Without doubt, one of the most pleasurable things to do is drive a convertible on a sunny day with a beautiful woman next to you. That the young woman is your 16-year-old daughter indulging her father and would probably rather be curled up under her duvet doesn't really detract from the experience.
We're all kids at heart and taking the new Mini Cooper S Convertible for a spin last Sunday morning was like playing with a new and much-desired toy.
When the Mini was launched in the lavender-growing country of southern France earlier this year I had two blissful days testing it. The fun was still there as I drove it through Dublin last weekend
It's a brilliant car, hugely responsive and with beautiful, rock-solid road-holding. It's lost none of the saloon's incredible handling though of course, with the stiffer Cooper S suspension, you feel every bump on the road, but in a strangely perverse way this is part of the appeal.
There isn't much space for people in the rear but they can be managed - as can the small boot - with some forethought. You begin to concentrate on the essentials of life and literally get rid of your useless baggage!
The Mini brand has been very active in the whole area of economy and limiting emissions. While we'll have to wait a while for a diesel Convertible, this new addition has stop/start technology that cuts the engine when stationary and has made huge improvements over the previous model.
Emissions are down from 211g/km to a far more satisfactory 153 and consumption in excess of 7.1 litres/100km is possible. Unfortunately the car just begs to be driven fast to make the most of the 130kW and the lovely sounds that comes from the twin exhausts.
On the minus side, rear visibility has been compromised whether the roof is up or down and the iconic large central speed dial has just become an annoyance, causing problems with glare rather than giving any useful information.
And there is the price. It's a totally ridiculous €35 000 (about R388 500 but R327 500 in SA) but the fun and memories the Mini has given me are priceless. - Irish Independent