Ever dreamed of pelting down a coastal road with the top down, wind whipping through your hair as you enjoy stunning views of the Med?
Well, don’t we all?
If you fancy making this dream a reality, buying your own convertible might not be quite as unattainable as you might think.
From a zippy electric Fiat to Morgan Plus Four’s pure vintage elegance, we’ve rounded up some of the best convertible cars on offer for 2021 at every price point.
FORD MUSTANG GT CONVERTIBLE
Engine: 5-litre V8 (460bhp)
0-62mph: 4.4s
Top speed: 155mph
Price: £47, 755
For half a century, the US kept the Mustang largely to itself but now you can finally buy one in the UK.
The legendary pony car, now in its sixth iteration, gets its guns out in convertible form – its bombastic 5.0 V8 surely the most powerful mainstream motor under £50k.
This car is cool and crude in equal measure, with a plastic and somewhat inelegant interior, and suspension better suited to America’s straight highways, tempered by alluringly aggressive styling, thrilling grunt and the addictive roar of Detroit pistons.
There is nothing woke about this dinosaur. Buy one and save it from extinction.
FIAT 500 CABRIO
Engine: 42kW electric motor (118bhp)
0-62mph: 9.0s
Top speed: 84mph
Price: £29,145
The new Fiat 500 is fully electric, with an impressive 199-mile range and it charges quickly and efficiently.
Fiat has done a fabulous job with the design, which is subtly sophisticated and features sustainable materials.
The canvas roof is stretched between metal rails along the roll structure (as opposed to being a full convertible) and this does help keep the cornering rigid but the steering is woolly and the chassis struggles with the weight above 60mph.
In town, though, it’s very nippy thanks to its small size, instant torque and excellent visibility.
When you accelerate past 20mph it plays a little tune, inspired by a Fellini film score.
For a moment, imagine you’re driving through the Cinque Terre, not the South Circular.
MORGAN PLUS FOUR
Engine: BMW 2-litre 4-cylinder turbo (255bhp)
0-62mph: 5.2s
Top speed: 149mph
Price: £66,430
1950s craftsmanship meets 2020s engineering in the handsome and charming Morgan Plus Four.
The car’s handmade frame is ash and its body swooping. The CX chassis is bonded aluminium, the suspension double wishbone and the four-cylinder turbocharged engine and six-speed manual gearbox come courtesy of BMW.
But don’t go thinking this most British of cars has been diluted by the Germans.
Morgan remains entirely English and independent. Everyone will wave hello and let you out at junctions.
Staring down the louvered bonnet will cause your spirit to soar every time you jump in.
Despite boasting Bluetooth connectivity, this Morgan still feels wonderfully analogue and handles better than ever.
FERRARI PORTOFINO M
Engine: 3.9 V8 twin-turbo (612bhp)
0-62mph: 3.5s
Top speed: 199mph
Price: £175,360
The name Portofino suggests a seductive getaway – a merry jumble of romantic villas and bacchanal cafés in ice-cream shades, set around a half-moon harbour. ‘M’ stands for Modificata.
The updated Portofino has subtle visual changes from its predecessor, to make
it look more assertive.
The main changes are under its pulse-quickening skin, including more power from its 3.9-litre V8 twin-turbo and a sensational new 8-speed dual-clutch gearbox.
It’s also the first 2+ Ferrari Spider to offer a five-position Manettino, including Race mode, making it adaptable to a more expansive range of driving conditions and missions.
Don’t be fooled into thinking this is a ‘starter’ Ferrari, one for millionaire hairdressers. This is a serious sun-seeking sports car with 612 prancing horses up front.
In association with Cazoo.
Ask a Cazoo car doctor
What is lane assist?
Automotive editor Leo Wilkinson says:
Lane assist is a safety feature designed to help keep your car from straying out of its lane on the motorway and potentially causing a crash.
Using cameras and sensors on the car, it reads the road ahead – if you start to cross a lane marking, it’ll warn you with a beeping sound or a vibration through the seat or steering wheel.
It’s activated only at higher speeds when you don’t use your indicators to signal a lane change.
That means you don’t have to worry about it going off while you’re driving through town, or if you deliberately change lanes on the motorway. You can usually turn it off if you prefer, too.
Many new cars have a lane-assist feature, either as standard or as a part of an option pack. Some cars even have a more advanced system that also allows the car to gently steer itself back within the lane if necessary.
Email cardoctor@metro.co.uk with your questions
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