Convertibles in Sardinia: 7 Perfect Models for the Coast
From the Portofino M to the Rolls-Royce Dawn: the 7 perfect convertibles for Sardinia's coast, with advice on choosing, roads and delivery.
Seven convertibles suit the Sardinian coast better than anything else on the road: the Ferrari Portofino M, Lamborghini Huracán Spyder, Rolls-Royce Dawn, Mercedes-AMG SL 63, Maserati GranCabrio Trofeo, McLaren 570S Spider and Porsche 718 Boxster. Every one of them can be rented in Sardinia with delivery to airports, ports, hotels, villas and yachts — simply message the WhatsApp concierge or send the quotation form.
Seven cars, seven distinct personalities. There is the grand tourer built for a journey à deux, the open-air drawing room for guests who arrive by sea, the spider whose V10 fills harbour squares, and the pared-back roadster for those who come to Sardinia first and foremost to drive. This guide introduces each in turn, sets them side by side in a comparison table, and helps you work out which one belongs in your week on the island.
Why does the Sardinian coast deserve an open roof?
Sardinia is an island you sense before you see it: helichrysum and myrtle drifting off the scrubland, salt rising from hidden coves, granite still warm at the end of the day. In a coupé, all of that stays on the other side of the glass. With the roof down, the climb towards San Pantaleo or the southern corniche becomes a complete experience — scent, light and sound counting for as much as the corners themselves.
There is a practical argument too: the distances. Life on the coast unfolds in journeys of twenty, thirty, forty minutes — beach to restaurant, marina to lookout point — at an unhurried pace, often as the sun goes down. That is precisely what an open car was made for, far more than any German autobahn. Little wonder convertibles own the Sardinian summer: the selection of convertibles for rent in Sardinia covers every interpretation of the genre, from the two-seat roadster to the four-seat grand tourer.
Which are the 7 perfect convertibles for the coast?
Here they are — in no strict ranking, but with a clear logic: each answers a different way of living the island.
1. Ferrari Portofino M, the grand tourer with the right name
An open Ferrari with four seats and a folding hard top: the 620 hp twin-turbo V8 dispatches 0–100 km/h in 3.45 seconds, yet it is the car’s versatility that makes it the first choice for the coast. Composed on long transfers, thrilling when the road tightens, and effortlessly elegant in front of any hotel. The Portofino M’s dedicated page tells the rest of the story; and if your stay revolves around the Gallura, it is worth browsing the options for a Ferrari delivered to the Costa Smeralda, where open-top Rosso Corsa is practically an institution.
2. Lamborghini Huracán Spyder, the V10 that fills the piazzettas
Ten naturally aspirated cylinders, 610 hp and nothing standing between the soundtrack and your ears: with the canvas folded away, the Huracán Spyder turns every granite-walled tunnel into a sounding board. It is the car for glamorous evenings and serious mountain climbs in equal measure, its all-wheel drive lending confidence even on the more weathered surfaces of the interior. Among the versions of the Huracán available to rent, the Spyder is the one that makes the most sense in Sardinia: the roofless V10 is an experience the coupé can only describe.
3. Rolls-Royce Dawn, the drawing room with a sea view
You do not drive a Dawn to go fast; you drive it to arrive beautifully. A 571 hp twin-turbo V12 that works in near silence, a fabric hood that lowers without haste, and four genuine seats wrapped in leather. It is the natural choice for guests stepping off a yacht who want the atmosphere to continue on the road — perhaps towards dinner at Cala di Volpe. The Dawn in the fleet is also among the most requested cars for ceremonies on the island, which is why it features so often in the dedicated weddings and events service. Guests staying in the Gallura will frequently find it among the Rolls-Royces delivered to Porto Cervo.
4. Mercedes-AMG SL 63, the roadster for every day of the holiday
The SL’s return in full AMG form makes it the most complete convertible of the seven: a 585 hp twin-turbo V8, all-wheel drive, 0–100 km/h in 3.6 seconds and a fabric roof that opens on the move — at a traffic light in Olbia or along the Cagliari seafront. The two rear seats earn their keep for children or beach bags, and the chassis can be gentle in the morning and razor-sharp by afternoon. The SL 63 available to rent is the answer for anyone who wants a single car for the entire holiday, with no compromise in any direction.
5. Maserati GranCabrio Trofeo, Italian elegance for four
The 550 hp Nettuno V6 has supercar bloodlines, but the GranCabrio dresses it in grand-touring tailoring: four usable seats, a silhouette that stops conversations on the quayside, and a character that swings between relaxed cruising and emphatic bursts of pace. It is the right convertible for two couples travelling together who refuse to give up the open sky, from Porto Rotondo all the way down to the southern beaches. You will find the GranCabrio Trofeo in the fleet alongside the rest of the Trident’s range, gathered on the page dedicated to Maserati rental.
6. McLaren 570S Spider, for those who come to Sardinia to drive
A carbon-fibre tub, a 570 hp twin-turbo V8 and one of the most communicative steering racks in the business: the 570S Spider is the purist’s pick — the kind of driver who treats the coastline as an excuse to rack up corners. Roof down, it adds the whistle of the turbos and a cabin that stays remarkably calm in the airflow. The 570S Spider in the fleet is at its very best on the inland state roads: for the right itineraries, read the guide to Sardinia’s most beautiful driving roads before you set off.
