Fastest convertible for $2.2 million, while supplies last

Just because I don’t have $2.2 million right now — and won’t in the next few years — doesn’t mean I can’t dream.

And what sweet, speed-filled dreams I have.

After the past few years of living in Southern California, I’ve learned there is nothing more relaxing than dirivng south on Pacific Coast Highway and ending up at some beautiful beach. But I might be wrong.

Sure I always rolled the windows down, but I’ve recently found out that I could be making the drive in a Bugatti Veyron 16.4 GrandSport. OK, maybe I couldn’t be driving that. After all, it is the drop-top version of my favorite — yet totally out-of-reach — auto, the Bugatti Veyron.

The Veyron 16.4 GrandSport will be sold for about $2.2 million, if not more. The major catch: Only 150 are being made. One of the best ways to secure this formidable convertible is to already own a Bugatti, according to Car and Driver, the first 50 Veyron 16.4 GrandSports will go to current Bugatti owners, leaving only 100 for the rest of us. Production is set to begin in the spring of 2009.

Car and Driver reported that with the top up, the Veyron 16.4 GrandSport matches its Veyron brother in a top speed of 253 miles per hour. If you choose to enjoy the sun on your face and wind in you hair, losing the top will lost you about 20 mph in speed as the car will only go 229 mph.

If you want to drive with the top down, you should only take the car out on days you know will be beautiful because there is no place to store the removable hardtop. For those freak out-of-the-blue showers there is a soft top that you can use, but avoid it at all costs — it will slow you down to a normal speed of 80 mph. Who wants to drive with the flow of traffic when you can leave it all in your wake?

For those of you living on a budget, there are still over 50 hardtop Veyrons left to buy. They go for the bargain price of $1.7 million.

Personally, I’ve always enjoyed the look and feel of a hardtop instead of a convertible, but it is nice to dream about that targa top cruising down PCH in the California sun with a 16-cylinder, 8-liter, 4-turbocharger engine.