THE IDEA | yorktogeneva

I was going to write about the 40th anniversary of the Golf GTI for my Automotive Journalism MA at Coventry University. But it soon became obvious that

without access to all seven generations of Golfs, this was would be an article thinner than a Ford Escort’s front wing.

The idea of buying a very cheap car and driving it with a friend to the upcoming Geneva Motor Show seemed more fun. I set an initial budget of £500, together with a number of sensible and objective criteria such as: a search radius within 10 miles of home, so disappointment would at least be closer to hand; an MoT until the end of March (i.e. after the show); usable tyres; and service history if possible.

There were many cars available on Gumtree and Autotrader for this money, and some of them met all the criteria. But they just set me thinking. Did I want to drive 1600 miles in a Rover 75 finished in Old Man Gold? No, I did not. How about a banana yellow Micra with florid orange seats? Again, no. This wasn’t supposed to be an exercise in masochism. Even presentable stuff like a Mondeo estate with full service history just didn’t want to make me spend my £500. So most of the sensible criteria were discarded. Instead, I promised myself at least 150 bhp, along with some comfort and style (of a sort, anyway).

The great thing about buying at this level is that a big luxurious barge costing £20000 plus new is now worth about the same as an econo-box hatchbox of a similar age. For me, it was a no-brainer, and to hell with the insurance and road tax. The obvious choice was German. But I must have felt a subconscious need for Swede because I drove four cars, and all of them were Volvos. As well as the solidity, safety and comfort on offer, I feel an old Volvo manages to cling to a shred of self-respect that evades its ageing Teutonic counterparts. The Search was on.