By Lee Boyce
The sun is shining – well at least at the time of writing this it is – and it means one thing: convertible car season is in full swing.
Is
there anything better than driving down a country lane with the wind
sweeping your hair and sun beating on your neck? Well, for some drivers,
there truly isn't.
The nation’s love affair with convertible cars is showing no signs of diminishing, even if the weather in the UK isn’t always ideal for convertibles – April 2012 for instance was the wettest since records began. The UK is still the second largest convertible market in Europe, according to car specialists AutoTrader.
Fun in the sun: Convertible cars come out in force during the summer months
In
a survey, it found that 95 per cent of convertible owners are planning
to buy another and a further 65 per cent are already on at least their
second convertible motor.
And
the main reason for the purchase, according to soft-top owners, was to
have the roof down on sunny days – with 77 per cent citing it as the
reason for owning one.
Nathan
Coe, group director of Auto Trader, said: ‘Our love affair with
convertibles shows no signs of diminishing, despite our unpredictable
weather and tough economic conditions.
‘This is evidenced by the fact that the UK is still the second largest convertible market in Europe. We have about 21,000 convertibles listed for sale each month by dealers, with an average price of £10,500.’
But summer is not a good time to buy a convertible
If you are looking to snap up a convertible bargain, spring and early summer is unsurprisingly the worst period to go searching.
It’s an issue of supply and demand - most people interested in buying a convertible will buy when the weather is warm.
Dealers
give smaller discounts on brand convertibles in summer, as they have
more people trying to buy them, while second-hand sellers also see more
demand and therefore less need to drop prices.
This
means you’ll be better off holding out until the winter months - and if
you do, you could end up saving quite a bit (although the car may have
to wait in the garage for a while for summer to appear).
The
only downside to this tactic is the fact selection will probably be
more limited in the winter months compared to the spring and summer, as
there may be lower supply of people selling.
What convertible should you buy?
Once you've decided to take the plunge, which are the best convertibles.
This
is Money alongside Auto Trader, reveal the favoured convertibles from a
recent poll that got motorists engines revving - including one model
starting at £17,720.
10. Volkswagen Golf Cabriolet 1.2 TSI S (£20,770)
The
Volkswagen Golf Cabriolet has a timeless quality and Auto Trader says
that each car it tested felt like it was built to last for decades.
There’s
fun to be had behind the wheel and it’s particularly refined for a
small convertible. It's price tag isn't too bad either - at just over
£20,000 brand new, it's the second cheapest in the list.
9. Lotus Elise 1.6 CR (£27,975)
The
Lotus Elise offers a unique driving experience. It has been designed to
perform and handle through it slight weight, making it cheaper to run
than almost any other sports car.
When the Elise came out, Lotus claimed the entry-level model was the least polluting high-performance sports car in the world.
8. Audi TT Roadster 1.8T FSI (£25,155)
The
Audi TT Roadster is one of the most stylish cars on the road. It is
beautifully built and great to drive. According to Auto Trader, it holds
its value very well and is utterly usable, even if it’s not very
practical due to limited cabin and boot space,
The
TT Roadster is also very safe, with things made even better with the
availability of four-wheel drive. Build quality is superb and while you
pay a high price for ownership, the costs are easily justified.
7. BMW 3 Series 320i SE (£33,535)
The BMW 3 Series convertible is classy, discreet, desirable and great to drive, according to Auto Trader.
Stylish,
well-built and efficient, the 320i is exceptionally economical
according to WhatCar? and has low emissions to keep the taxman at bay.
6. Ferrari California (£152,086)
A Ferrari for all seasons and all reasons? That’s certainly how it seems with the new California convertible.
The
Ferrari California is the real deal. Despite its bling looks it’s not
just a poseur’s car, according to Auto Trader. However, it does come
with a hefty price-tag and is the priciest motor on the list.
5. Mazda MX-5 1.8i SE (£17,720)
Mazda’s
MX-5 comes with fabulous handling, neat styling and a brilliantly
simple roof that makes drop-top motoring a joy all year round.
The
MX-5 has been around now for 23 years and according to WhatCar?, Mazda
did exactly what it set out to do in 1989 - resurrect the British
roadster of the 1950s and 1960s. It is also the most affordable
convertible on the list, you could buy eight of these for the price of
the Ferrari above and still have £10,000 spare.
4. Porsche 911 (£75,013)
Porsche's
911 Cabriolet offers all the performance of its coupe relative, but
with greater access to the enjoyable engine note and the wind in your
hair.
According to
AutoExpress, the 911 Cabriolet retains two-thirds of its value after
three years, making it a sound investment. It's also fuel-efficient
given its sensational performance, and servicing requirements are
infrequent.
3. Jaguar XK 5.0 V8 (£70,400)
This beautiful Jaguar XK convertible offers a classic mix of high performance, elegance and wind-in-the-hair cruising.
It’s
as comfortable being a boulevard cruiser as it is a sports car, but it
is expensive to run with a low mile per gallon (MPG) rating.
2. Mercedes-Benz SL350 (£72,170)
The
Mercedes SL boasts a lot of highlights but its best is quite simply its
status, according to Auto Trader. It’s a great-looking car, and still
turns heads.
And the fact the styling is backed up by substance makes it better still.
1. Aston Martin Vantage 2dr 420 (£95,244)
The Vantage Roadster is beautiful and engaging to drive, though it’s not quite as polished dynamically as some of its rivals.
Still,
you’d never tire of looking at it, or of the sound the V8 makes when
it’s reaching its redline. If that’s not enough to have you wanting one,
we don’t know what is.
HAVE
YOUR SAY: Do you own a convertible? If so, what do you own and how do
you rate it for value for money? And what things would you recommend
perspective convertible buyers to look out for when purchasing a
soft-top motor?
If you are thinking of getting a convertible - what motor do you have your eyes on?
Also, do you disagree with our list? What convertible would you put as number one? Let us know in the comments below...
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