WhichCar
wheels

Convertibles Under $60K: Gold Star Value Awards

Fiat's 500 proves fashion can be somewhat frugal

Fiat 500 C Pop
Gallery4

­Fiat's 500 proves fashion can be somewhat frugal

1. Fiat 500 C Pop
BEING the smallest, cheapest ragtop on the market helped the Fiat 500 C’s chances, and made the frugal (5.1L/100km) $20K fashion accessory a Gold Star certainty. At this price, it hardly matters that the service interval is a too-frequent six months. Neither does it matter that the atmo 1.2-litre four offers a paltry 51kW, nor that you pay $4K for the privilege of no roof, only to introduce body flex.

2. Renault Megane CC
THE departure of the Holden Astra and Ford Focus CC, and the impending demise of Volkswagen’s Eos, has handed this small slice of the convertible segment to Renault’s much-improved Megane CC.

3. Volkswagen Golf cabriolet
THE drop-top Golf, although double the price of the winning Fiat, is easily twice the car. A 65 percent retained value is class-best, and it works out better in dollars per year.

Convertib. <$60k Purchase Price Comb. Fuel (L/100km) Fuel RON (min. rec.) 3-year fuel cost Redbook resale (%) 3-year deprec. AAMI insurance prem. Service interval (months) Warranty (years)
Fiat 500C Pop MTA $20,000 5.1 95 $3099 57 $8600 $920.76 6 3
Renault Megane CC $38,490 8.1 95 $4923 60 $15,396 $1102.63 12 5
Volkswagen Golf Cabriolet $40,390 6.5 98 $4174 65 $14,137 $1134.23 12 3

Notable classmates: Audi A3 Cabriolet 1.4 TFSI, Peugeot 308CC / Number of cars crunched: 6

James Whitbourn

COMMENTS

Please enable JavaScript to view the comments powered by Disqus.