The hot summer ahead is perfect weather for going topless while motoring. No I am not advocating causing traffic chaos by sitting topless in your car this summer. Now while this may be interesting on the evening news, I would rather you take advantage of our perfect weather and the increasing number of Coupé Cabriolets that are available on the market.  

We look at 4 of our favourite Coupé Cabriolet convertibles, the blisteringly fast 2 seat BMW Z4 sDrive35i that reverts back to the halcyon days of the E-Type jag, the Boulevard cruising Lexus IS250C, the stunning Peugeot 308 CC 2.0L HDi and Volkswagens extremely popular EOS.  

There is truly something special about driving around Sydney’s northern beaches on a balmy summer evening with the top down enjoying one of those moments that are remembered long after the night finishes.

Launched in May 2009 the new generation Z4 is a visual and aural sensory delight. It has that long low look from the famous E-Type Jag all wrapped in a modern two seat Roadster. 

At first it appears long and slightly bulky which is a feeling reinforced by the fact that you sit lower and further back than most other vehicles. When you first sit in the drivers seat the huge bonnet bulge becomes apparent however after a short while driving, it becomes smaller.

Like most BMW’s the more you drive them the more they become part of you. Technology (and there is heaps in the Z4) that simply works unobtrusively assists the driving pleasure.  

Sitting in the drivers seat you are comfortably cocooned, start the engine and you hear that muted growl, plant the right foot and the Z4 leaps to life with a loud growl and acceleration that screams FUN! 

Yes Virginia this is a driver’s car. It handles like a go kart, has power to burn, sounds fantastic and with the top down there a few more pleasurable (and legal) experiences to be had while driving. Sure it has a few shortcomings, but they are all forgiven. Did I mention that this car is all about FUN! 

The BMW Z4 has always been a dynamic open top two-seater sportscar. It delivers a mouth-watering mix of front-engine, rear-wheel drive layout, close to 50/50 weight distribution, pin-sharp steering and tremendous grip.  

The bonnet, roof panels and front guards are made from aluminium, as is much of the suspension. The retractable roof stows or unfolds in 20 seconds and reveals the Z4’s sleek design. With the roof down or up there is minor scuttle shake but it is noticeable 

Absolutely chock full of goodies the standard equipment includes Kansas leather upholstery equipped with BMW SunReflective Technology, cruise control with brake function, Park Distance Control front and rear, electromechanical parking brake, electronic differential lock, Dynamic Driving Control, Bi-Xenon headlights, heated seats, through loading feature, engine stop/start button, Bluetooth handsfree technology, AUX-in connection and the handy USB interface.

A large array of options and option packages are available reflecting the strong desire to personalise the BMW Z4 by prospective owners. The options list includes BMW Adaptive M suspension, a seven-speed sport transmission with double clutch, light alloy wheels up to 19-inches in diameter, sport seats, power seat adjustment, lumbar support, adaptive headlights, TV function, Professional Navigation, extended leather in the standard ‘Kansas’ seat trim, or the option of the Character Package ‘Design Pure White’ which includes ‘Nappa’ leather trim Ivory white, sport seats and fine-wood trim Fineline Anthracite. Some of these features are standard on some models..

The BMW Z4 sDrive35i is powered a six-cylinder twin turbo 3.0-litre high precision injection engine generating 225 kW of power and 400 Nm of torque. This motor is mated to a seven-speed sports automatic with double clutch. The combination will take the car from 0-100 km/h in just 5.1 seconds. For such a powerful motor it is surprisingly economical using just 9.0L/100km (ADR combined) and produces 210g/km of CO₂ emissions. The Green Vehicle Guide rating is 3 1/2-stars. 

The BMW Z4 sDrive35i has an overall length of 4239mm, wheelbase of 2496mm, width of 1790mm and height of 1291mm. The Tare mass is 1580kg 

With a MLP of $116,900, it has stunning performance, (I am still smiling), sensual styling, cramped interior and boot space and BMW’s 2yr unlimited km warranty with 3 years 24/7 roadside assist.

Launched in July 2009 the new 308CC S is a stunning looking vehicle. This four seat Coupé Cabriolet has a high waisted look, rounded rear end sloping from back to front and looks great with the top either up or down.  

The design means that you are able to seat three in comfort and four if the driver is short or doesn’t mind being slightly cramped.  In fact space is a feature overall. The two front passengers could be forgiven for thinking they were in a sedan. The electric seats are big enough for amply endowed butts and there is plenty of head and shoulder room. 

