Seventeen years ago you would have found me behind the wheel of a cheap and cheerful car - my 2CV. This Citroen was built as basically as possible - it didn't even have window winders - and it really stood out from the crowd.

Citroen are renowned for their innovative designs and the 2CV was the epitome of that.

Designed for farmers who needed to drive over fields carrying eggs and sheep, the 2CV had brilliant suspension, plenty of space and a few wacky details - including the seats which could be taken out completely leaving only the drivers seat, a gear lever which came out of the dashboard and seemed to work the wrong way round and its very own soft top.

So, now zoom forward to 2006 and I'm behind the wheel of the new pretender to the Citroen 'back to basics' crown - the C1.

This car has been designed to be as cheap as possible to the punters - everything has been stripped back and there are none of the luxurious added extras we associate with driving today - take the one windscreen wiper (instead of the usual two) and the lack of central locking as just two examples.

Once behind the wheel, the C1 is actually remarkably spacious for such a tiny car. Even in the back of the two-door model I was driving there was comfortable space for two teenagers along with their school bags and jackets.

The cheerful motor comes in three and five door models, petrol and diesel engines, and just because it's cheap doesn't mean it scrimps on style - what more would you expect from a manufacturer with a design pedigree like Citroen's.

Check out the fluid lines, wraparound bumpers, rounded corners and high-positioned lamps - you can be sure everyone else will be as you cruise the streets of Newport in this head-turner of a compact car.

And on top of this, the C1 is a great car to drive, especially around the city. If you are looking for something compact and fun, then check it out. It is available from £5,995.