You don't need a sports car with a lot of power to enjoy a spirited drive. My current roadster only has a four-cylinder, 2.0-litre motor, but it packs enough punch to allow me to push it to the limit without going over the top.

A spirited drive doesn't need to be illegal or irresponsible. I pick and choose the roads for these drives very carefully. It is the winding back roads with no traffic where I can give it a squirt. When the traffic is heavy, I ease off and wait for an opportunity to pass safely, with no tailgating.

The Mazda MX-5 is the perfect roadster for spirited driving. It is lightweight, and well-balanced, with great handling characteristics. When you lean it into corners, it has no trouble in hanging on. If the tail comes around a little too much, ease off the accelerator, and it will straighten up again. Along with its great-looking design, it is no wonder that the Mazda MX-5 is the world's best selling two-seater sports car ever.

Of course, you should never drive on the roads at 100% of the limits, that's what the race track is for. You need to treat other road users with respect and leave yourself some margin to adjust, just in case they do something unpredictable.