Buyer’s Guide: 5 Best Convertibles in 2019
No car better represents luxury, fun and freedom than a convertible. It’s the kind of car that stands out wherever it goes, making all surrounding vehicles look boring and stopping pedestrians in their tracks to gaze in appreciation. It’s no wonder that a convertible is one of the most coveted automobiles anyone could own.
If you're one of those of who dream of riding your very own convertible, now is a great time to make that dream come true. The End Of Financial Year sends plenty of cars on great bargains as dealers and salespeople hustle to sell more vehicles to meet their yearly sales targets. If you don’t have the funds readily available, get a car loan and make the purchase.
Here are five of the most popular and widely talked about convertibles in 2019:
1. Porsche 718 Boxster
This two-seat, mid-engine soft-top convertible sports car is one of the top-rated convertibles in the market today. It has consistently great reviews on different automobile-focused websites mainly because it offers great driving experience at a price that's lower than most luxury models of its kind.
Starting at $59,000 MSRP, the 718 Boxster Convertible delivers turbocharged performance with its 2.0L 4-cylinder turbocharged boxer engine and a 6-speed manual transmission or an optional Porsche Doppelkupplung (PDK) automatic transmission. With the base engine and transmission, the 718 Boxster delivers 300 hp. 280 lb-ft of torque, top track speed of 170 mph, 0-60 mph acceleration time of 4.9 seconds (4.7 with PDK), an EPA-estimated 21 mpg city/28 mpg highway (22 mpg city/29 mpg highway with PDK).
The car’s interior features a dashboard that is arranged with an ascending centre console to shorten the distance between the steering wheel and gear selector. Its steering wheel is pure motorsports with an optional GT version. The seats have electric backrest adjustment and optional heat and cooling. Meanwhile, the exterior styling is low, wide, and sleek with a centrally positioned single-tube tailpipe highlighting its sporty look. The elegant fabric hood can open or close in 9 seconds at the push of a button, even while the car is in motion.
2. 2020 McLaren 720S Spider
This newest McLaren model is a mid-engine, rear-wheel-drive, 2-door convertible. It's one of the fastest convertibles in the market with a power-to-weight ratio of 397kW/tonne and a dry weight of 1332kg. It also has one of the quickest Retractable Hard Top (RHT)s in the segment that retracts at the press of a button and fully folds in under 11 seconds even while travelling at 50km/h. The roof comes with a unique glazed option with electrochromic glass for sky viewing even when the car is closed.
Powered by a 4.0-litre twin-turbocharged V8 engine, it runs at a maximum speed of 341km/h (212mph) and has a maximum torque of 770 nm and a maximum power of 720ps (which inspires its name). The car has three driving modes: Comfort, Sport and Track. Comfort delivers a refined drive for everyday journeys while Sport and Track increase chassis stiffness through the hydraulic anti-roll and dampers, making the car honed for performance.
The design is as superb as its performance. Built on a carbon fibre structure, the car’s body is incredibly light yet strong to accommodate the RHT. The body of the car is shrink-wrapped around the carbon fibre structure and the engine to maximise efficiency and performance and minimise drag. Of course, there’s the iconic dihedral door system with an enhanced soft-close feature and a smaller opening footprint that allows the doors to be fully opened even in tighter parking spaces.
With its base price of $315,000, the Spider is truly a luxury convertible for the elite and discerning drivers.
3. 2020 Jaguar F-TYPE
Powered by 2.0L 296 hp turbocharged four-cylinder automatic, it runs at a top speed of 155mph with 5.4 acceleration 0‑60 mph (secs) and 296 maximum power (hp). Its key features include LED headlights with signature daytime running lights, grained leather seats and suede cloth facings, 12-way electric front seats with memory, 18" 10 spoke 'style 1036' wheels, active sports exhaust, and an improved touch-screen infotainment system with the option of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
New standard safety systems include automatic emergency braking, lane-keep assist, adaptive speed limiter, traffic-sign recognition and driver-attention monitor.
F-Type's growl differs according to its engine type: subtle and slightly frantic 4-cylinder, metallic V6, and deep growl V8. The new 4-cylinder engine offers 60 mph in about 5.4 seconds while the 575-horsepower supercharged V8 getting the coupe to 60 mph in 3.5 seconds. The steering and suspension are so precise on the track or mountain roads, as well as on lousy pavements.
The 2020 F-TYPE Convertible is available at a base MSRP of $64,700. It's the lowest price in the F-Type convertible model range that also includes Checkered Flag, R-Dynamic, R, and SVR.
4. 2019 Rolls-Royce Dawn
The exquisite four-seater Dawn takes its design from the Wraith coupe. Made of sheet metal that curves and swoops, the brand claims it to be the "sexiest Rolls-Royce ever built."
The car is powered by a 6.6-litre twin-turbocharged V-12 that makes 563 horsepower. It moves gracefully at 60 mph with an eight-speed automatic transmission that’s tuned for tranquillity. It also changes gears using a GPS that can detect whether the car is going uphill, downhill or around corners.
Designed with old-school luxury, Dawn’s cabin is accessible by rear-hinged doors. The interior features butter-soft leather and acres of real wood trim. The front seats have an optional massaging function. There are also thick, lambswool floormats for feet pampering.
The car is also equipped with a suite of driver-assistance features. These include night-vision capability, touchscreen infotainment and an optional TV tuner.
5. 2019 Buick Cascada
With a base MSRP of $34,000, the four-seater Cascada may not be the most luxurious convertible in the market but it sure is one of the most affordable.
The car’s top can drop in 17 seconds and at speeds of up to 31 mph. The trunk space is 13.4 cubic feet with the top up and 9.8 with the top down. The interior features power-adjustable heated front seats, dual-zone automatic climate control and leather upholstery. It also has a 7.0-inch infotainment touchscreen with navigation and a 4G LTE onboard Wi-Fi hotspot. The driver-assistance features are in the Premium and Sport-Touring models.
Also, the Cascada will no longer be in production next year. If you’re a fan, better buy the car now before it drives off into the sunset.
Positive Lending Solutions has a team of car finance specialists that help find your new wheels as well as the best car loan for your lifestyle. To kickstart your application, fill out the Quick Quote form or call us on 1300 722 210.
See also:
Buying a Car at the End Of Financial Year Car Sales
Does a car loan cover insurance?
Tom Caesar is the Managing Director of The Positive Group, a group of Australian financial services companies offering a broad range of finance to clients Australia wide. The Positive Group assist clients in the areas of car finance, mortgages, insurance & wealth management. Tom has been in car & asset finance for over 10 years. Tom regularly contributes articles on car finance, insurance, technology and business growth, drawing on his experience of starting his own brokerage in 2009.