With summer just around the corner, motoring thoughts turn to soft-top driving. Carmakers have learned how to develop reasonably priced soft-tops from the same engineering base as hatchbacks. And other manufacturers are stepping up the development of cabriolets, so the choice will get wider.

Talk of global warming should encourage many to get the hood down and feel the wind in their hair or on their bare arms.

Either way, roadster driving with the top down has no equal in motoring when the sun shines and the breeze is warm. Crisp, bright days in winter are invigorating - it's dull, wet British days that cabrio owners hate.

Ford and Vauxhall, the two leading car-sellers in the UK, have announced news of their new convertibles. Ford's StreetKa - a convertible based on its Fiesta-derived smallest hatchback - will go into production in 2003.

But Vauxhall already has the Astra coupe convertible, based on an appealing hard-top good enough to be seen as a challenger to the engaging BMW 3 Series cabriolet.

These two models represent different types of cars with fold-down hoods. StreetKa looks like a scaled-down version of the two-seat Audi TT which, as a convertible, has dashing looks.

Vauxhall's newcomer is more practical. There are four seats, which is more sensible, and the styling is smooth.

It's a question of whether you want to cut a dash and encourage plenty of attention, or prefer a car with normal carrying capacity. Vauxhall also has the stunning VX220 roadster in its line-up.

This summer BMW will launch the M3 convertible in the UK. It shares the 343 horsepower engine with the M3 coup. Top speed is electronically limited to 155 mph and the 0-62 mph sprint takes just 5.5 seconds.

Peugeot, now Britain's third best-selling car firm, has a convertible version of the popular 206.

The 206 CC (coup cabriolet) has a hard-top that folds away at the touch of the button, in the same way as the pricier Mercedes-Benz SLK. The price of the 206 CC isn't outlandish, either - the 1.6-litre, 110 horsepower version costs £14,495, which gives you fresh-air motoring without sizzling performance.

BMW lives up to its reputation with the £36,000 M roadster, with performance figures hot enough for even a chilly British spring day.

It uses BMW's gorgeous 3.2-litre, 325bhp six-cylinder engine, that produces a claimed 0-62mph in 5.3 seconds and an electronically limited 155mph.

Mercedes-Benz has all the bases covered and itS sales are booming.

Dermot Kelly, director of Mercedes-Benz cars in the UK, said: "Our customers are known to be highly intuitive, so the sunshine must be on the way, given the amazing number of sports cars and open-topped cars they have bought recently."

Buyers looking for a city convertible can now opt for the soft-top version of the Smart car, also part of the Mercedes-Benz stable.

The two-seater convertible version of the Smart City-Coup will be available in the top of the range Smart and passion trim.

The car is powered by a three-cylinder, 600cc petrol engine developing 54 horsepower. This model is fitted with the sequential, six-speed manual transmission and fully automatic mode is available at the touch of a button.

Other standard equipment includes driver and passenger airbags, air-conditioning, electric windows, alloy wheels, radio, rev-counter and clock. Prices will be announced nearer to launch.

Last year, the UK's best-selling roadster was the MGF. MG Rover has recently launched the most powerful version yet, with the Trophy 160 SE signalling the manufacturer's drive to produce popular sporting models.

After the MGF, rival best-sellers in 2000 were the Mazda MX-5 - some say it's the best car from Japan, full of personality and with great looks; Mercedes classy SLK, with its slick handling and a beautifully engineered folding roof; the BMW Z3 - distinctive, fine engines and dependable handling, and the Porsche Boxster, which is wonderfully exhilarating to drive, even with the hood up.

For further information contact: Audi: Oxford Audi - 01865 373735

BMW: North Oxford Garage - 01865 319000

Ford: Hartwell Seacourt - 01865 380380

Hartwell Cowley: 01865 777744

Prices of Thames: 01844 263900

Bicester Ford: 01869 323272

Frank Jenkins: 01491 838424

V. J. Collett: 01451 820366

Mazda: Lodge Garage - 01296 770245

Mercedes-Benz: Rycroft - 01865 371011

MG: Kernahan - 01993 703924

New Banbury Rover - 01295 251551

Peugeot: Oxford Motors - 01865 749000

Faringdon Garage: 01367 241212

Bristol Street Banbury: 01295 253511

Vauxhall: Hartwell Oxford - 01865 559955

Bellingers (Wantage) - 01235 772255

Bellingers (Abingdon) - 01235 520088

City Motors - 01869 244000

Camden Vauxhall: Aylesbury - 01296 332727

Gurneys of Benson - 01491 838308.