I owned my 2001 1.0E for six years and the longer I had it the more I liked it.

When I first got it I spent the first 6 months finding novel little touches that demonstrated the mindset of the designers: no flash gimmicks, just solid, innovative solutions that made the car function better. The overall build quality was predictably first-class and even aged nine there were no leaks and no squeaks. In fact the best demonstration I can give is that I only parted with the car after a pretty hefty side-on crash which in a lesser car I probably wouldn't have walked away from.

The handling of the car is an acquired taste. I didn't like it at first but once I got used to it I loved how smooth it could be driven. It rewards calm, responsible driving and on motorways it is without exception the most stable and least tiring car I've ever driven. The one major problem with the car is the lack of power, but drive it well and the fuel mileage you can get is astounding.

The car is simply a lovely place to be, the sound system is great, the feel of the controls is spot-on, and it's a very practical car with lots of boot space for its size.