However, after a lengthy chat with Barry Hayward (now in line for salesman of the year!) the decision to change seemed entirely logical. Basically, a brand new M3 was sitting in the showroom (a victim of shrinking city bonuses), specced very close to my existing car - carbon black with cinnamon leather, identical options plus heated seats and upgraded stereo. Given that the value of my car meant that four months of M3 ownership has cost me all of ΂£200 a month plus a 1200-mile service (even less if you consider that I now avoid a rear tyre bill in around 5000 miles) a swap seemed positively sensible.

So there I am, slightly shell-shocked and about to pull out of Wood's car park. The weather is glorious - the start of two weeks of the best weather we've had so far this year, it transpires. Find and push the button... click, whirr, and 20 seconds later the roof is gone. I did mention that it's a convertible, didn't I? Ah. Given that the Coupe is meant to be the evo driver's M3 of choice and the Convertible, well, maybe isn't, this may take some explaining.

The rationale is that I've done the Coupe thing. Fab car, no question. And it's cost me almost nothing. Now summer's around the corner, I've got a few European jaunts planned and reckon that cruising (if M3s ever do 'cruise') through those mountain passes and tunnels, top down, listening to the howling straight-six, will be a joy. Finally, I've got the safety net of another Coupe on order - a bit more powerful, a bit lighter...

So, have BMW's engineers used strong enough glue on the Convertible's seams or does it feel like a cardboard box that's been left out in the rain? Does it come close to the poise and precision of the Coupe or does it feel like a pig on a tightrope? Is it more Kings Road than Donington Park? All I'll say is I've already discovered a few surprises. Stay tuned.