Few cars have been as avidly awaited as BMW’s new 1-series of cars. Until this year, BMW offered only the Z3 and Z4 two-seaters for those who wanted a BMW-branded smaller car. The venerable BMW 3-series has a much larger footprint than the new series, and so lovers of nimble, gas-sipping sports cars have been hopping from foot to foot in anticipation.
Fast and Nimble
So I was thrilled to get a chance to spend a week with the flagship BMW 128i convertible. This is the car that is BMW’s response to high fuel prices and the trend towards smaller cars in America.
Yet, after a week in the car, I’m conflicted about it. Here’s the story – it’s a great, fun car. The 128i handles like a dream small car. It’s nimble, yet solid. It loves to turn and it’s easy to park. And it’s got plenty of power, thanks to BMW’s legendary DOHC inline 6-cylinder engine. The convertible top works like a charm, and the car generates very little road noise with the top up or down. Inside, it’s all BMW comfort and modern conveniences. What’s not to like?
Two and a half years ago I went on the new product launch for the Volvo C70 retractable hardtop convertible. In the model years since then, Volvo hasn’t changed much, if anything, about the car. That’s a good thing, because the C70 is a really great car just the way it is – there’s not much chance of making it better by changing it.
How slick is that?
On the occasion of the C70 rollout, Volvo Cars North America President Anne Bélec said “We want to attract those people who never consider Volvo.” And so they did. The C70 has enjoyed solid sales and the people I know who have one think it’s the best car they’ve ever owned.
They used to call this kind of car a “drophead coupe.” In keeping with that old and venerable description, the C70 is a four-seater, two door, with a convertible top. Think of those great old domestics of the late 50s with a hardtop that folds up into the trunk at the push of a button. That’s what Volvo did for this model. The C70 was originally designed to compete with the Audi A4 Cabriolet, the BMW 3-series convertibles, and the Saab 93 convertible, but now competes with other retractable hardtop coupes such as the Pontiac G6 as well.
Convertibles 
