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Mid-life Crises Help Double UK Convertible Sales in 10 Years

According to a recent survey from insurance firm LV=, as much as a fifth of new soft-top owners bought their first such car in their fifties, while one in ten have stated this has been just the thing they needed to recapture their young days. In addition, the roads of Britain are now crammed with 911,495 convertibles a figure which has doubled in the past ten year.

Compared to 1993, there are now six times as many convertibles in Britain, proving the country is the largest consumer of such vehicles, despite the less than favorable weather. Cars like the Peugeot 206 CC, the Renault Megane Dynamique VVT and the upmarket Mercedes SLK have resulted in convertibles becoming the fastest growing segment of the market in the country.

The survey also states that convertible owners put their tops down about 10 days a month on average, and 3 days per month when the weather really gets chilly. Almost a third of owners said they had purchased a convertible as it was their dream car, while one in 10 said they had wanted to impress their friends and family.

A spokesman for the AA said one of the reasons drivers tended to buy a convertible in middle-age was that the vehicles were more reliable than the soft-tops of their youth. “In the pressured lives that many people lead, it can be a delightful pleasure to look forward to a drive home in good weather at the end of the day,” he added.

“The British love affair with convertibles is one of the unique ironies of our island nation and our research has shown just how dedicated convertible owners are to making the most of their motors - come rain or shine,” said John O'Roarke, the managing director of LV=, which was behind the study.
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About the author: Mihnea Radu
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Mihnea's favorite cars have already been built, the so-called modern classics from the '80s and '90s. He also loves local car culture from all over the world, so don't be surprised to see him getting excited about weird Japanese imports, low-rider VWs out of Germany, replicas from Russia or LS swaps down in Florida.
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