The ever-popular MX-5 gets a fresh look for 2009, detail upgrades, an auto option and slight improvements to both emissions and fuel efficiency, the MX-5 is apparently a lot of fun to drive, rear-wheel drive balance, improved 2.0-litre engine, quick and easy manual hood, fuss-free Roadster-Coupé option. 

The price range for the new Madza MX-5 is between £16,350 – £20-695, and is available from April 2009, its key rivals are Peugeot 207 CC, Audi TT Convertible, Lotus Elise and the Honda S2000. 

Why wouldn’t you want to own a MX-5? If your answer is you need more than two seats then fair enough. But if you’re about to mouth the words ‘because it’s a hairdresser’s car’ you’re wrong. End of. Because the Mazda roadster here in new facelifted form is about as joyful a car as you could wish to drive.

The Mercedes-Benz SLK-Class 55 AMG is a comfort executive car constructed by the German company Mercedes-Benz since 1997 and there has been two productions of SLK cars by the German car production giant since first introduced. 

The Mercedes-Benz SLK55 AMG built with V8 engine and the productivity is 342BHP – 367BHP at 5500 rpm with 382 ft.lbf – 391 ft.lbf of torque at 2800-5400 rpm.

The 0-62 mph figure of the AMG is estimated at 4.9 seconds but others have claimed times of less than 4.3 seconds. Which is a fantastic figure for mercedes to use to promote the car, along with this the AMG has many other features including amplified brake capability, supplementary engine oil chiller, AMG body gear with unique gills in frontage bumpers, leather finished interior and 19-inch wheels. 

A Roof regulator which permits the cars roof to be released and closed by remote. (Can be operated under 5mph) and while driving without holding down the button. 

LED light system which includes plate lights, signal indicators, etc. The Brake lights are previously LEDs, but now Indicators on the Rearview mirror are LEDs and third brake light enlighten the axis LED light in pause or rhythm.

Nissan have made a properly sorted and internationally appealing sportscar called the Nissan 350Z. It’s far from perfect, but the rawness and emotion it dishes up is almost unique in this price range.

The 350Z has a 3.5-litre V6 engine which provides 309bhp, making it good for a limited 155mph and capable of hitting 60mph in under six seconds and it feels and sounds amazing as you get yourself up to the 155mph mark. 

The 350Z is not a car to be trifled with, being compact, powerful and rear-wheel drive. It transmits its intentions slowly and clearly, but a regular one of those is power over-steer. 

The practicality of the 350Z doesn’t stretch too far though, there are a fair few clever storage solutions around the cosy cockpit, but the boot is massively hampered by a huge rear strut brace. A real afterthought by Nissan, that one, but at least it handles as a result…

Another all-round fun car for real driving enthusiasts, especially with all this icy weather and rear wheel drive, can be a be dangerous but if you know how to handle the car correctly then the fun you will have will be endless!

The Honda S2000 and the Lotus Elise – two roadsters, both originally produced in the 1990s, both using high-revving four-cylinder engines and both symbolising long-held traditions of their builders.

Even so, the similarities of the two roadsters end there, one using a classic front-engined layout, the other combining cutting-edge construction and a mid-engined configuration. Of course, Honda and Lotus have formidable motorsport experience, and both channel this into their road cars and use it as a basis for their trademark engineering approaches.

Honda’s high-revving, naturally aspirated engines are justly famed. And Lotus is equally hailed for its lightweight, minimalist approach and application of innovative chassis technology.

The Honda S2000′s handsome, classical roadster proportions were matched with a simply incredible 2.0-litre engine capable of revving to 9,000rpm. A true drivers car, the S2000 gained a reputation for somewhat snappy handling that Honda has addressed with a number of tweaks and upgrades, most recently at the beginning of 2007 models – including Honda introducing traction control, which was a must for this lairy ‘rear end happy’ car!

But can an updated version of a nine-year-old car really take on Lotus’s latest and greatest?  The British corner being fought by the supercharged Elise SC. Weighing just over 900kg and powered by a supercharged 1.8-litre Toyota engine revving to over 8,000rpm, this latest Elise is a formidable package.

I think if these two roadsters were put together on a track, i think we can safely say it would be very entertaining and we would be standing back and watching the sparks fly…!

Lotus Elise Statistics 

Engine – 1.8 litre supercharged

Power (BHP) – 218 @ 8,000

Torque (lb/ft) – 156 @ 5,000

0 – 62 MPH (secs) – 4.6

Top Speed (MPH) – 148

Combined MPG – 33.2

List Price – £33,500 

Honda S2000′s Statistics

Engine – 2.0 Litre four-cylinder

Power (BHP) – 240 @ 8,300

Torque (lb/ft) – 153 @ 7,500

0 – 62 MPH (secs) – 6.2

Top Speed (MPH) – 150

Combined MPG – 28.2

List Price – £29,500