5 of the best convertible cars
Wanted: five summer rides with performance and style. Will pay handsomely. Roof optional
Chevrolet Corvette 427 Convertible
US$100,000 (£65,000), chevrolet.com
Other than enjoying the sun and wind in your face, the point of putting the top down is to listen to your engine. And what music you’ll hear from the iconic American muscle convertible’s 7 litre 505bhp V8 as you test that 3.8s 0-60mph time.
Ferrari 458 Spider
£200,000, ferrari.com
Hiding out of sight under the 458 Spider’s roof would be a crime because, let’s be honest, it’s a babe magnet. You’ll have to keep below that near 200mph top speed if you want to be seen – though you can always let your wallet do the talking later on.
Audi R8 Spyder V10
£160,000, audi.co.uk
Tony Stark drives an Audi R9 Sypder V10. Yes, a man with a flying suit chooses to drive this car. If that and the hyper aerodynamic looks aren’t enough to sway you, does being able to put the roof up or down in just 19 seconds – while driving at up to 31mph? Or is it just the 510bhp 5.2 litre V10?
Mini Roadster
£18,000, mini.co.uk
Not only is the Mini Roadster one of the fastest front wheel drive motors on the road, it also has one of the quickest roofs. In fact it has the fastest roof in the world, going from closed to open – and vice versa – in only eight seconds. It doesn’t look too bad for a compact either.
Porsche 911 Targa 4S
£87,000, porsche.com
The Targa 4S (no relation to the iPhone of the same name) has a hard glass roof that retracts (in a matter of seconds) to reveal the glorious summer sunshine. It’ll go back up just as fast when you turn the next corner and find an unseasonal shower.
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Dan Grabham
Editor-in-Chief 
