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Peugeot 206 CC

Two events have conspired to spoil the pretty looks of our Peugeot 206 CC. First, it sustained some body damage (more of which later), but the second glitch was self-inflicted - we've tinkered with our 206 and added a ski rack.

It's all my fault. As the office's resident snow freak, I wanted a car that could lug two people's ski clobber to the slopes - whether that meant heading to the Continent or finding some real snow closer to home, courtesy of the Xscape indoor ski centre in Milton Keynes, Northamptonshire. Admittedly, a roadster doesn't seem the ideal ski wagon, but transforming it into one represents a fine challenge for the car's abilities - and the little Peugeot has risen to this admirably.

With the hood up, there's plenty of space in the surprisingly large luggage bay for boots, jackets, salopettes and other cold-weather gear, leaving the skis to clip neatly into the lockable rack. The carrier cost a reasonable £53 and fits easily on the distinctive raised rails. It's come in handy on several occasions, although it didn't take us long to spot the inevitable downsides.

Rear visibility is limited to little more than a letterbox view, and when you're carrying skis as intended, you can't see a thing. Secondly, the weight of the rack means the already noisy electric roof motors now have to struggle even harder to lift the bootlid. So the hood operation is even slower, and the additional strain can't be doing the mechanism much good. Most annoyingly, you have to remove the skis to open the boot, even though you can leave them in place to lower the roof.

Nevertheless, we're impressed that Peugeot has managed to develop this mechanism and keep the price down - the range starts at only £14,695. And, touch wood, we've experienced no system faults during the recent sunny spell.

However, it hasn't all been blue skies in our CC. Driving home in the dark a few weeks ago, a member of staff hit a dog that had suddenly ran out from a hedge. Fortunately, the canine recovered - but the 206 didn't fare so well.

There was damage to most of the body panels around the front nearside corner. The individual parts weren't particularly expensive - £53.61 for the front wing, £39.83 for the grille and £114.83 for the bumper - but the resulting bill nearly fell through the desk when it landed. It was a frightening £1,262.53, with more than half on labour costs. Pooles Body Repair Centre in Gosport, Hampshire, did the work, returning the car clean inside and out. Its staff were courteous and the Peugeot was ready when they said it would be.

So hopefully life with the 206 CC will now return to normal - although the car still divides opinion in the office. Everyone loves the concept and looks of the CC, but several aren't convinced by the execution, complaining about the rattling interior trim, dreadful driving position and hopeless rear seats. I sit on the other side of the fence and can forgive the acknowledged faults because of the CC's abilities in other areas.

The lusty engine is a gem and provides hot hatch pace (no surprise, as the unit's shared with the 206 GTi), while the driving experience is suitably invigorating, roof up or down. I've even found a proper use for the rear seats - one person can fit in diagonally, making this a genuine three-seater. The car's well equipped and, compared with many roadsters, a practical proposition. Oliver Marriage