Aston Martin V8 Vantage Roadster convertible (2007-2017)

The Aston Martin V8 Vantage cabriolet is a classic open-top British sports car that looks good and sounds great. It's not quite as well rounded as some of its rivals, but there's no doubt it boasts huge amounts of style and performance. Be sure to prepare yourself for a hefty price and extremely high running costs, though.

As well as its expensive price tag, the Aston Martin V8 Vantage will be costly to run. Its high CO2 emissions put it in the most expensive tax bracket for an annual bill of £505, while real-world fuel economy will probably be between 15-20mpg.

Fitted with a raucous 420bhp 4.7-litre V8 engine, the Vantage accelerates from 0-62mph in less than five seconds. With the roof down, few other noises are this addictive. In corners, the Vantage is fantastic to drive quickly and keen enthusiasts will be at home with the stiff chassis, which gives the car real agility. The steering may be a bit light for some, though. For the ultimate in driver involvement, go for the six-speed manual gearbox rather than the Sportshift automated manual.

Over rough roads, the Aston Martin V8 Vantage's stiff set-up does little for driver comfort, and without the rigidity of a solid roof, the cabriolet vibrates more than the coupe. An optional Sport Pack stiffens the car up even further. At low revs, the engine is quiet, but the engine blares noisily if you really press on. That's not necessarily a bad thing, though.

Unlike some rivals, which squeeze two unusable small seats in the back, the Aston Martin V8 Vantage is strictly for two people – with a useful storage area behind the seats. The folding roof cuts into boot space, though, as the 144-litre boot is less than half the size of the Vantage coupe's. Although the interior is uncluttered and beautifully laid-out, the Volvo-derived sat nav can be unreliable and tricky to use.

Aston Martin reliability has improved in recent years, so customers buying a new Aston Martin V8 Vantage should have very little to worry about. A set of tyres is likely to last 20,000 miles and a clutch should last for 40,000 miles without needing to be replaced. The Vantage hasn't been crash-tested by Euro NCAP, but it should be safe, while electronic stability control is fitted as standard.

Prices for the Aston Martin V8 Vantage start just below £100,000, but the good news is that you won't need to shell out for many extras, as most things are included. Full leather upholstery, parking sensors, Bluetooth and MP3 connectivity are just the start of the standard equipment list.