Convertibles are no longer as popular as they once were. In fact, only 193 have been registered in Ireland since the beginning of 2020 to date – with just 10 of those being a 221 plate.
The rise in popularity of body types like the SUV most likely plays a part in this, as buyers opt for something a bit more practical.
Convertibles may have also been seen as a sign of affluence, as sales peaked in Ireland during the “boom” years of 2003 to 2008.
Celtic Tiger peak times in 2007 recorded the best year for drop-top sales here, with 1,906 registered. This is followed by 1,567 in 2008. It fell to 389 the year after.
In total, there are 17,394 convertibles in the Irish fleet today, about 40 per cent (8,154 ) of which are imports.
The most popular model here is the Mazda MX5 with 1,068 registered. These figures are part of a new report just published by Cartell.ie and CarsIreland.ie
It highlights how the numbers have now fallen to such an extent that less convertibles were registered last year than in many years of the 90s.
It adds that the pandemic and various lock-downs may also have had an impact on convertible purchases. The 80 drop-tops sold in 2020 is the third lowest number recorded for any year since 1990.
John Byrne of Cartell.ie said these vehicles 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,” he said. “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.
“The Covid pandemic has clearly also played its part considering only 80 convertibles were registered and currently taxed to 2020."
