JUST about everything has already been said about the world's best selling roadster which has dominated the sports car scene for the past two decades.

The iconic Mazda MX-5 is a true classic and it has seen off many rivals.

It continues to sell well on both the new and used car scene and is still the roadster benchmark.

It is totally reliable and offers fun and thrills in abundance at a fraction of the cost of many alternatives

It is a sheer pleasure to drive and that is why I selected it for a recent 1,000 plus road trip to Europe.

Surprisingly it is also reasonably practical and the boot in the coupe version I tested enabled three soft bags to be carried - plenty for two for a week.

Don't get me wrong - its not the answer if you want to bring back loads of wine - but for a smashing drive by the side of the Rhine through Holland and Germany it was superb.

The electrically folding metal roof  in the coupe version closes or opens in seconds at the touch of a button and  does not reduce boot space.

Open top driving is a delight in the sunshine and enables you to enjoy the scenery, sounds and smells.  It can also be a joy in our weather provided you wrap up well, as the MX-5 has a powerful heater and heated seats to make life comfortable.

The seats are firm and supportive, while the interior is well made and functional but getting a little bit dated.

Dials and instrumentation are clear and concise with all instrumentation handily placed.

Like many two-seaters, the driving seat is limited in its adjustment and  the steering wheel does not adjust at all.

Powered by a two-litre engine that kicks out  just over 160bhp, the MX-5 has decent pace, accelerating from 0-60mph in just 7.6 seconds. It enjoys being worked hard and has a top speed of 132mph.

The six-speed gearbox provides precision close ratio changes and is a delight to use. The handling is superb and is not matched by anything else for the same money.

At times he MX-5 feels like it is running on rails and its balance is superb.

Stability and traction control programmes provide an excellent safety net if the driver pushes things beyond the limit.

The ride is obviously on the firm side but  it is worth it for the driving experience.

The car is well equipped and features front fog lights, heated leather seats, climate control air-conditioning  and a powerful Bose audio system, with six-CD changer and seven speakers.

The Sport Tech also adds cruise control and Bluetooth connectivity.

Safety kit is comprehensive with ABS and driver and passenger airbags and front seatbelt pre-tensioners with load-limiters.

Standard kit also includes Thatcham Category 1 anti-theft alarm and engine immobiliser and remote central locking with deadlocks.