A lightweight, Italian two door with a spartan interior and a manual gearbox. A car who's engine and chassis beg to be wrung out to the limit. Impossible?

Let me introduce you to our 2004 Fiat Punto. I’m going to explain how you can use and enjoy a car costing the same as filling up a Range Rover.

The Punto in question has covered just 45,000 miles from new, and, while scruffy, has held up reasonably well. My father runs a used car dealer in Cardiff, and was approached by the then-owners of the car in 2012 wanting (understandably) to part-exchange for an upgrade. Keen to let it go, a deal was struck at £100 and the Fiat has been with us ever since.