Convertibles are fun. Period. Take the roof off any car and suddenly even the most mundane machine becomes a blast to drive. With a convertible on a nice day, you can turn that boring trip to run errands from a chore into a joy. You may just find yourself taking the long way home when the weather cooperates.

On the other hand, convertibles are also about the most compromised vehicles on the road. The rear seats -- if they have them at all -- are usually cramped. The folded top hogs most of the space in the trunk. And weather and noise isolation are far less than in regular cars. But no one in his right mind considers a convertible for its practicality anyway.

Convertibles do come in various sizes, with some that seat two and others that can accommodate up to four. Whether the maker calls it a cabriolet, a roadster or even the very English drophead coupé, they're all convertibles with a roof that folds down to give you the most open air driving experience this side of a motorcycle.

Engines available in convertibles range from the tiny, 1.0-liter, three cylinder in the Smart forTwo Cabriolet to the zingy four-cylinder in the Mazda MX-5 Miata to a massive V10 in the Dodge Viper and even a seriously hairy-chested, 608-hp, turbocharged V12 in the top Mercedes-Benz models. Prices, too, fall all over the map from the mid-teens for the diminutive fuel-sipping Smart forTwo to well into the six figures for high-performance luxury roadsters from Jaguar, BMW and others. Just be prepared as convertibles always carry a significant price premium over hardtop versions of the same car.

If you crave high performance with your roofless car, then you are in luck. Lots of sports cars and muscle machines are available as convertibles, such as the Ford Mustang GT and Chevrolet Corvette. Just the same, if you're not so concerned about melting the tires when you get some sun on the road, there are convertibles with more sedate personalities as well.

With more than 60 convertibles on the market (and most available in several different trim levels), you have many decisions to make as your shop for a convertible. With this guide in hand, you should be able to walk away with a better understanding of not only what cars fit your budget, but also your lifestyle and your needs.