IN THIS FEATURE Attention grabber Superb sat-nav Travelling al fresco

The Roadster-Coupe is full of clever tricks, which go some way to justifying its lofty price tag. The roof mechanism, for example, has proved to be a boon on hot summer days. At the touch of a button, the fabric lid retreats into a small space directly behind the seats leaving the Smart in a targa-top configuration. This is what I use most of the time, but there is a second stage in the Brabus' transformation from Coupe to Roadster which involves unclipping the roof rails and storing them in two special slots in the front boot.

Removing the roof rails and lowering the windows dramatically heightens the open-air experience. From the driver's seat, the Smart feels almost as exposed as more traditional roadsters such as the Mazda MX5, and yet you retain the safety of a permanent roll hoop.

Life with the Smart is progressing nicely. There are days when I wish I'd chosen something with a bigger boot and four seats, but there are many more when I enjoy the Smart's novelty and joie de vivre. I only hope that I continue to feel the same way when the weather turns nasty and I can no longer travel al fresco.