I've always had a bit of a problem with the M3 Convertible. Maybe, having spent much of my time in south London, a territory where even 5-Series diesels carry an illicit M badge, there's something more mobster than motorsport about this fiery sun lounger. Don't think Nürburgring, think Burger King late at night, roof down, dance music pumping, mid November.

When BMW unveiled this, the latest version, I was prepared to see our already sketchy relationship take a turn for the worse. If the old one was a bit shady, this upstart looks a complete and utter outlaw. And for that I absolutely love it. The trouble with the outgoing car was that in so many ways it didn't feel special enough and certainly one of its problems was looks. Whenever you saw the thing it just never seemed that convincing, this one, however, has been pumped full of steroids and it drips with anticipation.

Of course, why anybody would want to get rid of a perfectly decent metal roof is beyond me, especially from a car with so much more to lose as a result. The one-touch operation is the first and one of the most important plus points, having to do without a roof is bad enough, having to faff around pulling levers and tucking things away just causes stress - which thankfully the M3 does without. But, roof up or roof down, it's as calm and collected as those behind the wheel could wish to be. It dispatches lumpy tarmac with typical BMW contempt. Over more severe surfaces you can feel more shudder through the steering wheel but only if you really look for it. There's no ungraceful swagger, no creaking or groaning. It may be a mobile vanity platform to some, but they can tan safe in the knowledge that it's an incredibly together one.

And, of course, there's the engine. At the heart of the M3 Convertible lies the now- legendary 3.2-litre straight six, with 343bhp up its sleeve and a superbly serious bark to its exhaust. If asked to do so, it could manage 0-62mph in a very cool 5.5secs, a shade behind the Coupe. If you really want to experience a thrill, why not, where speed limits allow, keep the roof down and take it up to the top speed of 155mph?

But the M3's real strength is in its flexibility; despite all the performance bias, it's just as happy to trawl through town as it is having its legs stretched on a back road - perfect cred-entials. And whilst the clutch is weighty, you won't end up with one leg noticeably bigger than the others after a couple of town stints.

All that power doesn't go to waste either. They may have cut the roof off, but they haven't ripped its spine out - it remains an impressively useable driver's car. With its stocky proportions and near-perfect weight distribution, it feels well balanced through the bends and, amazingly, you search for hints that it's suffering without a lid but none immediately make themselves apparent. Push it into corners which would have other cabrios creaking and complaining like an old ship and there is not even a murmur from the stoical German. It turns in, tracks around and exits bends with every bit of the sparkle that its tin-top relative could muster. There's so much grip, the brakes are so powerful and the steering so lively that to call it anything but a prodigious talent would be to sell it short.

Just the tiniest bit juicier and 85kg heavier, it won't ask you to suffer too much for your head-out pleasure and, as before, it comes fully tooled up; a tribute to leather, gadgetry and sophisticated design. Even the seats in the back look like they might be able to take some sort of adult. It's also been well damped for road noise - with the roof up it's certainly noisier on a motorway but not so much that you'll be straining to hear your passengers.

If you've got it, flaunt it. I no longer have a problem with the M3 Convertible.

Adrian Simpson

VERDICT Carries out all the visual threats provided by its looks - with interest.

FACT FILE
Model Two-door convertible
Engine 3246cc straight six, 343bhp
Performance 0-62mph in 5.5secs, 155mph max (limited)
Cost £41, 400
On sale in UK Now
Rivals Porsche Boxster S, TVR Chimaera, Merc CLK 430