-€10,000 ICE Cars the Electrohead Kid in Me Would Convert to EVs for June 1

Let's face it: while I declare myself an electrohead, I'm basically a converted petrolhead. This means some older internal combustion engine models imprinted in my younger self's brain, but today, I'd like them powered by batteries and electric motors.

So, without further notice, here are five cars that I'd like to convert into electric ones. The caveat: each one must cost less than 10,000 euros.

No. 5: Who needs a sedan when you can have THIS 4-door coupe?!

I don't care who invented the rather peculiar term "four-door coupe." The first generation of Mercedes-Benz CLS won my heart at first sight when it was just a so-called concept car. It even smashed my sympathy for the serious and sporty BMW 7 Series E38.

I must admit I'm not a fan of luxury cars, but the CLS was too sexy to ignore. Twenty years later, it still is, like any other sex symbol from the 1990s and 2000s. Frankly, it's a mix of Pamela Anderson, Cindy Crawford, and Angelina Jolie (these names are the first that come to my mind; don't judge me!).

In my opinion, the car's fluid design just begs for an electric powertrain to silently and comfortably transport me wherever I wanna go, especially to the theatre or opera or simply for an escapade to the seaside. This is far from practical, I know.

Interestingly, while it's a luxury car, plenty of offers are under the 10k euros barrier. Of course, one should not expect a perfect car for this money, but rather a "tired" one. It would definitely make for a very expensive conversion, but what a treat it would be!

No. 4: The only Jeep I'd turn into an electric one

It's bulky, and its reliability is kind of poor. Comfort is scarce, and the off-road performance is not impressive. The list of downsides is pretty long, but all the criticism is futile because the Jeep Wrangler is a star that marked my youth, mainly because of the movies it starred in.

I'm talking about the second-generation TJ with its funny-looking "eyes" but an unmistakable stance thanks to its convertible roof and security arches. You could even take off the doors and flip the windshield! This was the very statement of freedom, although I'm aware it's only marketing today.

Almost all of the TJs you can find for less than 10,000 euros are powered by the weak 4-cylinder 2,5-liter gasoline engine. This is not a problem at all because I'm sure an electric motor would transform this Jeep into a nimble one.

Of course, high speed is the least important factor for an offroader. However, the instant torque of an electric motor is more appropriate for offroading. So, this would not only be a fun EV but a capable one – at least, this is what I expect and hope for.

No. 3: One of the most delicious weirdo two-door two-seat coupe

I was in high school when James Bond introduced the excellent BMW Z3 Roadster to the world. This roadster haunted my teenage dreams for a long time. But then BMW enraged me with the "shooting brake" variant, dubbed the BMW Z3 Coupe.

"What an ugly and despicable car!" I thought to myself when I saw the first photos of it. But then I saw it in real life – and it simply blew me away. The Z3 M Coupe was simply a wingless little airplane, and its weirdness was so special that I fell in love with it despite my logic telling me it was a hate affair.

More than two decades later, I still consider the Z3 Coupe one of the most desirable weirdos. I want one badly and consider it a proper basis for an EV conversion. The main problem is that finding one under 10,000 euros is very hard.

The other main concern is that the conversion cost would double or triple the price of the donor car. But, hey, it's of no use to talk about a BMW i4 being a better choice – the Z3 Coupe is one-of-a-kind. And an electric one would definitely be very close to insanity for both petrolheads and electroheads.

No. 2: Probably the most underdog hot-hatch

Don't get me wrong, I have nothing against flamboyant little devils like Alfa Romeo MiTo Quadrifoglio Verde or Mini Cooper S, but I'm more interested in efficiency. And boy, the Fiesta ST, based on the fifth generation of Ford's city car, surprised me like no other car back in the day.

I'm talking about the 2002-2008 model, which is by no means a wolf in sheep's clothing. What it lacks in terms of power, it gains double in thrilling handling, especially on curvy mountain roads. Yes, the Renault Clio RS or Peugeot 206 RC are a little faster, but Ford's drivetrain know-how is simply better.

When I was young, I liked ST's engine, gearbox, steering, and damping equation a lot. Today, I bet swapping the aspirated 150 HP 2,0-liter with an electric motor would only improve the recipe. It would make for a great "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde" little city commuter that can instantly become a track tool.

Finding a well-preserved Fiesta ST at half of the 10k euros limit is not an impossible task, especially given its very good reputation for reliability. The only problem is that I don't know of any such car converted into an electric one. It's probably too addictive for petrolheads.

No. 1: The. Best. Roadster. Ever

Yes, sir, I'm one of the millions (tens or hundreds of millions?) fans of the Mazda MX-5, aka "the mighty Miata." I'm sure you know what I'm talking about, even if you don't care about the best-selling roadster of all time.

However, I only love (c'mon, it doesn't sound kinky!) one particular model: the facelifted second generation. This version of MX-5 NB was produced between 2001 and 2005, and despite its rather feminine looks, it really is a naughty boy, even with its basic 1.6-liter 110-horsepower petrol engine.

I can only imagine the joy the instant torque of an electric motor could provide, while any environmentalist out there would thank me for not having an exhaust. Ok, I'm not sure if they would dig the burnouts and the drifting, but hey, it's an RWD little sports car; what do you expect?

Finding such a used car under 10k euros is easy-peasy, but don't be fooled by very low prices because this model has a rust disease, which is costly to fix. On the other hand, there are already many EV-converted MX-5s, so it sounds like the best present for June 1.


Well, as you may suspect, my list is longer. But these are the cars that I'm most fond of (or maybe obsessed with?). I hope that one day, I'll be able to make my dream come true, at least with one of them. All of you who have hobbies on wheels, I'm sure you get me.