Firstly: Clearly, the car must be economical, 50 mpg or better – so very likely a Diesel or could be an efficient gasoline (hybrids could be considered but please consider the next criterion).

Secondly: It should be available for £8k maximum, preferably less (I normally buy something between 5 & 10 years old. Perhaps surprisingly, following this formula, I don’t normally have any problem with reliability)

Thirdly: It should be refined – for a diesel!

Fourthly: It should still be a reasonably fun drive on A & B roads, for when the Honda is at home in the garage.

Presently, I have a BMW 320td Compact (e46). I am sure this or some other 3 series is what most would suggest but I find it’s a bit of a boat; though much improved by replacement of bushes & drop-links at the front and dampers at the back, turn-in is still vague & imprecise and though grip is good there is so little feel one is not inclined to push on. See comment of the 118d below. I am sure the car could be improved further with a chip-tune and a Bilstein kit but equally I might spend all that money and still not like it. A disappointing car. On the plus side, it is quite refined for a Diesel – until you try something better.

Mk 4 Golf 1.9TDI PD. My daily previous to the 320td. Rolled and understeered at first so I stuck an aftermarket anti-roll bar on the back and it was surprisingly pointy after that. Limited but adequate grip on 195s meant it could be quite good fun, especially in the wet. An easy 50+mpg, not the most refined diesel lump but it was such an honest car I could forgive it a lot.

Mk 5 Golf 2.0TDI GT 140 PD. My other half’s car. Really surprisingly good; compliant, well controlled suspension, balanced handling and good torque. Very effective cross-country on indifferent roads. I could consider one.

BMW 1-series 118d SE (122 bhp). My last company car. Refined for a diesel, a little bouncy on its run-flats, well balanced. When I chose the above 320td, I thought it might be a 1-series on the cheap but it appears not.

BMW 120 M-Sport (160 bhp). Usefully more powerful than the 118 but the M-Sport suspension was much too bouncy. Had to work to keep up with a well driven but unhurried Mk1 Focus.

Audi A3 1.9 TDI 105 & 2.0 TDI 140, both in Sport trim: Tested both before settling on the 118d, above. I don’t seem to get on with Audis, feel very wooden and I think VW gets the suspension set-up more suited to British roads. 1.9 had too little power for the grip of its big tyres so could not accelerate between corners. 2.0 was better in this respect but still wooden.

Lexus IS200: Not really suitable but I tried a friend’s. I always fancied them but I was still amazed how good this was - astonishing for a 2003 car. Made the 320td feel like a tractor. Sharp, precise steering, good turn-in, easy transition to mild oversteer, so refined and well-built, and every part of the driver interface felt well judged – much as I feel about the S2000. Usual complaint is they are not fast enough but I felt that was because the chassis could handle so much more. A very underrated car. Shame they are quite juicy.

Mercedes C-class 250 CDI. Our company development hack. I thought it was quite good – lumpy 2.2 diesel engine aside – until I tried the Lexus last week. I always felt like Toad of Toad Hall driving it.

Honda Civic CDTi – If only, like VW, Honda made almost as sporty diesels as gasoline models. Any experience out there?
Mk 6 Golf
e9x 3-series