Convertible Prices - Winter vs Summer

[Laughingman21]

I've heard many times that convertibles are cheaper in the winter compared to the summer, but is this actually true or is it a fine piece of man maths used to justify buying a sports car in the winter and/or selling a soft top in the summer to finance another toy.

I understand that demand will always be lower in winter, but do that many people NEED to sell in the winter (i.e. can't wait another few months) that it forces prices down?

Have any dealers on here actually seen prices moving? If so, by how much do they go down in winter?

[Laughingman21]

Anyone?

[Vince70]

I bought a nice cheap low mileage convertible about 4 months ago in lancaster and got a very big discount on it.
I was told by the dealer that he had to take a big hit on it because the summers been so bad.
So it doesn't really matter if its winter or not its more to do with the rain we have been having this year, or so i was told.

[Hot1]

I find this a bit of a myth to behonest, I have owned convertibles for the past 3 years and I looks at my next soft top year round, I generally do not see many bargains! The odd few appear but I see this happen year round! I find there is a lot less choice!

[Ozzie Osmond]

Hot1 said:

I find this a bit of a myth to be honest,

This. For convertibles time of year no longer makes any material difference. All cars are harder to sell in the winter and convertibles are no more difficult than anything else. The days of leaky roofs and sodden carpets are long gone.

[Jasandjules]

Ozzie Osmond said:

This. For convertibles time of year no longer makes any material difference. All cars are harder to sell in the winter and convertibles are no more difficult than anything else. The days of leaky roofs and sodden carpets are long gone.

Maybe for you. I have a TVR

[bencollins4]

Ozzie Osmond said:

Hot1 said:

I find this a bit of a myth to be honest,

This. For convertibles time of year no longer makes any material difference. All cars are harder to sell in the winter and convertibles are no more difficult than anything else. The days of leaky roofs and sodden carpets are long gone.

You haven't owned an Elise then........

[phib]

Been buying soft tops in the winter and selling in the summer for years, worst hit are usually Tvr, Ferrari, Porsche.

BMW,Merc less so at they are better all year round

Usually saved 1/2k on sub 10k cars 3/5k on 10-20k cars
Phib

[stargazer30]

My first MR2 roadster. Feb 2010, bloody freezing, snowy. I saw a beauty at the local dealer went down the next day someone had walked in bought it cash outright for the asking price! I ended paying a premium to get a good one even in the winter.

Selling though, dealers won't touch them this time of year,they'll want it for free.

[Dominicc01]

Same as the idea of 4x4 prices going up in winter.

What tends to happen with 4x4s and convertibles is that prices generally plateau when they are more popular, and there tend to be fewer absolute bargains, then drop in those months when the memory of the good/bad weather has faded.

While other cars depreciate gently through the year, a convertible will be worth the same in June as it was the previous December - and then it will have its annual depreciation September to November. Similarly, a 4x4 will be worth the same in December as it was in June - and then lose its value March-June.