If Larry Moran needed any confirmation about how much fun you can have behind the wheel of a convertible, he got it last summer, while driving a new, lime green Drop Top Customs Dodge Challenger convertible in the Woodward Dream Cruise, the annual event in which some 40,000 collector cars parade through the suburbs of Detroit—and more than a million people show up to watch them. "People were jumping out of their seats to see the car and taking pictures," says Moran, who is the sales manager for Drop Top Customs by Convertible Builders, formerly known as Coachbuilders Limited. "I was holding the steering wheel and feeling like a million bucks. Of course they weren’t looking at me, they were looking at the car."

Drop Top Customs, which is based in High Springs, Fla., and is owned by Moran’s son, Jeff, makes a number of attention-getting cars. In addition to the Challenger, it produces a convertible version of the Camaro and soon will offer a convertible Cadillac CTS. "The primary appeal of convertibles is the physical feeling of the open air," says Larry Moran. "The secondary appeal is the warm feeling you get when everyone is looking at you as you drive it."

Drive any of the 2010 convertibles on these pages, and you’ll surely enjoy that secondary sensation: the envy of onlookers. Along with our causes for celebrating each car, we also include our "criticisms."

BMW 6 Series
Base price: $85,000
Performance: 360 hp V-8 engine; zero to 60 mph in 5.5 seconds; top speed of 155 (electronically limited)
Raising the roof: A technophobe still might be leery of the iDrive, but this, the fourth generation of the device through which you control most of the car’s comfort, convenience, and entertainment functions, is more intuitive than previous versions. Also, the trunk, even with the top down, is spacious enough for a set of golf clubs and a weekend bag.
Lowering the boom: The backseats are better suited for packing extra luggage than for accommodating adult passengers. So toss a suitcase in the back and extend that golf trip through the week.

Bentley Azure T
Base price: $363,000
Performance: 500 hp twin-turbocharged V-8; zero to 60 mph in 5.2 seconds; top speed of 179 mph
Raising the roof: A more powerful version of the Azure, this ultraluxury coupe has the comfort of a limousine and the acceleration of a sports car. The Azure T’s interior contains nearly as much leather and as much wood paneling as an Ivy League alumni club. But with the top down and the breeze blowing in, it has none of the stuffiness of those establishments.
Lowering the boom: All that leather and wood could weigh heavily on the conscience of a tree hugger or PETA supporter

Ferrari Scuderia 16M Spider
Base price: $308,000
Performance: 510 hp V-8; zero to 62 mph in 3.7 seconds; top speed of 196 mph
Raising the roof: Acquire a 16M Spider, and you’ll be in possession of what Ferrari says is its fastest production Spider ever. You’ll also be one of only 499 people in the world who own one. Drive it with the top down, and nothing will come between you and the glorious roar of its engine.
Lowering the boom: You’ll have to brush up on your Ferrari history so that you can provide the correct answer when inevitably someone asks what 16M stands for. Or just say that it’s shorthand for delicious: mmmm. . .

Corvette Grand Sport
Base price: $59,500
Performance: 430 hp V-8; zero to 60 mph in 4.0 seconds; top speed of 170 mph.
Raising the roof: In trial runs at GM’s 2.9-mile test track, the Grand Sport was a full two seconds faster than a 2009 model that was equipped with the Z51 upgrade package. The new upgrade includes larger tires, a wider track, and cross-drilled brake rotors, plus a few, more visible performance-enhancing changes: a front air inlet, bulging fenders, and rear brake-cooling ducts. The Heritage package adds front-fender hashes and two-tone seats, design elements from the era of the original Grand Sport, a 550 hp racing version of the 1963 Corvette.
Lowering the boom: If you’re old enough to remember those original Grand Sports, then driving this car might suggest you’re in the throes of a midlife crisis.

Maserati GranCabrio
Base price: $140,000
Performance: 433 hp V-8; zero to 60 mph in 5.15 seconds; top speed of 176 mph
Raising the roof: Lest you fear that the potential popularity of this somewhat reasonably priced Italian convertible that comfortably seats four full-size adults could compromise any owner’s need to express his individuality, know that Maserati offers a choice of 14 different colors for the body and six different colors for the soft top.
Lowering the boom: At the office, steer clear of any discussion about carpooling, because as the owner of this car, you would be the first one drafted into driving.

Rolls-Royce Phantom Drophead Coupé
Base price: $448,000
Performance: 453 hp V-12 engine; zero to 60 mph in 5.5 seconds; top speed of 148 mph
Raising the roof: If the law let you host a cocktail party in the cabin of your Coupé, the car’s waftability—its ability to ride as though it were floating on a cloud—would allow guests to sip their Kir Royales under the sun without spilling a single drop on your leather seats, which, by the way, are sourced from an Alpine herd that was never so much as stung by a mosquito.
Lowering the boom: If stealth wealth is your thing, the Phantom Drophead, a vehicle that broadcasts prosperity, is not your car.

Porsche 911 Turbo Cabriolet
Base price: $144,000
Performance: 500 hp flat-six boxer; zero to 60 mph in 3.6 seconds (3.2 with the Sport Chrono package); top speed of 194 mph
Raising the roof: With this new model, you can have more power while experiencing less guilt. The engine’s new direct-inject fuel system produces an additional 20 hp compared to last year’s model, and, according to Porsche, it reduces carbon dioxide emissions by 18 percent.
Lowering the boom: The latest 911 Turbo Cabriolet looks a lot like the last 911 Turbo Cabriolet, and the one before that, and before that . . . and that’s fine with Porsche fans.

Aston Martin DBS Volante
Base price: $286,500
Performance: 510 hp V-12; zero to 62 mph in 4.3 seconds; top speed of 191 mph
Raising the roof: The car is beautiful, absurdly fast, but one of the little touches that show how much Aston Martin cares about the driving experience involves the 13-speaker Bang & Olufsen sound system. When the top is down, the system automatically recalibrates to compensate for the extra ambient sound.
Lowering the boom: Yes, it’s fast, powerful, fun to drive, luxurious, and damn good-looking. But is it too good-looking? A guy could feel a bit inadequate taking this car out for a spin.

Jaguar XKR
Base price: $102,000
Performance: 510 hp supercharged V-8; zero to 60 mph in 4.6 seconds; top speed of 155 mph (electronically limited)
Raising the roof: The XKR gets 23 miles per gallon—phenomenal for a car with this much power—so conceivably, you could drive almost all day without stopping. And since the car has 16-way adjustable seats that are electronically cooled, you could find worse ways to spend a summer day.
Lowering the boom: The backseats are cramped and not cooled; if you want to travel as a foursome, it might be best to pair up with a BMW 6 Series.