MAZDA MX-5 NA SERIES

The Mazda MX-5 blew minds when it was launched just in time for summer ’89. Light, nimble and pure, it was – and remains – one of the truly great drivers’ cars of all time. Mazda put plenty of heart and soul into its little roadster, giving the 1.6-litre twin-cammer’s exhaust a fruity note (later models had a 1.8-litre) and shaping the door mirrors to reduce wind buffeting in the cabin. No matter how crap your day is, by the time you get to the end of the street in one of these, things aren’t so bad. I paid $7500 for mine and it’ll stay with me forever.