The market value of your car, Clare, if you were to sell it privately is probably between $10,000 and $12,000, so $7000 as a trade-in is roughly what you’d expect. It might be a fraction low, but without seeing the car in the flesh, that’s difficult to say for sure. In any case, it’s in the ball-park. That’s how dealers make money on used-cars; they buy them at their price and sell them at yours.

Assuming you’re trading the car in on a new vehicle, the important thing is not how much the dealer offers for your trade-in, but rather the change-over number. That is, the amount you have to pay to get into the new car. A dealer can often flatter you into thinking you’re getting a good deal by discounting the price of the new car, but if they also slice a few dollars off the value of your trade-in, you’re back to square one, right?

FOR a stylish drive there's the VW Beetle cabriolet and the Mini cabriolet. Both look smart and are fun to drive, and you will be able to get them for about $40,000. Another way to go is to buy a coupe/convertible -- one that has a folding metal roof instead of a soft-top. That way you get the security and refinement of a coupe and the fun of a convertible. The VW Eos is a good one, as is the Holden Astra Twin-Top, but they will set you back about $50,000. For a sportier ride there is the Mazda MX-5 coupe/convertible, which is more fun but is only a two-seater. All those cars will be reliable and all represent good value.