Stop living the manly lie. You need a
cabrio in your life, and this is why
“Everything that can be invented has been
invented.” So stated, according to popular legend, Charles Holland Duell,
commissioner of the United States Patent and Trademark Office from 1898 to
1901.
In fact, Charles Holland Duell said nothing
of the sort, because he was a) the boss of the US patents office and b) not an
idiot. Even so, the history of technological progress is littered with examples
of confidently held opinions that, with the benefit of hindsight, sound a
trifle daft. In 1909, the scholarly periodical Scientific American declared
that “the automobile has practically reached the limit of its development”.
Away from cars, in 1939, the New York Times boldly stated: “Television will
never be a serious competitor for radio, because people must sit and keep their
eyes glued to the screen.” Got any stock market tips, chaps?
The
4 Series Convertible is still an impressive piece of machinery – well equipped,
reasonably priced and comfortable with the roof up or down
We may snort at these silly, backwards
souls of yore, at their closed-mindedness at the inexorable advances in
science. But you are shortly to become one of the same, a Luddite refusing to
acknowledge the relentless march of technology, a fuddy-duddy to be mocked by
future generations.
Because you have, have you not, glanced at
the three convertibles on these pages and thought, “Sure, perfectly nice, but
they’re a bit… hairdresser, aren’t they? I, because I am an Enthusiastic Driver
who believes ardently in the art of heel-and-toeing, and the clipping of
apices, will have myself a proper coupe-slash-hatchback instead. Now pass me
those dumb-bells, it’s time for a few reps.”
The
Bentley Continental GTC V8 S is yet another step forward for the company in
returning to its sporting roots
Yes, it’s true that, once upon a time,
convertibles were floppy, hideously compromised atrocities of engineering that,
at the first sight of a corner, twisted their chassis into a neat bow-tie
before depositing you into a field with a rear brake light wedged into your
armpit. But no more. Technology has moved on. Cars have become less bendy. Like
it or lump it, modern convertibles offer – with a few exceptions – everything
that yer run-of-the-mill coupes and hatches can do, but with the added bonus
that (and you guessed this bit, didn’t you?) you can drop their roofs should
the mood take you. They’re not a compromise. They’re two for the price of one.
A bargain.
The
Fiat 500C Lounge TwinAir is a deserved success story for the brand, offering
bags of style, a fine drive and low costs
If you’re now snorting dismissively into
your protein shake, you’re only digging your own grave, Neanderthal. Today, the
question shouldn’t be, “Why would you buy a convertible?” The question should
be, “Why wouldn’t you?”
Case in point: the Fiat 500C, a convertible
so stealthy that, roof-up, many might fail to notice it isn’t a standard hatch.
Drop its top, and the 500’s roof rails remain in place, the fabric centre
section ruching back towards the bootlid like a curtain. It’s an arrangement
mimicked by the Citroen DS3 cabrio, one that means no significant loss of
structural integrity or manliness.
