SOME years ago, an acquaintance of mine won a small coupe-style car in a competition.
But, instead of being overjoyed at his good fortune, whenever I saw him, he would keep banging on about it being too tight for space in the back and its ungenerous boot.
However, when I suggested that he sold it and got something more compatible with his transport needs, he maintained it was good for his image and a return to an everyday motor would be a retrograde step.
In his bid to maintain that oldest swinger in town image, he was, of course, quite happy to lose out in the comfort zone, providing his street cred was maintained.
A recent road test experience reminded me of this reliance on the automotive image makers which singles out many car buyers at some stage in their motoring life.
The test car was the latest Hyundai Coupe, a cute little mover and direct descendant of the feisty fun car first introduced into the UK car market by the Korean carmaker in the summer of 1996.
This all-new version of the Hyundai Coupe burst onto the scene last year with a trio of petrol engine options - reworked versions of the 1.6 and two-litre 16-valvers from the previous model and a new kid on the block, the 2.7-litre V6 which powered the test car.
Already having shown off its propensity under the bonnets of the Hyundai Santa Fe Sports Utility Vehicle, the Trajet full-blown MPV and the Sonata, here was the opportunity for the 24-valve Delta engine to grab a piece of the sporting action.
Mated to what is a first for Hyundai, a six-pack manual gearbox with well sorted ratios, with the extra cost option of automatic transmission, this a very good engine which, while not searingly swift, will whisk you from 0-62mph in a little over eight seconds, en route to a top speed, where legally allowable, of 136mph.
A slight touch on the metral-trimmed accelerator pedal is all that's required to realise an extremely sharp response from the engine accompanied by an easy on the ear retort from the twin, chromed, exhaust pipes.
From a comfortable driving position couched in Recaro leather-clad seats designed to satisfy most people's requirements via eight-way adjustment, steering, too, is responsive and communicative in performig its handling duties.
Stringing together a series of B-road bends is very much a fun thing with crisp turn-in and assured chassis and body control helping to provide a satisfying and confidence inspiring performance.
However, ride quality does err on the firm side, springs and dampers having been firmed-up to promote controlled roadway behaviour from the sports coupe suspension set-up, but proving a little unforgiving if it's a truly comfortable ride you seek, particularly over pockmarked B-roads.
That low-rent feel of the interior on the old model has given way to more of a quality appearance and controls and instrument panels are well laid out but, while the new Coupe is longer and wider than its predecessor and the cabin is spacious enough front of house, the short will fare better than the long and the tall in the rear headroom department.
Surprisingly for such a stylish looker, the luggage bay is extremely practical. The boot provides good, useable baggage space plus an underfloor storage area, although the spare wheel is of the spacesaver persuasion.
The Hyundai Coupe is extremely well kitted out at all trim levels. Even the S entry model comes with manual air con, six-speaker stereo CD sound system, electric front windows and the rest, while the V6 also gets the benefit of climate control air con, electric tilt and slide sunroof, traction control and cruise control.
Overall, the Hyundai Coupe 2.7 V6 is a well equipped and satisfying driver's car which has got the looks to turn heads, should image-making be your thing.
FAST FACTS
Hyundai Coupe 2.7 V6
Price: £18,495
Mechanical: 165bhp, 2,656cc V6 petrol engine driving front wheels via 6spd manual gearbox
Max speed: 136mph
0-60mph: 8.2 secs
Combined mpg: 27.4
Insurance group: 14
CO2 emissions: 250g/km
BiK rating: 32%
Warranty: 5yrs/ unlimited; 6yrs anti-rust