7. Porsche 718 Boxster, where lightness wins along the coves
Three hundred horsepower sounds modest in this company — until you turn onto a narrow coastal lane. A mid-mounted engine, low weight, a six-speed manual gearbox and a balance the more powerful cars can only envy. The Boxster is the understatement convertible, perfect for those who want to drive a great deal and be noticed rather little. The 718 Boxster also makes an excellent first step into open-top Porsche ownership-for-a-week; anyone starting from the island’s capital will find Zuffenhausen’s range among the options for Porsche rental in Cagliari.
How do the seven models compare?
| Model | Engine | Power | 0–100 km/h | Seats | Choose it if you… |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ferrari Portofino M | 3.9L twin-turbo V8 | 620 hp | 3.45 s | 4 | want a Ferrari you can live with every day |
| Lamborghini Huracán Spyder | 5.2L naturally aspirated V10 | 610 hp | 3.2 s | 2 | want stage presence and a soundtrack |
| Rolls-Royce Dawn | 6.6L twin-turbo V12 | 571 hp | 4.9 s | 4 | prefer arriving to hurrying |
| Mercedes-AMG SL 63 | 4.0L twin-turbo V8 | 585 hp | 3.6 s | 4 | want one car for the whole holiday |
| Maserati GranCabrio Trofeo | 3.0L twin-turbo Nettuno V6 | 550 hp | 3.6 s | 4 | travel as a couple or a four, in style |
| McLaren 570S Spider | 3.8L twin-turbo V8 | 570 hp | 3.2 s | 2 | come to Sardinia above all to drive |
| Porsche 718 Boxster | 2.0L turbo flat-four | 300 hp | 5.1 s | 2 | value balance over brute power |
Treat the table as a starting point, not a verdict: the fleet runs to more than 100 models and over 150 versions, and beyond these seven there are open-top alternatives for every taste — browse the full fleet or let the concierge narrow it down for you.
Which convertible suits your kind of holiday?
- A romantic trip for two: the Dawn if atmosphere is the goal, the Portofino M if you want a frisson with it. Both swallow a week’s luggage for two.
- Two couples, or a family with children: GranCabrio Trofeo or SL 63 — the only two with genuinely usable rear seats and an honest boot even with the roof stowed.
- Driving purists: the 570S Spider for the serious driving day, the 718 Boxster to savour every corner without a care. Either way: early alarm, inland state roads.
- Social evenings and piazzetta life: the Huracán Spyder, no hesitation. The V10 burbling at walking pace along the quays is half the show.
- Larger groups or serious luggage: it is common to pair a convertible with a stately SUV for the wider party — a classic combination among the supercars and SUVs for rent in Sardinia.
Where does the car meet you, and how does it work?
The network covers 27 destinations and 3 airports across Sardinia: Olbia, Cagliari and Alghero for those arriving by air, the principal marinas for those arriving by sea, plus hotels, villas and yachts along the entire coastline. The airport and port delivery service means your convertible is waiting the moment you land, with a walk-round briefing beside the car; alternatively, delivery to your hotel, villa or yacht brings the car to your door, with return arranged wherever suits you — even in a different location.
The process could not be simpler: message the WhatsApp concierge or complete the quotation form with your dates, area and the kind of car you have in mind; receive a tailored proposal, with alternatives where relevant; confirm, and the car comes to meet you wherever you have chosen. Requirements and conditions are provided at the quotation stage.
When does a convertible give its best in Sardinia?
From May to early October the roof stays down almost permanently, but each stretch of the season has its own character. June and September are the sweet spot: warm air, a sea already swimmable, free-flowing roads and long, lingering sunsets — perfect conditions for the southern corniche from Chia towards Teulada, one of the loveliest open-top roads in the Mediterranean (guests staying nearby will find everything on the page for luxury car rental in Chia). July and August deliver the coast at full voltage: with the roof open, drive early in the morning and through the golden hour, and leave midday to the beach.
Spring and autumn are the connoisseur’s secret: the west coast, with the sunsets over the sea at Alghero and the Coral Riviera, offers an end-of-day light that justifies the journey all on its own.
Three details that transform the open-top experience
- Manage the sun, not just the wind. A cap, sunglasses and sunscreen turn a full day of open-air driving from an endurance test into pure pleasure. The wind deflector, where fitted, does the rest even at speed.
- Plan your luggage. With the roof stowed, boot space shrinks on almost every model: soft bags rather than rigid cases, and for groups the answer is pairing the convertible with a second car.
- Claim the edges of the day. Dawn on the Orientale Sarda and sunset on the western coast roads are the moments when a convertible in Sardinia stops being a car and becomes the reason for the trip.
Seven models, one rule: the right convertible is the one that fits your plans, not the other way around. Tell the LSM Car Luxury WhatsApp concierge how you picture your week — dates, area, travelling companions — and receive a proposal built around you, with delivery wherever you are: airport, port, hotel, villa or yacht. Request availability, and keep the roof open to the rest.