She says, he says: Audi S3 Cabriolet

The car: Audi S3 Cabriolet

The price: From $69,300 plus on-road and dealer costs

The vital statistics: 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo petrol; 210kW/380Nm; 6-speed dual-clutch auto; 7.1L/100km; AWD

He: It looks good and goes fast - is this the ultimate convertible under $100,000? Or is it too fast and too expensive when you can get all the style for less money in the A3 Cabriolet range?

She: Not all the style, Steve - but I'll get to that later. Yes, like a knob of butter on a stack of pancakes, it might not be strictly necessary to have a dual clutch, six-speed automatic gearbox or a turbo-induced high-performance engine at your beck and call, but sitting in a neat little cabriolet (which feels anything but little), experiencing the pointier, more intoxicating end of seriously sharp automotive engineering is an experience worth the outlay. And, yes, the butter is always a good idea.

He: Don't get me wrong, I love butter and I'm not saying I don't like the S3 Cab. The engine is a gem - plenty of torque across the rev range - and the six-speed 'box does a great job of extracting the best from it. And unlike you, I don't think it feels big, particularly given it is capable of accommodating four adults in (relative) comfort. But ultimately, chopping the roof off compromises just how capable and composed the car feels in the bends. It's very good, but simply not as good as its hard-topped (and cheaper) siblings - the S3 Sportback and S3 sedan.

She: We can't have it all (yet), and this is clearly a car for those who want to enjoy a top-down, sunny-day, open-air drive - and yes, it does feel good - without having to forego a truly gutsy ride. Until we reach a point where a soft top doesn't mean a (miniscule) compromise in performance, this is an impressive example of a cabriolet with a direct, sporty, stable set up, roof or no roof. It's a convertible with gravitas. I could go on... but let's talk aesthetics, Steve.

He: I love the looks. It is a slick, well-proportioned drop-top. Top up or top down it looks a pretty machine. And that's why I'm not sold on the S3, because the regular (cheaper) A3 Cabs looks just as good. For the money the $47,300 A3 1.4 TFSI looks almost as stylish as the S3. Wouldn't you rather get to your destination a little slower, but a lot richer, Daisy?

She: Well, an A3 1.4 doesn't bark when you floor it. And what about the muscly alloys and the lowered suspension? The A3s don't have those. Or the chiselled bodywork and leather sports seats. Yes, it costs a lot for this kind of engine and beefy looks, but this is a prestige German car, and they don't come for nothing. And this is way less dear - if money is what this comes down to - than the BMW M235i, which clocks in at $85,800.

He: You make a valid point. Ultimately you're right, the S3 Cabriolet doesn't do anything wrong. It is a stylish, fun-to-drive and seriously quick convertible. But at the end of the day I just wouldn't buy it. I'd save my money and put some options on an A3 1.8 or buy a hard-top S3. What about you, Daisy?

She: I admit, I wouldn't buy it, but that is merely a personal style choice (my mum, however, probably would, if you get my drift). It looks the part, its message is sophistication without too much flashiness and, as far as cabriolets go, this one is no pushover, refusing to surrender big ambitions for a breezy drive. It's effortless and balanced and well-considered - if motoring with the top down is your thing.