Review
But by the time the Astra arrived here at Fleet Towers, the hazy, blue sky and scorching temperatures had been replaced by rain, a bit more rain, a few more showers and icy cold winds.
So, not only have I sacrificed my carefully-styled bouffant to bring you this road test, I have also endured possibly the coldest week of my motoring life as I sampled the 'joys' of open top motoring.
Unlike the original Astra Convertible, the new model does away with the unsightly rollover bar and replaces it with a brilliantly designed roof which folds away, electronically, out of sight.
Simply touch the button on the dashboard or point the key at the car and the Astra is transformed into a sleek convertible in a matter of seconds. This mechanism is by no means unique, but we quickly forget that electric folding roofs were once the preserve of Mercedes-Benz and BMW convertibles.
But nowadays, as well as the Astra, you can also get a clever soft-top Volkswagen Golf, Renault Megane and Peugeot 306. And the fact that UK motorists bought one in five of all convertibles sold in Western Europe last year shows that, despite this country's challenging climate, we are a nation of poseurs.
