Could You Be Converted To A Convertible?

When the sun’s out and the weather’s warm it’s hard not to be envious of those with a soft top or convertible car. But really, how often would you benefit from such a feature – is it something you think would be worth the investment? And would buying one increase your car insurance costs?

Car sales are up month-on-month with 143,884 new cars sold in July ’12 alone, according to the latest report from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, seen by swiftcover.com. It’s a 9.3% rise on the previous month with the usual suspects - Ford Fiesta and Vauxhall Corsa – crowned as the top sellers. However, it’s the premium and luxury brands with their convertible options which are causing a few eyebrows to twitch. Of the ‘big-boys’ of the motor circuit, Audi, Porsche and Bentley were singled out from the others as the biggest winners.

Many of these luxury cars will be convertibles so is it just the time of year or do we all secretly wish we had a soft top to cruise around the city in?

Inevitably, warm weather does have some impact on the car we purchase however these days, we’re generally much more practical and buy a car that fits our lifestyle, as well as our wallet. Buying a luxury convertible is out of the reach of many of us in the first place but the added cost of car insurance can be an additional consideration.

Although convertible cars don’t automatically mean higher premiums on car insurance, any car with a retractable roof is likely to be a premium or top-spec vehicle, and more often than not has a powerful engine under the bonnet, bringing a higher premium cost. So if you’re considering what type of car to buy next, factor in the costs – not just the immediate outlay – while also considering your car insurance, fuel costs and of course, road tax.

But maybe we’re analysing this too much – is feeling the wind in your hair priceless?

Disclosure: If you’ve got a convertible or have a view on whether to buy one or not, share your experience and join the debate with more than 45,000 others on the swiftcover.com Facebook page or follow us on Twitter @swiftcover.