Ford Ka, City socialite

The original Ford Ka's place in city car legend was cemented with the arrival of the current version; the new Ka isn't a bad car, but it's regarded by many (us included) as having none of the character that marked out its predecessor as special. Don't be fooled though, cars have moved on since the Ka's 1996 launch: step into an original now and it feels cramped and cheap.

But that doesn't stop it being great, because despite what BMW would have you believe, the Ford nailed the 'go-kart handling' thing well before the new MINI did. There's something raw and uniquely involving about the Ka, and its tiny footprint makes it an ideal city car for those who don't really need that much space. In terms of buying one, anything pre-2007 should be within the reach of a punter with four grand in their pocket and a bit of self-belief. There are absolutely loads of them about, so go for the newest, most well equipped, lowest mileage 1.3-litre petrol you can find, and haggle for the best price. Don't accept anything less than a minter, as someone in the trade might say.

Mark Nichol