Now we come to the interior. However before I get to that, I'm afraid I do have to mention another pet peeve I found on this car, and that's those silly windows which drop slightly just as you go to open them. I know that there is a reason behind this, but why do they always seem to catch and make you feel like the glass is going to break at any moment?

The dashboard layout is pleasing to the eye.

Never mind, once the window has finished rattling and has gone up again, you become settled into what really is a rather nice interior. My particular tester was done in a very impressive light cream color, which for a convertible, is, in my opinion, about as good as it gets.

The dashboard layout is pleasing to the eye, the gauges are easy to read, and the controls not only fall readily to hand, but are of the superior quality we have come to expect from the VW group.

The seats are extremely comfortable and are of a design that suits the slightly luxurious, slightly sporty feel of the vehicle. Interior storage space is not exactly outstanding in the EOS, the owners manual takes up more than its fair share of room in the glove box, and the center console is smaller than most. However, large door pockets help to make up for this, and compared to some other convertibles, it is quite good really.

It is hard not to like the interior of the EOS. In fact, I'd say that it is one of the nicest in its class. Mind you, I think that you kind of expect to find a nice interior in a cute little convertible.

Now after saying "little", I have to concede that it's not actually that small inside. Yes, it has the rear seats that almost every car like this has nowadays, what I like to describe as "little people seats". However, if you move the seats forward a bit, and there's a clever little electronic button for this on the seat backs, you do actually have a reasonable amount of space behind them. In fact, I could sit in the rear and I'm over 6 ft. Of course, headroom in the back is somewhat tight for someone like me and I wouldn't like to make a long journey riding back there, but when needs be, it could be done.

Of course, anyone buying a car like this understands that. The same as they understand that to carry a week's family grocery in the trunk whilst looking super-cool with the top down is takes a bit of doing.

You see, cars such as this one are not really designed to be "be all and everything" kind of vehicles. They are passion cars, vehicles that make you feel good owning and driving them, which is where we're heading next.

The trunk appears to be a little out of proportion to the rest of the vehicle.