1989 Mazda MX-5

The perfect roadster for those who want the traditional British sports car experience without the associated worries of rust and unreliability. With a twin-cam engine that’s more powerful than the Elan it apes, the MX-5 offers sufficient performance, though not enough to trouble the fine handling and grip. The MX-5 has proved totally dependable over high mileages and the only rust you are likely to find is where the sills join the rear wings. The lighter early 1.6s are favoured, but avoid the budget-spec post-1994 1.6 engines as they are down on power.

Information from Octane Magazine.