Stormy weather can´t halt coupe-cabrio sales

It may have been the wettest June on record in the UK but the recent hot summers and the introduction of numerous folding metal roof coupe-cabriolets has led to a sales boom of such vehicles in the UK.

The UK is now generally regarded as the second largest market in Europe for these vehicles, despite the weather.

Although private retail customers have been the traditional buyers of cabriolets or convertibles, the introduction of the folding metal roof has found favour with company car fleet managers because of the added safety and security they offer over the traditional ‘rag-tops’.

So the new breed of coupe-cabriolet models can be found on company car lists for user-chooser drivers and there is a healthy demand for new and used vehicles from private buyers.

According to figures from the Society of Motoring Manufacturers and Traders, registrations are now over 100,000 units a year, three times the number a decade ago, and now the sector has a 4.3 per cent share of the new car market.

Industry figures show that in this sector petrol engined models dominate with a 70 per cent of sales, but with the increasing demand from the business and fleet sectors, the growth in diesel models is rapidly becoming more in line with other market sectors.

Five of the main company car sector suppliers, Ford, Vauxhall, Peugeot, Renault and Volkswagen all have C- segment offerings in the emerging coupe-cabriolet market.

My own preferred model is the VW Eos because it is a purpose built coupe-cabriolet, not a C-segment car with the roof changed and it is marginally roomier in the rear for passengers.

The Ford Focus CC, Vauxhall Astra TwinTop, Renault Megane CC and Peugeot 307 CC are its mainstream competitors and they all have similar pricing structures.

The desirability of these cars is due to their flexibility of use. In bad weather and with the metal roof closed you have a smart looking practical coupe.

If and when the sun comes out, push a button and the electrically operated roof comes down and stores itself automatically in the boot in a few seconds.

They are all the year around cars with good insulation so gone are the days of having a damp canvas roof which makes the vehicle cold in winter and prone to weather and noise intrusion.

Fabric tops are high in maintenance with periodic additional weatherproofing and their security is not great either as a sharp knife will soon gain a thief access to the interior of the car.

Read the new Vauxhall Astra TwinTop review here.

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