IT is ironic that the vagaries of our climate make Britain one of the world's biggest buyers of convertible cars as we are apparently prepared to go to almost any lengths to capture every available minute of sunshine.
It is a sector of the market that has enjoyed sustained growth for a decade and is now shifting into overdrive, especially at the most affordable end of the scale, which the industry refers to as the A segment in terms of size.
This encompasses models such as the Ford Focus, Vauxhall Astra and Volkswagen Eos with a rise from just 7,000 cars five years ago to more than 20,000 today and a projected figure in excess of 25,000 by next year.
Now the premium brands are getting in on the act, with BMW's 1 Series rag-top facing competition from the Audi A3 Cabriolet.
The two cars are so similar that you could be forgiven for thinking that there has been some covert industrial espionage going on.
BMW got in first - albeit by just a week or two - but Audi is hoping to eclipse the limelight with its almost identical rival that boasts a roof-folding record.
The BMW hood takes 22 seconds to go up or down but the Audi performs the same task in under ten seconds whilst being driven at speeds of up to virtually 20mph.
The Audi undercuts the Beemer on price and predicts that its residual values will be just as strong. The entry-level Audi A3 Cabriolet 1.6 costs £19,930 and the 1.8 TFSI is £22,170 in comparison to £22,460 for the BMW 118i ES Convertible and £24,185 for the 120i ES.
The Audi A3 1.8 TFSI Sport version costs £23,975 and the S line model is £25,490.
Then there is the 2.0 TFSI with prices of £23,520 for the Standard, £25,330 for the Sport and £26,845 for the S line.
There are also two diesels - the 1.9 TDI and 2.0 TDI with prices of £20,670 and £22,760 for the Standard, £22,480 and £24,45 for the Sport and £23,995 and £25,960 for the S line.
Even in Standard guise the cars are a quality offering and ooze the sort of class with which the Audi brand is synonymous. As with all convertibles, the cars look infinitely more attractive with the hood down but in this case they are also pretty smart with the canvas in place.
Thanks to the hood's compact folding design its engineers were able to create a four-seater measuring just 4,238 millimetres long, 1,765 mm wide and 1,424 mm high, which makes the Cabriolet shorter than the A3 Sportback although it is longer than the three-door A3 hatchback.
The fabric top comes in two types of operation - the semi-automatic soft top and the fully automatic acoustic hood.
When lowered, it is folded up in a clever z-pattern within a compartment that only slightly reduces the luggage space.
Amazingly, at a speed of 140km/h it is only one decibel louder inside the Audi A3 Cabriolet than in the conventional A3.
Standard models come with 16-inch alloy wheels, air conditioning, heated rear glass window, CD sound system, leather-trimmed steering wheel and split folding rear seats.
The Sport adds larger-diameter wheels, automatic air conditioning, a fully automatic roof, sports suspension, wind deflector and exterior aluminium trim.
S line versions gain even larger-diameter wheels, sports body styling and sports seats, a multi-function steering wheel and front centre arm rest. Buyers are predicted to be typically aged under 40 years, with a third being female and of higher education and income, most of whom will have at least one other car.
The Audi A3 Cabriolet is a highly desirable rag top but thankfully so is the BMW 1 Series Convertible, which means that buyers may be able to squeeze some semblance of a discount if they are prepared to play one against the other and haggle.
FAST FACTS
Audi A3 Cabriolet 1.8 TFSI
Price: £22,170
Mechanical: 158bhp, 1,798cc, 4cyl petrol engine driving front wheels via 6-speed manual gearbox.
Max speed: 135mph
0-62mph: 8.2 secs
Combined mpg: 41.5
Insurance group: 14
CO2 emissions: 159g/km
BIK rating: 17%
Warranty: 3yrs/ 60,000 miles