WHENEVER I road test a car the weather has a tendency to spoil things by misbehaving at the wrong times.

For example, with a 4x4 in the frame during the winter months, I can guarantee that snowtime will avoid the areas in which I am driving.

Similarly, in the summer when wind in your hair driving can feature very highly on the entertainment menu, lowering the top seems to be an almost open invitation for the rains to come down.

The rule of thumb for judging a convertible's desirability is usually to ask yourself the question "does it have the look?" and Saab's 9-3 very quickly confirmed that here was a highly appealing piece of kit which comes with very decent space for four adults - an asset which not all members of this particular genre deliver.

This latest Scandinavian drop top does maintain its prestigious image coming with stylish looks which include a reworked bonnet and headlamps, front bumper and wings, new door panels and some distinctive rear end features.

With the hood down this convertible's elegant side profile definitely comes into its own, emphasising that this is definitely a drop top in its own right and not a Saab 9-3 with the top sliced off.

Like its Swedish rival Volvo, Saab has also neatly sidestepped following the tin top road taken by many makers of cars of the coupe /cabriolet genre.

The Saab solution to keeping out the cold and the heat inside the car has been to fit a triple skin soft top. This features a thick, middle layer which also provides some pretty effective noise insulation.

Although perhaps not quite as swift an operation as that delivered by some hard top cabrios, Saab's fully automatic opening and closing operation requires no manual intervention beyond pressing a button.

The roof is hydraulically powered and, with the provision of automatic self-latching to the windshield header rail there is no danger of cracking finger nails here, ladies.

With the engine running the soft top deploys fully in just 20 seconds. It can also be reliably operated in strong winds and the top can be raised on the hoof at up to 18mph while Saab has sensibly sewn a gutter into the soft top to prevent rain drops intruding on to the front seats when you open the door, thoughtful, eh?

Inside the cabin is very much driver focused with a main instrument panel that gently arcs around the driving position.

Typical Saab attention to grouping is evident in the generous kit manifest and, while the recessed main dials are white on black and illuminated in a soothing shade of green the centre console is inclined ever so slightly towards the driver while there are also stacks of the Swedish car maker's legendary safety items on board.

These include DynaCage rollover protection plus five-star EuroNCAP rating, while driver safety items include ABS braking, traction control system, cornering brake control, electronic brake distribution, electronic stability programme and mechanical brake assist.

Specially designed front seats are comfortable and well shaped. They help to provide easy entry and exit for rear seat passengers with either manual of electrically operated seats fitted.

In the frame here is the Aero derivative. It enjoys some quality fabrics, plastics and a brushed metallic effect trim along with graphite fibre effect trim for the facia. The sports seats are in leather while hints of Saab's aviation heritage also catch the eye.

On the road, the 2.0-litre petrol power source paired with a slick switching six-speed automatic gearbox proved a powerful persuader, the 215bhp helping to deliver some impressive performance figures as it powered us from 0-60mph in under nine seconds. Top speed is a claimed 143mph.

You feel supremely confident at the wheel of this real cool cabriolet as it delivers a decent ride.