Like most Peugeot’s it has its quirks and idiosyncrasies. It has possibly one of the biggest boots in its class when the roof is up and yet there is nowhere to put a bottle of water or coffee cup inside. It is full of features and yet lacks some basic luxuries like bluetooth. The radio controls on a stalk next to the light stalk are difficult to use where as steering wheel controls are way more intuitive and safer.   

Rather than being an outright driver’s car like the BMW or a pure Boulevard Cruiser like the Lexus the Peugeot 308CC S joins the Volkswagen Eos in being a pleasing sporty drive. It handles, goes and stops with a sporty edge. While not as much fun as the BMW it is nevertheless fun to drive. In fact the more you drive the 308CC the more you like it. This is a Coupé Cabriolet that is very easy to live with and very economical. 

This is one solid feeling convertible.  The car’s structural rigidity, vibration damping and low interior noise levels in coupe mode are a measure of the expertise of its manufacturer with this type of vehicle. The sills have been reinforced to their extreme outer limits to give maximum torsional rigidity. There is absolutely no noticeable scuttle shake with the roof down. The retractable roof stows or unfolds in 20 seconds. 

The 308 CC S comes standard with six airbags – including the world first side head airbags – ESP, self-deploying rollover bars, automatic locking glovebox and central storage compartment, electronic rear parking assistance, electric folding door mirrors with welcoming light, MP3, rear LED tail lights, standard leather seats with electric operation, heating and memory, Airwave, windstop, 18” wheels, directional Xenon headlights with automatic height adjustment and headlight washers and electronic front parking assistance. 

The Peugeot 308CC is powered by a four-cylinder turbo 2.0-litre HDi FAP engine generating 100 kW of power and 320 Nm of torque. The 2.0-litre unit, which is definitely preferrable to the petrol, is coupled to the proven Aisin 6-speed automatic transmission with tiptronic manual mode currently found in diesel versions of the 308 and 407. The combination will take the car from 0-100 km/h in 11.8 seconds. The 2.0L HDi is economical using just 7.0L/100km (ADR combined) and produces 185g/km of CO₂ emissions. The Green Vehicle Guide rating is 3 1/2-stars. 

The Peugeot 308CC has an overall length of 4400mm, wheelbase of 2605mm, width of 1817mm and height of 1426mm. The Tare mass is 1695kg 

With a MLP of $59,990, it has excellent pricing, beautiful styling and Peugeots 3yr 100,000 km warranty.

Also launched in July 2009 the new IS250C is the first body variant of the marque's most successful sedan - IS 250. This four seat Coupé Cabriolet has a low distinctive look that is equally attractive with the roof up or down. It is perhaps the most balanced looking of the four.   

Although it has four seats it really is designed for two people. Rear seat accommodation is part time at best. However the front driver and passenger want for nothing. Headroom is a little cramped for taller drivers though. 

Make no mistake about it though you are sitting is a super luxurious Coupé Cabriolet that has all the benefits of a sedan with the added fun of top down motoring.  

The Lexus IS 250C Sports Luxury is almost perfect and does everything faultlessly. Everything is extremely well thought out, plenty of storage and areas for bottles etc.  It displays all the qualities that Lexus has become famous for and is very easy to live with.  

The Lexus is the boulevard cruiser of the foursome. It does have the 2.5L V6 however performance and handling is leisurely not sporty and that suits the prospective buyer perfectly. Just don’t expect it to excite you though.  

As you would expect this is a solid feeling convertible.  Lexus design and construction philosophy means that nothing is overlooked and roof up or down the torsional rigidity is outstanding. There is absolutely no noticeable scuttle shake with the roof down. The retractable roof stows or unfolds in 20 seconds. Boot space is enormous with the roof up and limited but useable with it down.  

Like all Lexus vehicles the Sports Luxury is full of features including six airbags, and every safety feature you can fit in a car, reversing camera with guide assist and Lexus' unique VDIM stability control system, Lexus' radar Active Cruise Control (ACC) and the Lexus Pre-Collision System (PCS),  

From the exterior, the sports luxury features High Intensity Discharge headlamps with AFS, LED tail lamps, fog lights, rain-sensing windscreen and puddle lamps, five-poke, 18-inch shadow chrome alloy wheels with Dunlop 225/40 R18 tyres front and 255/40 R18 tyres rear, parking sensors and space saver spare. 

