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Not to suggest the car is only for the girls, rather that it is enjoyable, skillfully manufactured and very accessible. Apart from the complicated seating controls the SLK has to rank as one of the most usable cars I have driven.

This may not suit everyone but it will probably suit most. There is a snobbery that says that to be a "real sports car" it must snarl and rage. The SLK is certainly a real sports car – just one that makes your life very easy.

The most conspicuous example of this is probably the "vario roof" – a hard top that slides neatly into the top of the boot. Thirty years ago convertible motoring was available only to those who could afford a second more sensible car or were prepared to grit their teeth into the cold, wind and rain on those occasional days in the UK when the weather is not perfect. These days, soft tops are vastly improved, but for security, safety, speed and ease of operation and durability, the vario roof must be hard to beat.

Top speed is limited to 155mph, and 62mph is reached from a standing start in 4.9 seconds. This puts it in the same performance range as the BMW M3 and the Porsche 911 Carrera – although for a much lower price – but the breezy, smoothness of the SLK makes it feel less aggressively sporty.

There is no SatNav but there are some nice touches in terms of comfort, particularly the rather novel "air scarf". This is a warm jet of air fired into the back of your neck from a vent, just below the head-rest, and ensures the only thing to get cold with the roof open is the top of your head. To remedy this, I suggest a hat. For an extra £1700, the Sports Package gives you 18-inch alloys, some flashes of red in the interior and sports suspension and brakes.

Top Speed: 155mph

0-62 mph: 4.9 seconds

Engine: 3.5 litre V6

Price: (on the road) £44,155

Patrick Sherwen is a freelance journalist