Pocket rocket hot hatchbacks from less than £3000 - used car buying guide

Handling is good, thanks to a well-balanced chassis that produces little body roll and a rear axle that keeps things in shape when braking into bends.

The power steering is overly assisted at low speeds and doesn’t feel the best at higher speeds. Peugeots are rarely the most reliable, but should something go wrong, they are relatively cheap to fix.

The 207 GTi is now pretty cheap to buy, too, with a 2007-registered car with 48,000 miles on the clock being marketed for less than £3000.

3 - Fiat Abarth 500 1.4 T-Jet (2008-2015)

The Fiat Abarth 500 is so typical of 
the breed that it should feature in the Oxford Illustrated Dictionary under the term ‘pocket rocket’.

Abarth transformed the regular 500 from style-led city runabout into raucous little devil and gave it the looks to match. It isn’t perfect, though.

It’s no surprise that it’s cramped in the back, but the front seats want for support and the suspension is very firm. But with 133bhp from its 1.4-litre engine, a great handling set-up and nicely weighted steering, there’s plenty to enjoy.

Prices have held firm, so a five-year-old car with 49,000 miles will be just under £7000. It’ll come with 16in alloys, a tasty rear spoiler and big bumpers.

4 - Vauxhall Corsa VXR 1.6i Turbo (2007-2014)

If ever there was a bull in a china shop, the VXR is it. The Alpha male of the pocket rocket line-up comes with a striking bodykit, big alloys and rear spoiler and an inverted triangular central exhaust.

It’s quick, too, with 60mph arriving in just 6.8sec. The power delivery from the 1.6-litre turbo engine is progressive and smooth, however, and it has masses of grip and great variable-ratio steering. Ever the Jekyll and Hyde, it’s actually pretty civilised when pottering about.

The cabin is treated to Recaro seats, a sporty steering wheel and VXR badges.

Find a 2007 model with less than 60,000 miles on the clock and this 
little monster can be growling on your drive for less than £5000.

5 - Renault Clio RS 200 (2006-2012)