I had a colleague years ago when I was health visiting who drove to work in her husband’s huge Citroen. When she turned the engine on it appeared to rise up like a hovercraft.

It all seemed very posh, especially in the area of Vauxhall where we were working. It was quite incongruous in the health centre car park where all the other cars were small, old and rusting with the occasional burnt-out one taking up a precious parking space. I had the tyres of my Mini slashed in that car park – obviously someone hadn’t liked the advice I’d given them.

While there are still large Citroens around (the beautiful C5 estate springs to mind) with lovely new ones about to grace the showrooms over the coming months, it’s their smaller cars that I really love.

And there I found myself at a Citroen launch day with the sole intention of getting to know their cheeky C3 Picasso in more detail only to find myself smitten with the special edition C3 Pluriel Charleston.

It immediately took me back to another era and another girlfriend who had a 2CV and had upped sticks with partner and moved to Dorset. I had always found her quite alternative and thought this was the height of alternativeness.

She is now married (same man) with two teenage boys and a very steady job. It’s only when I talk to her that I’m reminded of just how different she is! She would love this ‘new style’ 2CV, because, although it’s been around for several years and is clearly a girls’ car, there don’t seem to be many of them on our roads (this is the first one I’ve knowingly seen) so it would be suitably different and stylish for her.

I was finally allowed to have a go after much begging with our video man. Funny that, when there are any decisions to be made it’s pointed out, in no uncertain terms, that as the editor it’s up to me, but when it comes to doing something I want, then I have to cajole and beg – bloody photographers, such prima donnas.

Needless to say, I wasn’t disappointed, apart from the fact that the weather suddenly changed and I drove with the fear of returning to base with a very soggy car.

So it’s great to see Citroen keeping some old traditions alive. Even though the original 2CV Charleston and this Pluriel version are poles apart in terms of safety, sophistication, performance, build quality and just about every other measure you’d care to mention, the style remains and perhaps that’s the real success?