Should you buy one?

If you enjoy the way the BMW 8 Series looks and drives then you won’t be disappointed – it’s a glamorous, comfortable convertible, not a family SUV. It’s not really a purchase to be made with the head.

For our money, we like the way the 8 Series drives, but we think rivals such as the Porsche 911 or Lexus LC feel notably more special. Especially on the inside, where for the 8 Series’ price we’d hope for something that’s a little less like a previous-generation 3 Series to sit in. And if you want the latest metal, the Mercedes-AMG SL takes some beating.

There’s no denying that it looks the part, though, nor that either of the two V8-powered models aren’t fantastically fast and exciting. At this end of the market, personal taste matters as much as the opinions of a road tester.

What we like

The 8 Series suffers very few compromises from being a convertible. The roof is well-insulated and quick to put up and down, while the car’s torsional rigidity is excellent.

What we don’t like

The interior lacks flair considering the car’s price – rather too much switchgear shared with lesser BMWs, and a design that looks a generation old now.