The Volkswagen Golf might be in its sixth generation but strictly speaking this is only the third all-new Golf Cabriolet - if you bear in mind that the Golf 4 soft top was not much more than a facelifted Golf 3.
So the launch of a new Golf cabriolet is quite an occasion for anyone counting themselves among its small but faithful following.
TURBO POWER
This third Golf soft top is based on the Golf 6 (or 5.1 as some label it) and it's just gone on sale in South Africa offering two versions of the familiar 1.4-litre TSI turbopetrol motor and a choice between six-speed manual and seven-speed DSG transmission.
Reporting from the media launch in the Western Cape, our correspondent Minesh Bhagaloo was impressed with the car's rigidity and ride comfort, with no real scuttle shake issues to speak of, although he was a little annoyed by the level of road noise with the roof up.
While the Cabriolet is not much heavier than its hatch counterpart, Minesh did note that the smaller of the two versions, which has a single turbocharger and 90kW and 200Nm on tap, felt a tad underpowered.
The more powerful 118kW/240Nm engine, which is also aided by a small supercharger at lower speeds, is certainly perkier but still hardly a performer.
“The DSG dual-clutch gearbox also feels a bit lazy, lacking that razor-sharp gear change you get in the likes of a GTI. It feels like a normal autobox,” Minesh said.
A BIT TIGHT INSIDE
On the inside, he noted “It's very solidly built and classy but rear legroom is a bit tight and the boot is small (250 litres regardless of roof positioning).”
“All in all, it's a very decent blow-dryer but not a hardcore car in any way” our man concluded.
Not that many of these things are likely to matter to the sun seekers who buy them.
As with every Golf Cabriolet that's come before it, this car's charm lies in its ability to provide a stylish and comfortable open-air experience (within nine seconds at the touch of a button, says VW) at a not-too-steep price.
THE BILL:
1.4 TSI 90kW - R283 400
1.4 TSI 90kW DSG - R297 900
1.4 TSI 118kW - R324 000
1.4 TSI 118kW DSG - R338 500