CARCRAFT has found that Brits can’t get enough of topless driving – with the company’s latest sales figures showing a 33 per cent sales increase.
Despite our notoriously unpredictable summers, sales figures reveal a 33 percent increase in the volume of convertibles sold between 2006 and 2007, meaning that they now account for almost five per cent of the firm’s total used car sales.
Mike Walsh, sales director at Carcraft said: ‘The number of people opting for convertible driving is growing year on year, which is less surprising than it may seem. Used car prices show that coupe and cabriolet models tend to retain more value than their more practical hatchback or saloon counterparts, making them a worthwhile investment.
‘The sportier appearance of convertible models helps to give them a wide appeal, meaning their residual value consistently outperforms other models.’
Most popular choices according to Carcraft’s figures continue to be classic models such as the Mazda MX-5, the MGF and Peugeot 206 but newer prestige models such as the BMW 3-Series and Z4 are also popular sellers.
Walsh added: ‘As their appeal continues to grow, we are also seeing more manufacturers competing to tap into the trend by introducing their own convertible models – with 16 new launches in 2007 alone.’
This record number of launches combined with increasing numbers of new convertible sales over the last three years means that the used car market is currently offering its widest selection ever.
