THE Toyota GT86 harks back to the golden age of sports cars. Say hello to the most fun you can have for under £30,000.

The Northern Echo: Toyota GT86

On the road: ONE touch of the accelerator is all it took. Wha-hey-hey! It was like being in a 1970s cop show. By the second and third outing, I had got the hang of it handling that slide. Slow and gentle, unless, of course, I felt like putting a big smile on my face. It won't be to everyone's tastes admittedly, and some of its on road characteristics are perhaps more suited to the track than the town, but as a break from the old routine there's not much better. Built in conjunction with Subaru, who market their version as the BRZ, it's not all good. The gearbox, for example, is pure Impreza, stiffer than a week old corpse and a nought to 60mph time of seven seconds isn't going to threaten the big boys. The power, too, isn't exactly evenly spread throughout the band , but, despite all this, like a puppy that leaves you little messages in the morning, it's forgiven for just one wag of that little tail.

On the inside: SLIDE into the sports seats and it's clear what this car is all about. It's not flash or brash, the experience is all in the drive. As an example, there's no buttons for the audio system on the steering wheel. At first it seems a little odd and some might call it old fashioned, but after a while you've forgotten all about it. The infotainment system, a push button affair is a little fiddly, admittedly, but to be frank I didn't use it much, preferring to listen to the sound coming from the exhaust. The instrument panel is designed around the rev counter and all three dials are easy to read. In addition there is a digital read out and a gearshift indicator. Vision is surprisingly good.

The Northern Echo: TOYOTA GT86: All the thrills of a motorbike adventure...on four wheels

What do you get: THE GT86 has plenty of kit. The leather seats and metallic paint on our test car were extra, but there's enough other items that come gratis, such as dual zone air conditioning, smart entry and start, touch screen infotainment system, iPod connectivity, Bluetooth and cruise control.

How practical is it: THIS a 2+2 sports car, so don't expect masses of room. With two people on board you can push the seats back and get a decent amount of space, but as with most cars of this ilk, you still feel a little cocooned. The rear seats are only really of use for children, but even then I found my knees crammed under the steering wheel and driving position compromised. Getting in is easy enough, but getting out required me to place my hand on the scuff plate and roll out somewhat ungracefully. The boot is perfectly serviceable, offering as it does 243 litres of luggage space.

Running costs: THE GT86 is competitively priced and you shouldn't need to worry about reliability. Toyota claims you should get more than 36mpg on the combined cycle, but work the engine hard and that figure will inevitably suffer.

Verdict: THIS is a proper entry level sports car. It won't suit everyone and some of its traits are perhaps more suited to the racetrack, but get a handle on them and you'll have experiences that will live long in the memory for all the right reasons.

Alternatives: Audi TT, Nissan 370Z