Best used convertible cars

It might seem strange for a country with more than its fair share of rain, but the UK loves a convertible car. In fact we buy more drop-tops than any other country in Europe except Germany.

If you’ve ever driven one, you might understand why. There’s something intoxicating about breezing around on a fine day with just the sky above you and (if you’re lucky) the sun on your face. Taking the top down turns what could be a humdrum journey into an adventure.

This all means that there’s a great choice of used convertibles for sale in the UK. Here, in no particular order, is our guide to the best of them.

For a stylish around-town runabout, it’s hard to get any better than a Mini. Already a very appealing, characterful car that’s enjoyable to drive, it gets even more fun when you whip the roof off. 

The Mini Convertible has a fabric roof that lowers electrically in around 18 seconds and you can pop it up or down at speeds of up to 20mph. That’s really handy if you’re on the move and it suddenly starts to tip down. 

There’s a choice of petrol or diesel engines and sporty S and John Cooper Works models if you want to up the fun factor even more. It doesn’t have much room for rear seat passengers or stuff in the boot, but there are far more expensive cars that won’t make you smile as much as a Mini Convertible.

If you want a bit more space and a bit more sophistication in your convertible, take a look at the Cabriolet version of Audi’s A3. Most of the range isn’t built for thrills and sharp handling, but more for cruising around in comfort and style, and it boasts an interior quality that would shame cars costing twice as much. 

The A3 Cabriolet has been on sale for a while now, which means plenty of models on the used market and quite a bit of choice, from small-engined runabouts to the sporty and powerful S3 Cabriolet. The fabric roof will fold down in 18 seconds at speeds of up to 31mph. Higher-spec models get a more insulated roof which makes the car even quieter when it’s raised.

For a fun, sporty convertible that won’t break the bank, the Mazda MX-5 should be your first port of call. Inspired by the classic British sports cars of the 1960s, Mazda’s interpretation has been popular with enthusiasts and the general public alike since the 1990s, with more than a million sold around the world. 

The latest version, introduced in 2015, stays true to the original ethos and is a low-slung, two-seat, rear-wheel drive machine that really rewards the driver on a twisty country road. Two versions are available. The regular MX-5 has a folding fabric roof that you’ll need to put up and down manually, while the RF model has a three-piece hard-top that folds electrically in 13 seconds. Both are brilliant.

While the MX-5 is a lot of fun, it’s not the fastest car in the world. So if you want a similar vibe but a bit more poke, check out the Abarth 124 Spider. 

It’s based on the Mazda MX-5 and shares many parts with it, but it looks and feels different because it’s been developed as a separate car by Italian brand Abarth – Fiat’s sporty sub-brand. This Italian take on a familiar formula gives it more power, more sportiness and more excitement. There’s the same manually folding fabric roof that you can raise or lower with a yank of your arm though and the same snug, stylish interior. On the outside you get flamboyant Italian styling and the option of some much bolder colour schemes. It’s every inch the sporty roadster, with a driving experience to match.

Looking for a proper open-top sports car, and a luxury badge to go with it? Then the Porsche 718 Boxster is a very good place to start. 

It might be Porsche’s entry-level model, but the German manufacturer doesn’t make bad cars and the Boxster is a tremendous piece of engineering fitted with an electrically-folding roof. 

It’s beautifully made inside and looks sporty without being aggressive, while the driving experience is sublime, with some serious performance that’s only enhanced when you’re exposed to the elements. Various versions are available, some more hardcore than others, but find a nice open stretch of road and you’re guaranteed a good time in any of them.

Should the allure of a premium badge and roof-down driving draw you in, but you’re a bit more concerned with comfort than sportiness, how about the Mercedes-Benz SLC? It’s the smallest of Mercedes’ convertible sports cars and it’s more of a top-down, two-seat cruiser. 

You can still have some serious performance if you opt for the AMG version, which comes from Mercedes’ tuning division, but mostly the SLC is about style and comfort. You can raise or lower the metal roof on the move and it’s particularly quiet and civilised whether it’s up or down. Better still is the optional ‘Airscarf’ feature that wafts warm air around your neck from vents in the head restraints. Perfect for making the most of bright, cold winter mornings!

Read our Mercedes-Benz SLC review

The TT sits midway between the pure driver’s car that is the Porsche 718 Boxster and the relaxed Mercedes SLC. It can turn its hand to either character and it’s very good at both, with a range of great petrol engines and some understated but sporty looks. 

The TT is a great everyday car for commuting in the week and zipping across the countryside at the weekends. It has a fabric folding roof that folds down in 10 seconds at up to 31mph, and the interior is remarkably quiet when it’s raised. Should you pick one of the sporty versions – the TT S or the TT RS – you’ll delight at how much louder the exhaust sounds with the roof down. Just don’t be one of those people that revs it through town for the heck of it...

For a premium car with a bit more space, have a look at the BMW 2 Series Convertible. It’s a compact, great-looking drop-top that’s cost-effective to own, has seating for four adults and a large boot. Admittedly, anyone with longer legs might find the back seats a bit ‘cosy’, but it’s a pleasantly sensible and practical choice. 

Roof down, the 2 Series Convertible manages to keep wind buffeting at bay while still letting you enjoy the elements. It’s fun to drive and there are plenty of trim levels to choose from, as well as a range of petrol and diesel engines. These vary from fine-for-everyday to really-quite-powerful and all are excellent.

Need a bigger car, but don’t want to sacrifice any style? Check out Audi’s sleek A5 Cabriolet, which will seat four and plenty of their belongings in a decent-sized boot. 

Being an Audi it has a fantastic quality interior and plenty of cutting-edge tech features. A range of petrol and diesel engines are available, all of which are smooth and economical, and there’s a sportier, more powerful S5 Cabriolet if you want something that’s quick yet comfortable. Speaking of which, the A5 is almost as quiet as a regular car when the fabric roof is up, thanks to its multi-layered construction and plenty of sound insulation. That means you won’t be plagued by road and wind noise through the winter, so it’s a great option if you want a convertible that’s a good long-distance cruiser.

If you’re after a convertible that allows you to top up your tan while sitting in the lap of luxury look no further than the Mercede-Benz E-Class Cabriolet. This is a big four-seater that gives you lots of space, the latest high-tech features and a feeling of real opulence on the road.

It’ll seat four adults with ease and the boot is one of the most usable you’ll find in a convertible, with plenty of space and the ability to fold the rear seats down for larger items. The engines, both petrol and diesel, are excellent, and some have mild hybrid technology to improve fuel economy. The folding fabric roof will extend or retract in about 20 seconds at speeds of up to 31mph. Elegantly styled inside and out, the E-Class Cabriolet is a very classy way of enjoying open-top motoring.

Whether you choose one of these brilliant convertibles or something else, you can buy and finance your Cazoo car entirely online and select to have it delivered to your door or to collect it from one of our Customer Centres.

We're constantly updating and adding to our stock so if you can't find one within your budget today, check back soon to see what's available.