It wasn’t the greatest weather week to be sampling a convertible. The forecast read something like this – hot, hotter and hottest. So cruising around with the air conditioner maxed out and a roof above my head was a necessity most days.

Still, it was hard to resist keeping the lid on the 2006 Volvo C70 forever. After all, this was a stylish, candy-red coupe with plenty of power, excellent handling and the one thing that sets it apart from the crowd — a hard top that conveniently folds into the trunk so smoothly it’s a virtual mechanical miracle.

Although not a tremendous fan of convertibles in general, this one is tough not to like and enjoy. The C70 can hang with any of the premium convertible coupes on the market. Its one cool vehicle when "riding around with the car top down and the radio on" (thank you Billy Joel), plus displays a certain flair when in normal mode.

It’s actually welcome back year for the C70, which was put on the shelf in 2005 when Volvo decided to go second generation and needed a break. The original C70 appeared in 1998, the beginning of Volvo’s effort to actually take a moment to put aside safety and think about style, something it definitely lacked throughout its fleet of cars.

Actually, that first batch of C70s was nothing special. The choice was either a normal coupe or the convertible model. While competent vehicles with some comfort, they were based on the S70 platform and did not evoke the same enthusiasm as other coupes on the market.

The year off was a blessing for the C70. It features a retractable hardtop (the previous C70 was a soft-top) that will mesmerize most people the first time they witness the three-piece retractable fold backward, going from coup to convertible in 30 seconds with a mere push of a button.

The latest C70 version has one design (the hardtop convertible) and is based off the V50 wagon and the S40 sedan, resting lower and measuring shorter than previous models.

Not all is right with the C70. It might be considered a bit pricy for some, coming in at $38,710. Trunk space is limited and will not open in convertible mode unless the top comes up. Premium gas is recommended and the mileage in my week with the C70 was closer to the lower end of the advertised 20-29 mpg.

While certainly offering more room that most convertibles, many of which have no second seating, don’t expect to be feeling the love if you happen to be backseat occupant in the C70. Unless the front seat people have extremely short legs, expect to feel fairly cramped in the back.

However, seat adjustment levers will leave front seat folks in comfort. There is ample head room and more than enough leg room as well. Because it’s a hardtop, the noise level is minimal in the C70. The one objection noise wise is when the air conditioner is on high.

Power is surprisingly ample in the front-wheel drive C70, which has a 2.5-liter, 5-cylinder, turbocharged engine with 218 horsepower and considerable torque. The six-speed manual transmission was peppy and shifting was accomplished with few concerns. A five-speed automatic is also available.

Fast Facts

Power: 2.5-liter, 5-cylinder, 218 horsepower.

Mileage Estimates: 20-29 mpg.                                            

Standard Features Include: anti-skid system; daytime running lights; automatic climate control; 8-way power front seats with memory system; center console; trunk pass-through; keyless entry; power windows, doors, mirrors.