It's interesting to note that the M3 Convertible has been around, if not in our market specifically, since the introduction of the original E30 M3! This droptop benchmark sportscar icon may be compromised dynamically but is nevertheless an extremely tempting softer alternative to the true-blue Bavarian Beast, and now the E9X-generation has hit our shores and comes with a bit more than just 200kg of additional chassis stiffening...

It also comes, firstly, with a folding hardtop a-la 335i, SLK, and the like. It's certainly a neat affair, and manages largely to avoid looking too goofy with the roof in place, while sans lid the M3 is enhanced into something quite sensual. The chopped top highlights the stronger arches over a standard 3-Series sedan, and that power-bulging bonnet is given an air of real muscle car somehow.

This cabrio also introduces a pretty exciting gearbox option to the entire M3 range — M DCT, the last three letters of which of course stand for Dual Clutch Transmission, which is what this unit is. And it's a completely different animal mechanically to SMG, the M technicians having figured out how to capitalise on the capabilities of this latest gearbox technology for the pretty unique application of their M-car lineup. Which means that this box can take revs of up to 9000rpm, and around 700Nm of torque, which is more than sufficient for the 4.0-litre V8 doing the duties here.

In operation, however, it's familiar fare to owners of SMG cars, with the same massive range of customisation available to the driver and combos of M-Diff, engine mapping and stability control entirely customisable to a single "M" button on the multifunction wheel, or to twiddle and fiddle with on the fly individually if you so wish.

On the road from PE to Somerset East, we're advised to leave the optional EDC adjustable dampers in Normal, one step down from Sport and apparently the automatic brain is capable of stiffening up the response to beyond the single, very hard rate of Sport, while maintaining a good degree of pliancy for comfort. It certainly never feels to be found wanting, the car continuing to deliver neutral and predictable responses without our teeth knocking too badly over the rougher elements.

On the way back to the airport, however, we did click down to Sport, and the ride becomes a tad uncomfortable, and in the process makes the inevitable scuttle-shake a lot more noticeable. Although the nearly-punishing ride makes it feel a touch more focussed, in fact it's behaviour on real roads with all their imperfections aren't likely to make it much faster across a mountain pass-filled stretch, just harder on driver and chassis alike to come out the other side completely unscathed. This is a setting for a racetrack...

Speaking of shake, the M3 Cabriolet does suffer from this trait but it really is no worse than competitive cars with their heads lopped and only occasionally and at very high speeds impacts on the impeccable dynamics that are a core component of the M3s appeal. Besides, as I said at the beginning of this driving impression, there always has been an M3 convertible compromise or not and buyers ought to expect some dynamic differences, period.

Although the extra weight does blunt 0-100km/h performance to the tune of a full half a second, that 309kW 8400rpm gem of a V8 ensures it's still by no means a tardy vehicle. And with the roof removed from the acoustic equation, the motor becomes an all-enveloping presence singing its sweet opera directly into your nerve endings like never before. It's completely addictive, and the DCT 'box means that accessing another epic aria is but a click away at any time.

Which, I must confess, I'm really not the biggest fan of. Subjectively, DCT is a huge improvement over the awful SMG setup. Slow-speed manoeuvres have largely been sorted out by introducing some welcome creep to the drivetrain, but then when you pull off hard there's a moment of uncertainty seemingly between partial engagement for creep and full engagement for a hard charge which is slightly disconcerting. The software also includes a clever trick for easier overtaking — just floor the throttle and flick the left paddle once and whether you need to go from seventh to third or just fifth to fourth the computers figure it out and execute the perfect change, rather than having to shift sequentially down through all the intermediate gears.

It's very technically able in fact, DCT, and features fast shift-times as well as super-smooth engagement of the subsequent gear, complete with a very satisfying throttle blip on the downshifts. The interruption of power during a shift is all but eliminated making for better efficiency overall and the feeling of riding an endless wave of power when you go full-bore through the gears.

But it's missing a key element, for me, of actually driving a car, leaving just the steering and power to revel in. Admittedly, both offer their own significant rewards in a car as superb as the M3, but it always feels as if a dimension of fast driving isn't there.

It's sheer ability is proven by the fact that it shaves 0.2s off the 0-100km/h time of a conventionally-driven M3 Cabrio, or even the Coupe or Saloon versions of the M3 for that matter. If, that is, you can get the launch control to work for you.

Still, it is very hard to poke holes into what is an utterly fabulous, deeply stirring, undeniably ballistic and all-round satisfying machine on the whole. The V8 M3 is, be in no doubt, a very special car, and allowing sun-lovers to share in this automotive pleasure-cruise with their very own, albeit subtly compromised, open-topped version really for the most part enhances the raw excitement. It remains dynamically superb, if just a notch below absolutely top-drawer it's still a performance and enjoyment level which few can hope to match.

And if you're really after the ultimate in tautly controlled precision dynamics, you'll buy a Coupe with this M-DCT box. And the ultimate driver's M3, well there's a Coupe with a stick-shift for you too! Every single base covered. What a car.

A few hundred very fast kays through rolling Cape countryside in an M3 Cabriolet will quite simply be an experience you'll not soon forget.

Pricing:
BMW M3 Convertible six-speed manual: R767 000
BMW M3 Convertible M DCT: R806 000
BMW M3 Convertible M Dynamic six-speed manual: R822 000
BMW M3 Convertible M Dynamic M DCT: R861 000