How to Use Convertible Car Magazine's Buyers Guide to Find a Convertible

To find a convertible on Convertible Car Magazine, start in the Buyers Guide and narrow the field in two steps: first pick a brand from the "Convertibles by Brand" list, or pick a category from the "Convertibles by Type" list. The site describes the guide as "a breakdown of all the best convertible cars for sale around the world" and calls it "the best place to start" if you are looking for new wheels. It is a browsing and shortlisting tool, not a live inventory with prices or availability, so treat it as a starting point before you read reviews or check local listings.

What the Buyers Guide actually offers

The guide is built around two dropdown menus on the Buyers Guide page.

Browse by brand

The brand menu is a long alphabetical list of manufacturers, from Acrea, Aixam and Alfa Romeo through to Wiesmann and YES!. It covers mainstream names (Audi, BMW, Ford, Mazda, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, Volkswagen), performance and niche makers (Ariel, Caterham, Lotus, Morgan, TVR), and low-volume or exotic brands (Bugatti, Pagani, Spyker). Use it when you already have a marque in mind or want to see whether a particular manufacturer appears in the guide at all.

Browse by type

The type menu sorts convertibles by body style, roof, fuel and use case. The options listed are:

This is where the guide earns its keep. A "4 Seater Convertible" search and a "Roadster" search return different shortlists even though both are open-top cars, so choosing the right category first saves time.

A practical way to work through it

1. Write down your two or three non-negotiables. For example: four seats, a hardtop roof, and petrol. Each one maps to a type option.
2. Start with the type menu, not the brand menu. Filtering by type first keeps you from scrolling a brand list that includes makers you would never consider.
3. Cross-check with the brand menu. If a model you like comes from a brand in the list, browse that brand to see what else it offers in the same category.
4. Move to the Reviews section. The site says it has "in-depth reviews" alongside the guide; use them to compare the two or three cars left on your shortlist.
5. Check News and Features for context. The News section carries launch and reveal stories (for example, the new BMW Z4 Roadster reveal noted sales beginning in spring 2019), which helps you judge whether a model in the guide is current or superseded.

What to expect and where it stops

• It is editorial, not a marketplace. The guide describes itself as a breakdown of the best convertibles for sale worldwide; it does not present itself as a stock list with prices, mileage or dealer contacts.
• The brand list is broad but uneven. Very small makers sit alongside volume manufacturers, so a missing brand does not mean that brand makes no convertibles.
• Type categories overlap. A luxury four-seat hardtop will appear under several filters; expect to check more than one category to build a complete shortlist.
• Subscriptions exist. The site has a Subscribe link, but the available material does not state what a subscription includes or costs, so check the Subscribe page directly if that matters to you.

When this approach fits

Use the Buyers Guide when you are at the "what's out there" stage and want to organise options by body style, roof or fuel rather than by price. If you already know the exact model you want, skip straight to Reviews and News. If you need current prices, availability or finance figures, the guide will not supply them, and you will need to move to dealer or marketplace listings once your shortlist is down to a few cars.