Mercedes-Benz AMG E53 Cabriolet

I'm often asked what car I would buy myself. In my real life, my needs make the answer not so glamorous, but if I lived in southern sunny California and didn't need a car seat, I would rock the E53 cabriolet as an everyday driver. I had a chance to do so in my pretend life when my partner and I spent a few days without our kids tooling around Los Angeles. Convertibles far too often feel like a compromise -- either they lack proportion when the top is up, or they feel slightly claustrophobic, or they lag in gusto. In contrast, the E53 has style, substance, and presence. The interior is one of Benz's best execution of leather, luxury layout and screens, without being too cluttered nor stuffy in nature. The performance feels just right -- fast, smooth and power exactly where you want it. And for bonus points: I also over packed for my California trip but somehow managed to store a large suitcase in the boot.