Today’s automotive landscape is filled with convertibles, making it easy for almost any budget to afford a slice of joy. While it would be fun to bookend this comparison with the least expensive (Smart for Two) and the most expensive (Rolls-Royce Phantom Drophead Coupe) ragtops in the world, the gap would be Grand Canyon-esque. So, we decided to focus on center stage: enjoyable, useful convertibles that aren’t too expensive, yet a cut above the norm.

Volkswagen Eos
VW’s newish Eos convertible is one of those cars that comes along once in a blue moon, and it aims to please. Standard with the power retractable hardtop that’s so popular in today’s marketplace, VW presses the envelope a little more with a power moonroof, lending just that much more sky when you need it. Available heated seats will make topless driving in cooler weather more enjoyable, while its stiff body, compliant chassis and peppy engine encourages spirited driving.
The Eos is available in four trim levels, each building on the previous one to up the ante, starting at about $30,000. All but one are equipped with the 2.0-liter, inline four-cylinder engine good for 200 horsepower, while a 250 horsepower 3.2-liter V6, called VR6, is available to satisfy the appetites of the power hungry. The VR6 is also the best-equipped car, and priced at about $40,000. While you might scoff at the idea of a $40,000 Volkswagen, keep in mind that few cars offer the number of features, level of quality, performance, comfort, style and dependability that VW delivers at that price mark. Also, pretensions run shallow with VW. People will be inclined to think you paid much less for it, thus disarming many IRS agents or touchy clients you might have in your business circles. To them, it’s a cute, fun convertible that anyone can probably afford. Maybe it’s just a smart convertible.

For more hot convertibles, be sure to pick up this month's copy of Style-Roseville Granite Bay Rocklin edition. Click on the "Get Your Copy" link on the bottom of this page for some of our newsstand locations. Or, to order a copy of this issue, please email Gloria Schroeder at [email protected], or call her at 916-988-9888 x116.