With the increase in company car tax and less need to drive thousands of miles every year I've take the decision to opt out of the company car scheme and buy my own. This is both an exciting and scary prospect. Exciting because it means I can drive around in something that I couldn't possibly afford on a car scheme but scary because I haven't owned a car for about 16 years. Yes I couldn't believe it either, but I've lived and worked in London since leaving university so didn't need one and when I did they were company cars or rentals. I've owned only two cars, a 1976 Ford Escort and a 1965 Triumph Vitesse convertible both of which died of rust poisoning. The poor old Vitesse was sold in bits and taken away in a van, but despite their propensity to rot away I've loved the quirky Triumphs ever since. What I hadn't realised until now is that the Vitesse has influenced my choice of car or at least type of car. A four seat convertible. This limits me to one of four vehicles, the convertible versions of the BMW 3 series, Mercedes CLK, Saab 9.3 or Audi A4. If only every choice in life like was like this. I've now driven all four it's not got any easier, each has it's merits and demerits and I could happily live with anyone of them but my employer whilst generous isn't profligate. Besides I've got no where to park them. So if I'm a bit more dispassionate can I let one go in a 'you-are-the-weakest-link' kinda way? Well purely from a cost point of view the Mercedes has to go. I drove one of the new shape 340 CLK and it's an aching pretty car wonderfully finished but costs significantly more than the other three when compared like for like. A CLK 240 with all the toys costs between 15k to 20k more than fully specced 2.4 A4. Is it worth that much more? No. If it was only a few thousand more it would be no contest. Pity. The BMW 3 Series Convertible is great car lets get that straight, problem is in the South East of England especially in west London they are more common than pigeons. Turn into almost any street and you'll find one sometimes two. But hey if I move out of London that wouldn't be an issue. Mrs C is looking for a new house as we speak. Which leaves the A4 and the as yet to be released Saab. When taking a price/performance comparison it has to be the Saab. Those clever Swedes decided to throw in leather, aircon and cruise control as standard. The Germans, not noted for their generosity when it comes to optional extras on cars, have just started to fit aircon to the A4 Convertible. The new 9.3 seems spot on. It comes loaded with kit, is super comfy to drive and the 2.0T Aero is no slouch. The problem, if it is a problem, is the wait list and Aeros don't go into production until November. But then I could go mad and get a second hand M3.