Five fun cars you can buy from just £2000

You can take your pick of Imprezas at this price, but this amenable and adaptable first-generation car is considerably better looking than the later models and reeks of World Rally Championship success.

That handsome body conceals a low centre of gravity, aided by a neatly balanced 208bhp turbocharged 2.0-litre flat four engine. There’s permanent four-wheel drive, too. Expect 0-60mph in 5.8sec and 137mph flat out. On top of that, the steering is quick, roadholding is strong and the handling lives up to its rallying image.

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Most will have been driven with some abandon, so shop carefully and watch out for bent or stolen cars.

3 – Fiat Panda 100HP (2006-2010)

You expect a Panda to be lightweight and frugal, but in sporty 100HP trim it’s unexpectedly good fun, too. All dolled up and hunkered down with 15in alloys and flash side skirts, it certainly looks the part, and with a 99bhp 1.4-litre twin-cam engine under the bonnet, we’re talking 0-62mph in 9.5sec and 112mph.

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But the figures don’t reveal how much of a hoot this diminutive hipster is. The engine loves to be revved and it makes a fruity noise when doing so. The hot Fiat Panda bucks like a bronco on pockmarked roads, but the steering is quick and you can chuck it into corners in a carefree way and recover it with ease.

For £2k, the 100HP is a desirable and quirky future classic.

4 – Honda Accord Type R (1999-2002)

It doesn’t look much different from a regular Accord, but the Type R’s fizzy rear wing and sharp 17in alloys hint at its potential for fun.

Under the bonnet is a magnificent and unburstable 209bhp 2.2-litre VTEC engine. It helps to push the car from 0-60mph in 6.9sec and on to more than 140mph. The handling is top drawer, with wrist-flick-quick steering being its forte. The interior is a subtly sporting delight, too, with hugging Recaros, a Momo steering wheel and white dials.

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Finding a good example can be tricky, though. Watch out for gearbox issues and check for cambelt changes. Unmodified Type R Accords are highly sought after.

5 – Mercedes-Benz CLK 430 (1999-2002)