That's the verdict from Stuart Milne, who liked Toyota's mid-engined Ferrari so much, he's gone and bought one.

Mass produced cars often get overlooked by us autophiles, and we can't always recognise them as being design icons.

Somehow, we've got it into our heads they must be expensive and rare to qualify.

Well in the MR2 - the curvy mk2, that is - you've got all the ingredients for a modern classic: jaw-dropping looks, a mid-mounted 2-litre engine, and a cracking chassis for a knock-down price.

But best of all, they have Toyota's impeccable reputation for being almost indestructible (if they're not, you'll read all about my experiences on these hallowed pages).

Staring out of the office window at my baby supercar, I've just noticed how many admiring glances it gets from passers by.

This is all the more incredible when you remember that the design was originally penned back in 1990.

The front elevation is dominated by a huge gaping mouth and those popup headlights (I've wanted these winking eyes ever since seeing Knight Rider as a kid). Moving to the side, the roofline echoes the curves forming the cooling vents to the mid-mounted engine.

A curvy rump finishes the job; and as mine is the sought-after Revision 3 model, with redesigned rear lights; it's about as good a butt as you'll see.

Inside, things are cosy, but not overly so - in some sportscars you need to be good friends with your passenger. If you're not, you will be by the time you reach your destination.

The interior is your typical 90s Jap car fare: lots of black plastic, with dull but functional dials. Everything works like it should though…more than could be said for my last car; a fairly rare euro hot hatch (which I won't name, although I had given it a few unprintable names in the past).

The dynamics more than match the looks too. Its 2-litre engine, mounted just behind the driver and passenger (it's a two-seater, remember) has plenty of poke on tap, and a nice short gear shift adds to the feeling you're on a flying lap at Silverstone.

The MR2 will despatch the obligatory 60mph dash in 7.7 seconds and carry on until you're nudging 140mph - double the speed limit - which is quicker than you'll ever need to go on the road.

For a mid-engined, two seater there's quite a bit of space. The boot has enough room for a couple of soft bags, and you'll be able to fit my other half's vast selection of shoes under the bonnet. More than enough for a weekend away.

There's even a T-bar version, which has all the benefits of a convertible (wind in your hair), with none of the drawbacks (security, noise).

Best of all, the second-generation MR2 (albeit with an 118bhp engine) can be had for less than £1,000. If you can find a better looking car for that; I'll eat my shoes.