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Top five tin-top convertibles

Image of James Fossdyke
Author: | Updated: 28 Jul 2015 15:15

We all harbour a little ideal world of cruising down country lanes with the wind in our hair, but the impracticalities of soft-tops are often enough to leave us dreaming of it, rather than actually doing it.

There is a way around this though. Folding hard-tops offer a thief-proof, weather-proof way of owning a convertible without sacrificing the top-down thrills. They’re the best of both worlds.

Finding one isn’t always easy – many manufacturers, including Audi, Jaguar and Bentley, prefer a fabric roof to keep the weight down – but we’ve dug out five solid-roofed drop-tops you might want to consider.

BMW 4 Series

BMW 4-Series Convertible High Res

BMW 4 Series

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By freeing it from the 3 Series range, BMW has been able to pump some design flair into its compact executive convertible. The 4 Series is altogether beefier than the 3 Series, just as good to drive and just as luxurious.

Those of sound mind will want the 420d diesel, which will offer all the efficiency and performance you’ll ever want, but we’d go for the six-cylinder 435i petrol to offer a little more of an assault on our eardrums.

Ferrari California T

top:Ferrari California T Folding Roof

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Who cares whether it’s the ‘baby’ Ferrari, or whether people pity you for not being able to afford a 458 (they don’t, by the way – they’re usually too jealous of the prancing horse on the nose), or that Ferraris shouldn’t be turbocharged? Nobody at the wheel of a California, that’s for sure.

With a big V8 up front and taut but powerful lines, there’s no doubt that the ‘Cali’ is a pukka Ferrari. So forget the haters and the purists, sit back in the leather and just enjoy the sound, the power and that Ferrari aura.

Mercedes SLK

Mercedes-Benz SLK 55 AMG Red Front Dynamic

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Once the reserve of hairdressers and poseurs, the SLK has come of age recently. Muscle car looks have revived the German drop-top, and we’re very glad of that, because it was never a bad car. Nowadays it’s even better, with the 5.5-litre V8 in the AMG 55 providing a magical noise and the small matter of 416bhp.

We’d go for one of the 2.0-litre petrols though, because they’ll make a decent sound and pack adequate punch without being overly thirsty.

Mazda MX-5

Mazda MX-5 Sport Graphite Front Dynamic

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The new, fourth-gen MX-5 may be imminent, but don’t discount the current Mark 3 model. Like every ‘Five’ before it, the basic ingredients of sufficient power, rear-wheel drive and low weight have all been used pretty much perfectly, so it handles like an MX-5 should.

It also has the added advantages of looking more muscular than anything before or since, and having a folding hard-top to either keep the weather out or let the sunshine in.

Volkswagen Eos

Volkswagen Eos Sport Front Dynamic

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The Eos is another car that’s in the process of being axed, but you can still lease one. A last-gen Golf with a removable roof it may very well be, but what’s so wrong with that? The Mk6 Golf was capable car.

If anything, chopping the roof off makes it better, because now you’ve got miles of headroom and a bit more excitement. Unfortunately, Golf engines mean there’s no fire-spitting V8 soundtrack, but that’s good for fuel bills, if nothing else.

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