Convertible prices rise with the mercury

New data from BCA, the UK and Europe’s leading used vehicle marketplace, illustrates the link between rising temperatures and convertible car prices. As summer finally arrives, BCA revealed that average monthly sold prices for convertibles rose by around £250 in June to reach £9,828.

“The used convertible market was slow to get going this year”, explained Tim Naylor, Editor of the BCA Used Car Market Report. “The cold spring weather and the seemingly slow arrival of summer inevitably supressed demand, but interest has certainly picked up in the past few weeks.

“In terms of value for money, the best time to buy a convertible would be the depths of winter, as that is when values average the lowest across the board. But, perhaps not surprisingly, some motorists seem to need to feel the heat of the sun to make the decision to buy a soft top.

“Average values for convertibles rose by 2.6 per cent in June, compared to May. But compare June values to those seen in the depths of winter in January and soft tops are now averaging nearly £1,100 or 12.5 per cent more. Some of this will undoubtedly be down to changing model mix in a relatively low volume sector, but the general trend is clear.”