It seems that convertible cars may have had their moment in the sun according to new data released by vehicle history and data expert Cartell.ie. Latest figures show that that only 27 soft top cars have been registered so far in 2020 and a mere 167 were registered with a 2019 plate.

The figures are in stark contrast to the pre-crash recession days of 2007 when sun seeking Irish buyers bought 2186 convertible models.

In total there are 15,738 convertibles in the Irish fleet and approximately one third of those (5325) have been imported. The most popular model is the Mazda MX5 with 953 registered. The next most popular is the Renault Megane with 812 registered.

John Byrne, of Cartell.ie says, “The convertible may have been seen as a sign of the times during the boom years when open-topped driving was at its most popular. The fall off since then could be due to a variety of factors. Obviously the weather is not always kind in Ireland and buyers often opt for more practical options, but there has been a shift in the market away from this type of car.”

John suggests that the rise in popularity of SUVs may account for a big drop in numbers, as car buyers purchasing habits switch to platforms not suited to the top-down format.