Inside is extremely comfortable with touch screen satellite navigation and a seven-inch multi-information display, heated seats, electro chromatic rear vision mirrors, 12-speaker Mark Levinson Audio system, electro chromatic side mirrors, Lexus smart entry key card, unique interior trim options, while cooling is added to the seats. 

The all-alloy Lexus 4GR-FSE D-4 Quad Cam multi-valve direct-injection dual VVT-i V6 engine delivers 153kW of power at 6400rpm and 252Nm of torque at 4800rpm. The 2.5-litre V6 engine is matched to a six-speed electronically controlled automatic transmission with shift paddles on the steering wheel. 

The combination will take the car from 0-100 km/h in 9.0 seconds. The 2.5-litre V6 uses just 9.3L/100km (ADR combined) and produces 219g/km of CO₂ emissions. The Green Vehicle Guide rating is 4-stars. 

The Lexus IS 250C has an overall length of 4635mm, wheelbase of 2730mm, width of 1800mm and height of 1415mm. The Tare mass is 1750kg 

With a MLP of $99,990, it is pricey but worth it. Style, grace and class combined with the Lexus 4yr 100,000 km warranty.

Launched in February 2007 the VW Eos is perennial favourite of ours and perhaps the most balanced of the four Coupé Cabriolet’s here. There are faster, better handling, more luxurious vehicles but the Eos has a balance that is hard to match.  

The Eos is the first car in the world to feature a five-section hard top with an integrated sliding/tilting glass roof. This means that you have the benefit of a sunroof as well as a cabriolet. It’s very cool! 

VW have done an amazing job of extracting space internally and although a little cramped it will accommodate four in relative comfort. The driver’s seats are a little tight for the ample butts but driving position is superb. There is also space for drinks and all the little things that seem to accumulate and everything is well laid out. 

Rather than being an outright drivers car like the BMW or a pure Boulevard Cruiser like the Lexus the Volkswagen Eos joins the Peugeot 308CC S in being a pleasing sporty drive. It handles, goes and stops with a definite sporty edge. While not as much fun as the BMW it is nevertheless fun to drive.  

In fact the more you drive the Eos you realise it is a bundle of fun. It has heaps of personality and is a Coupé Cabriolet that is very easy to live with and very economical. Unusually for a turbo petrol engine the 2.0L 147kw TSi delivers an abundance of torque at the very low level of 1800rpm, which means easy and economical driving. 

Typical of Volkswagen the Eos is well constructed with solid torsional rigidity. There is minor scuttle shake with the roof down. The retractable roof stows or unfolds in 25 seconds. Boot space is ample for weekend luggage for two even with the roof down.  

Standard features include driver and passenger front and side/head airbags , ABS, BA, ESP, front fog lights, remote central locking, alloy wheels (le mans) 17 x 7.5” with 235/45 r17 tyres, low tyre pressure indicator, automatic dimming rear-view mirror, dual zone climate control air conditioning, cruise control, coming / leaving home with automatic headlight function, 6 disc CD changer (mounted in-dash) with 8 speakers, parking distance sensors, rear, sport front seats with height adjustment and easy entry function, 3 spoke multi-function leather steering wheel, multi-function trip computer, aluminium decorative inserts in dashboard and doors, rain sensing windscreen wipers, one touch power windows, front and rear. 

There is however a long and sometimes expensive options list that can add just about everything you could think of. A fully optioned Eos is a fantastic but expensive vehicle. However compared to the other vehicles here it is excellent value. 

The 2.0l 4-cylinder turbo petrol engine delivers 147kW of power at 5100-6000rpm and 280Nm of torque at 1800-5000rpm. The engine is matched to a six-speed Direct Shift Gearbox (DSG) dual clutch transmission with shift paddles on the steering wheel. 

The combination will take the car from 0-100 km/h in 7.8 seconds. The 2.0L 147kw uses just 8.2L/100km (ADR combined) and produces 194g/km of CO₂ emissions. The Green Vehicle Guide rating is 3 1/2-stars. 

The VW Eos has an overall length of 4407mm, wheelbase of 2578mm, width of 1791mm and height of 1443mm. The Tare mass is 1571kg. 

With a MLP of $53,490, it represents awesome value. The Eos provides fun, fun, fun combined with the VW 3yr 100,000 km warranty.