Still, there are no clear-cut winners or losers in this group of contenders. The Volvo is the odd car out - a front-wheel-drive turbo five in a world of rear-wheel-drive, normally aspirated sixes - but many buyers won't care. Meanwhile, the Lexus, the BMW, and the Infiniti are differentiated less by the quality of their execution than by the subtle contrasts in their underlying philosophies. I continue to ponder this issue as I lounge on a bench in Heisler Park, a sleepy green space tucked away from the traffic on PCH. As I watch the waves crash down on the jagged rocks extending out from the beach, I decide that this is what retractable hardtop convertibles are designed for - embracing the environment and soaking up the scenery rather than driving from point A to point B or setting fast time of the day on stages 2 or 3. By this standard, all four of these cars are winners.

The IS350C features the most sumptuous interior in its class, with all the easy-to-use ergonomics you'd expect from a Toyota. Cowl shake is minimized, and although we don't have the numbers to back up this claim, the IS seemed to be the quietest cruiser with the top up.

Not only does [the Lexus IS-C's] roof retract faster than those of the competition, but the electric motors are specially configured to make the operation smoother and more elegant. Like BMW, Lexus opted for a two-tier approach, with the IS250C targeted at bargain hunters and the IS350C designed for serious players. The silky 3.5-liter V-6 in the pricier car makes 306 hp and the most torque in this comparison - 277 lb-ft - yet it's priced to compete with the 328i rather than the significantly more upscale 335i. No wonder Lexus expects to sell 1600 convertibles a month.