Ah - sorry - now I see the point! I'd thought the thread had come off the bobbin there....

When I had a little money to spare three years ago I was very tempted by the idea of a Vitesse 2-litre convertible - but I'm no mechanic and a seven-year-old Z3 was much more sensible, safer and just as much fun. I don't think it counts as a classic although I hope it may qualify for classic car insurance now that it's had its 10th birthday.

Hi Bobbin - as a physicist and biker you no doubt know that E = mc² means a Yorkshire person with two motorcycles.....

The Z3 is lovely: versus the MX-5 it's a matter of horses for courses. When I decided not to go for a true classic as a fun car, the MX-5 was the obvious choice, with its gloriously direct steering and tight handling; but my wife found a Z3 easier to get in and out of (we're in our early 60s) and the 2.2 straight-six engine in mine makes a wonderful noise. There's nothing quite like a straight-six. Handling isn't in the same league as the MX-5: the Z3 is more of a GT cruiser than a true sports car, and it has a decent boot too whiuch wil take two weekend-sized suitcases.

See if you can get a test drive of each of them: as I think you're a lot younger than I am you may well prefer the Mazda.

I shall be at the Goodwood Festival of Speed for my annual fix. Where else can mortal beings get within swooning distance of Jodie Kidd in a Maserati GT?