Convertible car purchases are all the rage in the build up to the summer.
There are many activities synonymous with summer – picnics in the park, firing up the barbecue and enjoying an ice cream – but is there anything more thrilling than cruising around with the top down?
Convertible cars are vehicles most of us only dream of buying, but keeping on top of the latest new car deals can make owning one a reality this summer.
These motors look fantastic in the sunshine and are great to drive – and it appears most of us yearn for the chance to hit the road with the wind in our hair and sun on our skin.
New research carried out by Confused.com has shown 25 per cent of Brits have named a convertible car as their dream summer purchase – making them more desirable than an outdoor hot tub (23 per cent) and beach hut (17 per cent).
And it seems getting hold of a convertible is something buyers do with summer clearly in mind, as 34 per cent of owners said they bought their car in order to make the most of the good weather seen during the warmer months.
Despite this, the same amount (34 per cent) love rolling down the roof so much that they're prepared to brave less pleasant conditions – including the wind and rain – in order to 'go topless'.
Gemma Stanbury, head of motor insurance at Confused, said: "It would seem that the nation's love affair with convertible cars is showing no sign of diminishing – even if the weather in the UK isn't always ideal for cruising along with the roof down."
If you're in the market for a convertible, there's certainly no shortage of options. But according to the price comparison site's quote data from 2012, the most popular models are the Mazda MX-5 Cabriolet, Peugeot 206 CC, Porsche Boxster, Toyota MR2 Convertible and Honda S2000 Convertible.
These motors are sure to be huge hits over the months ahead, with drivers keen to get out and about in the sunshine while it lasts.
Posted by Peter Murray