The BMW M3 Convertible (2008)

Recently, I succeeded in getting a new job. Apart from this requiring me to get public transport to work as it is in the city centre, it has also meant that I may be free to spend a little more on my motor. As such, I’ve been looking at a few of my options. These range from a cheap, fast second-hand motor such as a Renault Clio 172 all the way through to trading in my current Astra to get my hands on a rather lovely Alfa Romeo 156 GTA (but I don’t think I could afford to keep the notoriously unreliable brand running).

I’m fairly sure now that I have narrowed it down. I think my choice is somewhat special – a BMW M3 on a 1998 or 1999 plate with about 50,000 miles on the clock. A full BMW service history is very important (after all as this is a high performance car there’s a chance it may well have done a few laps around a track), as well as not having an owner who has scrimped on looking after this performance-oriented car. Nonetheless, I’m sure it’s going to be special. This brings me to this year’s new BMW M3 convertible.

This is a car that requires a rather fat wallet in the first instance – it comes with a price tag of £54,760 after all. Granted, there are many types of car available for this price, but few will give you such a tremendous, singing, beautifully performing engine as the 4.0 litre V8 on offer here. The 414bhp it chucks out will have a smile on your face the first time you add a bit of power, no doubt sending a shiver down your spine when the exhausts roar.

As is the usual with these cars, the convertible is heavier than the coupe variant – this is down to the fact that the roof mechanism can add a lot of weight to the whole equation. This lowers to 0-60 dash to a paltry (ha ha) 5.1 seconds. If you have the roof down, this will be enough to have your hair standing on end, especially on a nice B-road. Mmmmmmm.

The dynamics are one place where you can’t really fault BMW – they seem to have got the formula right with the M3 for a long time now. This remains no exception and in spite of what Clarkson says, you’d have to mad to dislike the way that it holds the road. Granted, you may find that it has a little shake on some rougher services, but it isn’t nowhere near as wobbly as some convertibles (Saab, I’m looking at you).

Of course, if you want to roar around like a posh git in your fifty grand motor you need the right gearbox to go with it. In this case, a seven gear M DCT (dual clutch setup) is a huge improvement over the older variations of the SMG transmission. Gone is the jerkiness, replaced with smooth action, launch control and even blips on the downshift. You’ll love it.

One criticism levelled at the car has been the iDrive system. This exclusive BMW control suite can give you a huge wealth of information about the car (tyre pressures, oil and so forth) as well as controlling your uploaded CD collection. Now though, you can alter steering, dampers, throttle response and even traction control. You might find it a bit fiddly – but for the purists out there it’ll be a great addition and makes the car that little more special.

On a more aesthetic note, you’ll love the looks – I’m convinced of it. In alpine white (I’m not sure what BMW calls that colour but that’s what it is), it’s a true head turner. The lovely light clusters and menacing grille that harks back to the E36 of old is special, as is the big air dam on the front end. Even from the rear it’s good looking – those four exhausts set it off perfectly.

Overall, I don’t think you can explain here what makes driving a superbly fast convertible on a sunny day with the top down so much fun. You really just have to drive it yourself to find out. In the meantime, you might just see me out and about in a 3.2 litre with my personal plate. Now, I just need to find the right car that is less than 200 miles away…