Irish buyers are continuing to reject open-top cars with the number of convertibles registered over the last few years continuing to dwindle from the high numbers seen at the height of the boom in 2007, according to data released by the vehicle history website, Cartell.ie.
Overall decline
Just ten convertibles have been registered so far this year, with 103 sold in 2021 and 80 in 2020, though those numbers were likely artificially depressed due to the Covid pandemic's impact on the car market. A more realistic indicator of the declining trend is the 254 soft-tops sold in 2019, the last full year of trading before the pandemic hit. That figure represents the lowest number of convertibles sold in Ireland this century and a precipitous drop on the 1,906 sold in 2007, the best year ever for cabriolet sales here.
Though there was a slight spike in 2010 with 518 convertibles sold, the broad trend since the recession has been a steady decline in convertible sales, despite improving economic prospects over the last five years.
There are 17,394 convertibles registered in Ireland, with 40 per cent (8,154) having been imported. The most popular model is the Mazda MX-5 with 1,068 registered.
Sign of the times
Cartell has posited that the drop-off in convertible sales could be related to a number of economic and sociological factors. As a symbol of wealth, affluence and easy credit during the boom years of 2003 to 2007, their popularity soared in Ireland, collapsing following the economic crash as disposable income dried up. The rise of SUVs, with their more practical body styles, may have also played a part, as bigger, premium SUVs rather than convertibles and coupes became symbols of affluence.
Another possible reason at play could be the chicken or egg scenario that has seen convertible sales decline as well as the number of models on the market. In 2005, there were approximately 32 different convertibles for sale in Ireland; today that number stands at just 13 or so.
Comment
Commenting on the figures, Cartell's John Byrne said:
"The convertible 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 - 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."