When is a sports car not a sports car? Arguably, when it's a Mazda RX-8. That was the theory at least, in choosing this 190bhp rotary-engined coupe for a family trip to Suffolk. It does most of the things that you want a sports car to do - yet combines it with four (rather unique) doors and a decent sized boot.

All this sounds great in theory when perusing through the press pack. I couldn't help feeling, however, that throwing a family with two young children and a wet week in Suffolk at this car would find it out.

Suffolk had seemed a good idea for the kind of short break that we had in mind. One of the most beautiful corners of England, it's rich in history, peaceful yet lively, and boasting some of the finest villages and market towns anywhere. It has over 70km of unspoilt coastline, much of it packed with teeming wildlife, plus an unsurpassed heritage of churches, mills, castles and manor houses. It is apparently the driest part of the country - though this seemed difficult to believe on a visit that coincided with one of the wettest Augusts on record.

Given that you're not going to experience much of the real Suffolk by checking in to the Hilton in Ipswich, we thought we'd try a farmhouse out in the wilds. Moat Farm in Thorndon, about half an hour up the A140 from the Suffolk capital, seemed to fit the bill (www.moatfarm.co.uk). For under £70 a night, we got a suite of rooms (so the two girls could be close but separate) and enough of a breakfast each morning to last the whole day (of a quality that would embarrass the Hilton). You can't reasonably ask too much more than that.

"Overall, as a coupe without compromise, the RX-8 is pretty much in a class of its own."

Given that Suffolk villages aren't exactly teeming with things to do, you do have to be prepared to drive a bit on a short break or holiday of this sort. On the first day we sheltered between the showers at Easton Farm Park (www.eastonfarmpark.co.uk) then took in the charming seaside town of Aldeburgh with its pretty High Street and sought-after fish and chips. Also an hour's drive from our base, but this time to the northeast, were the lights and sights of Great Yarmouth. Two small children plus the town's Pleasure Beach equals one exhausting but highly satisfying day.

By this time, the RX-8 was showing signs of family wear and tear. Sand in the seat crevices, sweet wrappers filling all the pockets, muddy footprints on the seat backs. All the usual signs of family use. Surprisingly, however, everyone still seemed to like it. The kids loved those clever, outwardly opening rear doors, and, despite the tiny rear windows, didn't seem to find the rear as claustrophobic as they would have done in a conventional coupe. I even liked the relatively restricted boot-space, as it was big enough for our basic items of luggage, but not enough so for my wife to go wild in the many shops of places like Snape Maltings (www.snapemaltings.co.uk). The Mazda's only downside was its prodigious thirst. The importers claim 24mpg on the highway, but we were lucky to average 18mpg.

As for performance, well, if anything this RX-8 feels a good deal livelier than its rest to 60mph showing of 7.2 seconds would suggest. The chassis offers the same sort of taut feel that made the last RX-7 such a favourite amongst those who appreciated a proper rear-wheel drive sports car. Certainly, the RX-8 still knows how to entertain in a way that's proved beyond the ken of cars like the Audi TT and the Mercedes C-class Sports Coupe.

It's not fuel consumption or performance however, that people tend to talk about on first acquaintance with this car: it's those doors. Four-door coupes are, after all, pretty thin on the ground, the term practically reading like a contradiction, but this one has been carefully thought out. The rear-hinged back doors create a pillarless profile and despite their truncated dimensions, allow easy entry and egress to and from the rear pair of seats. It's an idea that Rolls-Royce have adopted for their Phantom and it works very well.

Overall, as a coupe without compromise, the RX-8 is pretty much in a class of its own. Had our trip been a drier and rather longer one I might well have been tempted to say the same of Suffolk. As it is, I'll need to return to be sure. Something I'll be looking forward to.

To find out more:

http://www.suffolkcc.gov.uk/tourism

http://www.visit-suffolk.org.uk