UK drivers still enticed by open-top motoring

By Alex Fisk , May 24, 2012
Filed under: Motoring

We may only be able to put the roof down for a week each year, but the nation is still drawn to convertible cars when the summer sun starts to shine.

A survey by used car search engine Autotrader.co.uk has revealed that over three-quarters of respondents own a convertible just so they can enjoy motoring with the roof down on a sunny day.

In fact, 95% of current convertible owners are planning to buy another one in the future, with 65% on their second convertible.

Auto Trader lists about 21,000 convertibles for sale every month with the average price recorded at £10,500.

Nathan Coe, Group Director, 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."

Research by the firm also revealed the UK's favourite convertibles. Check out the gallery below for the top ten models.

Nation's favourite convertibles

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paulnicholson3

how are these the nations favorite, I was expecting to see the most popular based on sales figures form somewhere, these are just photos of random mostly very high end soft tops, if they are ment to be the most desierable soft tops then who would rather have an MX5 than a Ferrari?
I had an Audi soft top and that was fine but now I have a BMW E36 and the roof on that one has been nothing but trouble & is still in the garage bieng diagnosed now, still with the rain set in for the next 4 weeks at least im not missing out.

June 11 2012 at 7:22 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

pasv543

Nothing wrong with a rag top in this country i have a 1995 mustang gt convertible 5.0 litre on open pipes the sound alone is worth the 6mths road tax only use it in summer mths and i dont think they are for people with midlife problems i have had american ratops all my life

May 24 2012 at 6:54 PM Report abuse Permalink +1 rate up rate down Reply

richos39

"A survey by used car search engine Autotrader.co.uk has revealed that over three-quarters of respondents own a convertible just so they can enjoy motoring with the roof down on a sunny day. "

Er, intelligent journalism or what?!! Why else would you own a convertible?

May 24 2012 at 6:38 PM Report abuse Permalink +1 rate up rate down Reply

roadking757

Why do they fit air con to these skips with wheels?????

May 24 2012 at 5:58 PM Report abuse Permalink -1 rate up rate down Reply

Open top motoring for gaylords.

May 24 2012 at 5:57 PM Report abuse Permalink -3 rate up rate down Reply

Waste of money in the UK climate. Soft tops are for hairdressers, and ********** having a mid life crisis.

May 24 2012 at 5:56 PM Report abuse Permalink -3 rate up rate down Reply

1 reply to roadking757's comment

davidnvn

What do you mean wate of money? You can use them in the winter if it's a nice day. Get a life!!

May 24 2012 at 7:13 PM Report abuse Permalink +1 rate up rate down Reply

purchaseorder

Got to agree, my Jaguar XK rag top is brill and comes into its own in warm spells but with a blast furnace of a heater only rain prevents it being driven with the top down.

May 24 2012 at 5:55 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

heayns

oops its a convertible in silver!

May 24 2012 at 4:56 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Tell me about it just bought my mrs a Peugeot 207 with a massive discount off the net.... u get a better deal and it came to my house from a proper garage but like with a £4500 discount on list price... happy days

so contact me for further details!

May 24 2012 at 4:55 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

danmiad

ITS AMAZING HOW EVERY CAR SHOWN IS WAY ABOVE WHAT THE AVERAGE PERSON CAN AFFORD!!!!!

May 24 2012 at 10:25 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

1 reply to danmiad's comment

jrmascall

Yep, I agree, its daft. There are plenty of affordable "rag tops" out there, like the Mazda MX. I had a Rootes Sunbeam Alpine sports car once. I got a lovely brown face and arms. Not from the sun mind you, it was the amount of oil that got into my skin from all the hours I had to spend with spanners in hand lying underneath the b..dy thing !

May 24 2012 at 12:55 PM Report abuse Permalink +2 rate up rate down Reply