Peugeot 308CC's hideaway hardtop adds a little extra

The Peugeot 308 CC coupe convertible has a genuine steel hardtop that folds away at the touch of a button. Photo / Supplied

Have you noticed how articles about cars go in cycles? In spring, they're about the thrill of open-air motoring and convertibles; in May it's about getting ready for winter; in July, when everything's muddy and slippery, out come stories about how good it is to have a 4WD.

There's certain logic to the cycle but I'm here to report that the articles in spring about buying convertibles are really badly timed.

The right time to buy a convertible is now, in lousy weather, when you can see whether the top will leak, whether the heater can overcome the draughts and whether, with our climate being what it is, you actually want one in the first place.

That is, of course, only if you're not considering something like the $55,990 Peugeot 308 CC coupe convertible. This is one of the rare species of expensive vehicles with a genuine steel hardtop that folds away somewhere in the car's rear bodywork at the touch of a button, sometimes even when you're driving (slowly) along. You'll see them doing it - at the first sign of a shower - while cruising Tamaki Drive in Auckland's Mission Bay.

The beauty of these hideaway hardtops is that, once in place, they're pretty much as good as a real roof; 20 seconds after the hailstorm begins you're as cosseted from the conditions as anyone in a regular car.

Twenty seconds after the rain has stopped, you can be on your open-air way. And there is something really nice about driving roofless on a winter's day, invigorated by the cool, fresh air at the same time as being toasted by a powerful heater. On the other hand, the price to be paid is lousy boot space, because that's usually where the lid retracts into, and possibly poor rear-seat room because the roof and its workings need some of the space.

Coupe convertibles also carry a weight penalty, which equates to using more fuel and having less performance and, possibly, diminished handling.

Most of these disadvantages are true of the Peugeot, although performance is good from its 115kW 1.6-litre turbocharged petrol engine, and so is fuel consumption. Handling seems unaffected by its extra kilos.

Oddly, until this year, Peugeot imported the car with a 2-litre turbo diesel. The engine seemed out of place in a flighty car like this.

As for the lack of room, it's something you have to live with. Pack some of the groceries on the back seat and don't offer rides to friends - consider it as a roomy two-seater.

Peugeot has been making coupe convertibles for years now and their experience shows. It's well designed and adapted beautifully from the normally topped 308s. The roof mechanism works flawlessly, which is amazing considering all the mechanical steps involved as it efficiently slips out of sight. When it's in place, you'd hardly know it's not a fixed hardtop.

Long and winding road

Although this car and Mission Bay were made for each other, the 308 CC provides a fun way to enjoy the open road, too.

It's livelier than the 0-100km/h time of 10.5sec suggests and the six-speed automatic just seems to know which ratio to be in.

There's little wind buffeting or noise when the top is down.

Alternatives

In its price-size range, the 308 CC is almost on its own. French rival Renault has just brought back its 2-litre 103kW Megane CC at $54,990. Volkswagen will have a new Eos late this year. Also, take a look at Fiat's 1.4-litre 500C, which is the same sort of idea but with a fabric roof; $37,990 with auto.