When I was younger, we used to play a game where you could 'predict' your future. You would choose two things you liked and then two you hated; boys, houses, cars, colour of your wedding dress etc. When it came to cars everyone put the same thing. We all despised three-wheelers and bicycles in favour of limousines (we soon grew out of that!) and the beloved Mercedes. Mercedes have cleverly created a glamorous aura around them. They hold appeal for almost everyone, by having a range of models to meet the full range of different needs. The Mercedes CLK Cabriolet is definitely one of the cars I want to buy when I win the lottery, for the image if nothing else.

If you're looking for something nippy and low key to get you around the town then this is not your thing. The CLK cabriolet is the ideal car if you want to turn heads or make the neighbours jealous. As for it being suitable for the family, it would have to be a small brood. There are two seats in the rear, but if you have two large adults in the front, the amount of legroom in the back becomes negligible. The rear windows open and close diagonally, making an easy trap for little fingers. Presumably, there's some kind of anti-pinch mechanism in operation, but I wouldn't like to be the one to test it! I was also surprised at the small amount of storage space in the rear. There is a small cove where the middle seat would have been but little else. A big plus point for the interior has to be the seat belt feeders. These little gadgets extend when the engine is switched on, making it easy to reach for your seatbelt. The boot of the CLK Cabriolet is like Aladdin's cave. What appeared to be a long, yet shallow load area hid a secret compartment, with the spare tyre under that. I was impressed by the comprehensive first aid kit situated in another hidden compartment, only noticeable by a small first aid sign and completely unnoticeable to children, who might fancy having a play with the bandages. It contains valuable advice on what to do when you arrive on the scene of an accident as well as bandages, rescue foil and disposable gloves. From inside the CLK on a dismal day, you can barely notice that the car is a convertible. The soft-top roof needs no manual intervention and can even be operated from the key fob as you approach the vehicle. On the downside, if you decide to have the roof down and it promptly rains, the water will collect in the roof. Park facing upwards on a hill and attempt to close the top, you'll find that the water showers down onto the rear seat passengers.

The Mercedes CLK Cabriolet was a driving dream. It oozes with class and style, yet has some innovative safety features that give you complete peace if mind. The Cabriolet is fitted with rollover bars that are activated on impact taking 0.3 seconds to reach full height, to provide enhanced safety for both front and rear passengers. This car is immense fun to drive. It was a bit grey when I took it out but I had visions of a hot sunny day, with my aviator sunglasses and a white scarf billowing with the speed. I found that road users treat you differently; my little supermini gets raced at the lights and cut up at junctions whereas no-one dared mess with the Merc, not even when they saw a naive young female in the drivers seat.

If I won the lottery, then I definitely would live with one of these, but for me the costs are too high for the normal everyday driving that I do. If you are looking for a luxury convertible then this has to be one of the best of its type.