The very first car I owned was a "mint metallic" VW polo GT coupe. It had wheezy little 1.3 litre 75bhp engine and although it was no slouch, this car wasn't in danger of getting my license in trouble!.

A metallic purple Polo G40 caught my eye six months later and I couldn't resist it. This car has a supercharged 1.3GT engine. The supercharger increased power output 50% to 115bhp, and in a car that weighs barely 1500 lbs, performance was outstanding.

It's a primitive solution to making a car fast, small light car, stiff springs and blown engine, but it was such a fun car to drive! And being so discreet, (my G40 wasn't badged in any way) the Genesis G40 is the perfect embarrassment to bigger cars.

What made it even more fun was having this car in University. So many unsuspecting students got in my G40, and clung to the door as I buried the gas pedal, barely managing to ask what the hell lay under the bonnet. "a 1.3 litre" was all I used to say.