28 Aug 07
5. Peugeot 307 CC (2003-)
Why spend £10,000 on a 10-year-old BMW or Mercedes when you could have a nearly-new car for the same price? It's not as if Peugeot has no sports car heritage, either: the French company has been making elegant cabriolets for decades.
The 307 CC isn't as elegant as, say, the gorgeous Pininfarina-penned 504 Cabriolet (1969-83) or cute little 304 drop-top, but it does have the modern-day Peugeot panache and that handy folding hard-top - good for safety and security, as well as improved handling. There's a good-sized boot, though the rear seats aren't exactly adult-sized.
The 180bhp model gives maximum thrust - and makes the 307 CC feel a little more exciting than its dull hatchback equivalent - but the diesel's the pick of the range, thanks to its turbocharged strength and fuel economy. The 110bhp 1.6 petrol is sluggish.
The 307 CC's biggest problem, however, is neither its image nor speed: it's a 307, from a range with a poor reliability - make sure that roof is functioning properly, for a start.
Road Test: Peugeot 307 CC
Driven: 307 CC 2.0 HDI
