But within the Mazda, the automobile’s six-speed handbook gearbox by some means occupies centre stage. The brilliance of it means that you can get much more from an engine that makes ‘only ’ 181bhp, and from a easy rear-drive chassis that needn’t supply an excessive amount of mechanical grip to the highway, or take it self too significantly, to actually take up and enthral.

Pick your gear and revs properly: to stability the chassis, enliven the pushed wheels and assist the automobile on its manner into, by way of and out of t he nook you’re looking at. Engage your mind and observe what’s coming. Think the automobile down the highway; don’t simply steer it.

An incredible handbook gearbox makes it price your whereas studying the highway forward like a snooker participant planning a century break. And a Mazda MX-5 makes it extra worthwhile than most.

Winner: Mazda MX-5 2.0 Exclusive-Line

Eight years younger and nonetheless a shining instance of find out how to make a sports activities automobile entertaining. Manual driveline is exceptionally good.

Price £29,765 Engine 4 cyls in line, 1998cc, petrol Power 181bhp at 7000rpm Torque 151lb ft at 4000rpm Gearbox 6-spd handbook, RWD Kerb weight 1051kg 0-62mph 6.5sec Top pace 136mph Economy 40.9mpg CO2, tax band 155g/km, 36%

Second place: BMW M2 Coupé

Superb engine and chassis are made extra rewarding by a gearbox of a traditional BMW really feel. Offset pedals a possible irritation, although.

Price £67,030 Engine 6 cyls in line, 2993cc, twin-turbocharged, petrol Power 453bhp at 6250rpm Torque 406lb ft at 2650-5870rpm Gearbox 6-spd handbook, RWD Kerb weight 1700kg 0-62mph 4.3sec Top pace 155mph Economy 29.1mpg CO2, tax band 220-228g/km, 37%

Third place: Honda Civic Type R Limited Edition

Slick, detailed shift really feel brings you nearer to a firecracker turbo engine, however the driving expertise it quantities to isn’t fairly within the Mazda or BMW’s league. third