BMW Z1 review

If you're trying to get in when the roof's up, you'll be giving a laugh to the inevitable crowd gathered around. A dignified entry or exit isn't actually possible. Roof down it's a whole lot simpler, and you'll have to get out to raise the hood anyway.

Once in, the seats cocoon you well for the lively cornering you'll be doing. It's a small car but you don't feel vulnerable.

The dash is beautifully simple, if not especially beautiful. The speedo and rev-counter are small but far, far easier to read than the virtual ones in the new Z4.

Today's auto climate controls look unfathomable beside these idiot-proof heat/vent controls: how hot, how much, where to. Stalks are self-explanatory too and the radio has straightforward buttons. And, er, that's about it.

The steering wheel is a wheel for steering, and has no other side projects involving stereo, speed or anything else. OK, there's a horn.

Erecting the roof is a bit of a faff, but it's weatherproof if not soundproof. The boot will test your light-packing skills.

There were several trim options, most of them mildly 1980s-Munich-Nite-Klub, including a camo-pattern.