You don't want to fall into the pattern I've seen: new convertible is purchased. Top is dropped everywhere and anywhere during the first two weeks. After that, the car is almost permanently used with the hood up. And if you buy a convertible, you don't want or need to go insanely fast. Open top driving gets windy and noisy at speed. You want to savour the smells and sights of your environment as you pootle down sunkissed beachfront boulevards and pollen-spattered country lanes.

So when it comes to Mercedes-Benz's baby convertible the SLC - formerly known as the SLK - the base version tested here is ample. Trust me on this. The other two cars in the range, the SLC 300 and AMG SLC 43, only win on badge and ego appeal, and of course that's not important to you. Is it?

Now this little car has been around for two decades, and the new name reflects its close relationship with the C-class. It also gets some mild styling and equipment upgrades, plus a nine-speed automatic gearbox - although this base version can also be had with a manual.

As ever that metal folding top, dubbed the vario-roof, remains, and can be dropped at speeds of up to 40km/h. Another new feature is the semi-automatic boot separator. If  the separator is in the upper position for increased boot capacity, it automatically moves down when the roof is opened. Before you had to do this manually, and I do hope you spend the few seconds of your life saved wisely and prudently.

Its all-weather use - and remember this is a German car and it can get wet and cold and snowy there - is accentuated with Airscarf the neck-level heating system for the driver and passenger, and heated seats.

Safety systems are upgraded too, while driving power comes from a two-litre, turbopetrol making 135 kW and 180 Nm. Enough to ease you to 100km/h in 6.9 seconds, and on to 237 km/h, should you feel the pressing need to travel at almost twice the national limit, while handling and ride is tipped towards the sporting, but not jarringly.

And because it's a German luxury car there is a vast - and I mean vast - list of optional extras to choose from. Yours for R699 600 - before you start dipping into those optional extras. Sweet. If not obviously masculine - unlike its bigger, ballsier, rather beautiful SL sibling. But then that's not the point of this car.