When I bought my first house the interest rate was 13%, inflation was a scary word and the very idea of owning a new car in the same league as Jacqueline Bisset. Unobtainable.
In showrooms a salesman would approach immediately. To throw you out. It was clear that a man of 20-something was going to be in no position of adequate solvency to afford a shiny new Chevette.

tartan, chevette, datsun, toyotablackpoolWhich was a relief because to be denied the opportunity to buy such a car was to be spared a life of tormented tartan upholstery and the equipment levels of a kettle.
A simple bank loan required an interview with Mr Brown Trouser, the under manager, who would insist on consulting your medical records and seeing proof of baptism before extending the clammy hand of credit.
And if you took that cheque and asked the car dealer for discount you would be redirected to the Co-op.
Bringing us to the inspiration for today's automotive vivisection experiment. Each day I drive past a Toyota dealership which posts more sandwich boards than a Blackpool cafe.
Buy a shiny new Auris or testicular Hi-Lux and you will enjoy £1,000 cash back, a holiday for two and your road tax paid. There is a fourth board which I thought offered the dealer principal's twin 21-year-old daughters but turns out to read: All day breakfast £3.20, next left.
Discounting is the way of the world and Citroen is expert.
Take the C2 VTS HDi ll0hp 16V DPFS. Is there another small diesel hot-hatch with as many letter in it's name for £14,000? No.
Remember that's the list price. Google Citroen deals and you can save £2,000 or more.
That, along with £35 road tax and the potential for over 60mpg makes the VTS an economical way to own a bit of style with sub-9.5 second acceleration. Add some of the options, like leather upholstery and parking sensors and the price rises steeply out of the sensible zone.
Reflecting its target audience, the VTS comes with all life's little essentials; alloy wheels, chrome tailpipe, colour coding, alloy pedals, stability aids and interior and electrical accessories like air conditioning and a CD player.
On the road the VTS is a tight, easy to drive and well set up hatch. Stiffened suspension, steering without the almost suicidal directness of some competitors but with gearing which makes cruising in fifth a cruel and unusual punishment.
Amusing handling comes at a price - intimacy with broken road surfaces.
In short a city car with plenty of potential fitting out and rewarding to drive minus punitive anti-fun taxes.
Citroen's marketing people like to think of this as a car for the young at heart. I have some news for them. Anyone who remembers a 13% interest rate is going to feel too old in many parts of the body for the VTS.

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