MY ears were definitely burning on Sunday morning after just five minutes out on the road.
With frost icing the ground after temperatures plummeted overnight to below freezing Cheshire in January was hardly a Cabriolet's natural habitat
But, with the sun shining amidst clear blue skies taking the top down proved irresistible despite the cold.
And freezing my lobes off and several other bits was worth it for the grin this sassy little car put on my face.
There are only two right-hand drive version of the new 206 coupe Cabriolet in the UK and those are on the Peugeot press fleet. Dealers with orders piling up are still waiting for a sniff of the French super-mini with the ooh la la looks.
At five foot eight the cabin fitted me as perfectly as a not too little black number. However, one taller colleague wasn't so lucky, suffering a cricked neck after the top of his head beat a tattoo on the underside of the roof.
The hard top folds away at the touch of a button. Having a solid roof gets away from drawbacks associated with soft tops but means storage is always going to be a big compromise in a small car. In this case luggage and passenger space are squeezed out. Space is extremely limited in the back and the optional rear seats are so cramped it‚s probably better not to bother and just accept the 206 is a two seater.
Children would squabble to go in the back, especially with cool roller-coaster style headrests, but would be positioned too close to the rear of the car for my peace of mind. Rear passengers also face straight onto the front head rests.
However, in a more intimate relationship, just you and the 206, it is a treat to drive with its 2.0.litre 16-valve engine producing 138 BHP.
The stiffened chassis sashies around corners and holds its own on straights with a listed maximum speed of 127 mph and acceleration of 0-62mph of 8.9 seconds..
The gear changes are smooth and direct giving credence to the sporty styling inside complete with white dials and chrome detailing.
"I bet you got plenty of looks whilst out in that," asked the Peugeot team on my return.
I had. Most of them directed at the car ˆ with the odd ones cosily bundled up in vests and slipper socks thinking that I had completely lost my marbles.
The heating system, which admittedly I had not properly adjusted because I simply wanted to drive the car, not read the manual, led to loss of feeling in my left hand which was numb with cold. Alternatively, the right got cooked by the furnace-type blast hitting the steering wheel. Oh well, who cares!`