Get ready to blow your top
DARREN CASSEY rounds up some dream road-trip convertibles
LET’S not get ahead of ourselves, but it seems there is light at the end of the pandemic tunnel and we may at last be able to head out for a getaway, this summer.
Foreign travel may be tricky, so let’s go in search of some sun in the UK, and what better way than on a road trip in a convertible?
Here are options for a variety of budgets.
Up to £5,000 - Volvo C70
At the lower end of the scale, we’re in the used car market. There’s plenty of choice at this price point, from the sporty Toyota MR2 to cityfocused Minis.
However, for a road-trip you want space and comfort and the Volvo C70 is large and fairly practical, while also being comfortable with great styling. It’s no sports car, but it’s a handsome all-rounder.
Up to £15,000 - BMW M3
Still in the used market, but with this extra cash you can get into something sportier, such as the hardcore Honda S2000 or, for a compromise between performance and comfort, a BMW M3 Convertible is a great shout. For this budget you’re looking at the E46 generation from the early 2000s – a gorgeouslooking car.
Up to £25,000 - Mazda MX-5
The undisputed top dog in the affordable convertible world is the Mazda MX-5, and £25,000 will get you into a new one – just. For this cash, you’re looking at the entrylevel trim with the 1.5-litre engine.
That’s no bad thing though, with many enthusiasts saying this is the optimal MX-5 combination for the purest driving experience.
Want more? Look at nearly new and you’ll find higher trim levels, as well as the more powerful 2.0litre engine.
Up to £40,000 - Audi TT Roadster We’ll make a bit more of a leap now, this time to a budget of £40,000, because that gets you in the Audi TT Roadster. Prices start about £2k under budget – and, if you drive a hard bargain, you could push yourself into a sportier S line trim.
Do this and you get a fantasticlooking convertible, that’s fun to drive and packed full of equipment.
Up to £50,000 -
Porsche 718 Boxster
If it is open-top thrills you are looking for, it’s tough to beat a Porsche, and a Boxster is one of the best.
There was a time when people looked down on this ‘entry level’ Porsche, but now it’s considered a fantastic car in its own right.
Its sleek, stylish looks ooze class, and while the new engines don’t have the character of classic models, they still pack a punch.
Up to £100,000 -
Porsche 911 Cabriolet
Prices increase rapidly now, and while it’s entirely too predictable to pick another Porsche, the German firm is considered one of the best in the business for a reason. If you’re looking for change from six figures, you can get yourself into a 911 and even choose the four-wheel-drive Carrera model. The 911 is one of the most iconic sports cars on the planet, and is so brilliantly designed that you could feasibly use it for day-to-day driving, as well as for spirited jaunts.
Over £100,000 -
Bentley Continental GT
We’re reaching money-no-object prices now, and if that’s the case, there’s probably nothing better than a Bentley Continental GT.
There are more focused sports cars such as the Audi R8 Spyder, but that can be quite cramped for taller drivers.
The Continental GT, however, will get you around in supreme comfort and comes packed with all the technology you could ever need.
The price of near-perfection? In excess of £173,000...