THE sun shines down on my head, the wind tugs at what is left of my hair and the panorama stretching before me is beautiful North Yorkshire.

It's the perfect day for driving the perfect kind of car, a soft-top.

The sound of the animals vies with the throaty exhaust note and I'm enveloped in fresh air, not pollution. I breathe deeply and smile.

On one of the rare occasions the sun ventures out, I couldn't be in a better car.

Two catches and the press of a button drops the BMW roadster's top in seconds and the Z3 comes into its own. The car is exceptionally good with the hood up, thanks to close fit and thick insulation.

But down, it is transformed, a revelation.

There's no need to go fast. On the unclassified roads I've chosen 40mph is ample and more than enough to be fun as the road switch-backs from right to left and back again and I can make the most of the Z3 magnificent traction.

Steering is go-kart positive and there isn't any cabin roll to spoil the party. When I overshoot my turning, the brakes reveal their bite, bringing the car to a rapid halt before I point the Z3 on the right road again.

The 2.0 litre straight six (there's an entry level 1.8 litre four and a top of the range 2.8 litre six also in the range) burbles gently in front of me providing low-down power by the bucket load and instant response.

But given that this is a sports car, the penalty at the pumps isn't too great with the trip computer registering a miles per gallon figure in the 30s.

The interior is superbly put together and finished off. It has a quality feel and is well designed with useful cubbyholes between driver and passenger. With the optional leather trim the interior is a pleasant place to be.

The Z3 has been around a good while now and it never fails to amaze me how it still catches the eye of pedestrians and motorists alike.

The recent facelift has certainly helped giving the Z more presence on the road, with its bulging wings and new L-shaped rear lights. It looks wide, low and squat, just like a sports car should.

It's also a very easy car to live with day-to-day because it is reasonably practical.

It has a decent boot, for instance, so you can take it shopping and there is quite a lot of space behind the seats.

If you are tired you can drive the car lazily.

The 2.0 litre engine will pull top from less than 30mph so there's no need for frantic cog-swapping.

The Z3 really is one of the best roadsters on the market thanks to its blend of image and driver dynamics.

For a quality badge, it's keenly priced too at just under £23,000, which is going to make the opposition very unhappy.