NO sooner had I opened the roof than the sun came out and Hot Chocolate's 'You Sexy Thing' came on the radio.

Coincidence? I think not.

I'm not vain enough to think it was because of me. No, there was only one thing worthy of such an accolade.

Admittedly, the acronym is not quite grammatically correct, but this is one Sexy Looking Kar. Unfortunately, nobody and nothing is perfect, and looks, as they say, are only skin deep. But more on that later.

Now in its third generation, the SLK is billed as everyday luxury with an ecological conscience.

This claim is not without basis in fact. The 1.8 litre engine in our test car was surprisingly frugal. All things are relative, but if you can afford to spend nearly £50,000 on a car – as was the price of ours when life's little extras were added in – then you can afford to pay the odd visit to your local petrol station. I, however, cannot, but I managed to do a weekend of running around and a full five days' worth of commuting on a single tank, and trust me I wasn't pootling around.

As well as an ultra modern engine, ours came under Mercedes' BlueEFFICIENCY banner, all SLK's are fitted with an engine stop-start system. Once viewed as something of a gimmick, it is now something of a must-have.

That's the good part, on the down side, the engine feels a little underpowered. It's not slow, it just doesn't accelerate the way its looks might suggest.

In addition, a steady foot on the accelerator generates a most off-putting whine. It's a noise that is completely out of keeping with what I have come to expect from a car of Mercedes' pedigree.

Work it hard and stamp on the gas, however, and it becomes more of a growl, but driving in that manner is not really sustainable and so it's the whine that lasts longest in the memory.

That engine was mated to a seven-speed automatic gearbox which at times felt spot on and yet at others out of sync. However, you can take matters into your own hands and use the flappy paddles on the steering column, something I did whenever I angled the car into a tight bend and wanted to power my way out of it.

It has to be said that the SLK is not the best handling two-seater I have ever been in and doesn’t fill you with the sense of fun that some less expensive cars do.

But that is ofset, somewhat, by the envious looks you get from fellow drivers.

I started this piece by mentioning the looks of the the SLK with the roof down. The mechanics of it are wonderful to watch in action and fair addle my brain. Bring it back up and its not as striking, but you benefit from the greater insulation it offers in comparison with a soft top.

Those with money to spare can even opt for the roof with Magic Sky Control which allows you to change from transparent to dark at the touch of a button.

Thanks to heaters located in the seat headrests it is also possible to go topless in most weathers. These innovations blow warm air down your neck and, combined with the standard heaters, ensure that the experience is not spoilt by the outside elements. I got some strange looks driving with the top down in the middle of November, but trust me it’s possible to get quite cosy regardless of the air temperature outside.

Inside, the layout is traditionally Mercedes. There are plenty of buttons and dials, but I didn’t encounter any confusion and if you have driven a Merc before you should know what they all do.

The central dial that controls the radio, satellite navigation etc is easy to use, but the confines of the SLK mean you can find your arm has to be at an awkward angle to operate it.

That said, for a two-seater there is a decent amount of space to be afforded elsewhere. There’s plenty of leg room and for someone like me, of average height, more than enough headroom.

The seats are comfortable, but while they are easy to get into, getting out of them can take some effort and ladies may want to be aware that their modesty could be compromised.

The boot, meanwhile, is perfectly serviceable with the roof up, but understandably its use is lessened when the unit is stowed away.

Overall, the SLK is a classy looking car that comes laden with high quality kit, but it doesn’t measure up as well against some of its rivals in the driving stakes. As a statement car it hits the right spots, but those who want more feedback from their ride might be a little disappointed.