However, he does not want another aged classic but something he can use for short trips, winter and summer, with the roof down, for 2,000 to 3,000 miles a year. It has to live outside, be reliable and cheap to run, perhaps a little stylish and, above all, fun. Tony's budget is about £3,000.

ony is 70, and it's reassuring to know that he isn't considering spending his driving retirement at the wheel of something dreary, because actually the "everyday" Focus is a pretty good driving machine. Indeed, Tony sent an intriguing postscript to his question, asking: "Perhaps I should consider subsuming the Focus and sports car into one practical vehicle?"

That opens up all sorts of exciting possibilities, especially if, as a result, the £3,000 budget might grow a bit and increase the options. Tony knows that, realistically, he is looking at Mazda MX-5s, MGFs and the like, especially within this price range.

One problem is that Tony is looking at a part-time car, and that can cause difficulties. "Use it or lose it," is the mantra of my local garage-owner - and he's right. The less use a car gets, the more unreliable it is; brakes rust and seize, electrics get damp and misbehave, and so on. There's a strong case for having only one car to tax, insure and maintain.

Tony said he was after a banger sports car, but I really don't think it needs to be that bad. Bangers can be reliable, exciting and fun to own and drive. Let's try to prove it.

A CAR FOR THE HEAD

First, the Toyota MR2, the old one that looks like a baby Ferrari. It wasn't that quick when imported to the UK, but there was a hand-built turbo version in Japan. This meant acceleration of 0 to 60mph in just 6.9 seconds. There's a harshness on some poor surfaces, where the ride can become a bit jiggly. It's rear-wheel drive, so Tony will have to be careful, but it's the earliest models that were most nervous.

Otherwise, what Tony will have is a very focused driving machine, with excellent near-flat cornering. Braking is swift and stable, too. It's a practical car, up to a point, with luggage space front and rear.

If Tony goes the T-bar route, the sky's the limit - and the Targa arrangement seems to make little difference to the car's rigidity. The MR2 Turbo, with removable roof panels, feels just as solid as the hardtop, except that it might leak a little sometimes. But it's a Toyota, so it won't break down. Prices for clean, unmodified examples start from £2,000.

A CAR FOR THE HEART

I think Tony might enjoy a kit car. They don't have a great reputation, but there are some very sound reasons for buying one. You get the looks, style and performance of the real thing, but at a much lower price and often with bodywork that doesn't rot and mechanicals that are more reliable.

You avoid the hassle of spannering it all together. Even better; you might actually pay less than the original cost of all the kit.

There's a massive, sometimes confusing choice of kit cars, and websites such as www.kit-cars.com can help. If Tony fancies an AC Cobra lookalike, there are loads, but perhaps a Lotus (Caterham) Seven clone might suit his style. Here's a sports-car layout that has been around for almost half a century. It could hardly be simpler - no doors, precious little else. And it never needs a big engine to deliver thrills, thanks to its low weight.

Tony is never going to get a Caterham Seven for £3,000, but he could get a well-finished kit, which he must get properly inspected to ensure it is safe. There are a lot of part-built ones around as people often lose interest in mid-build; maybe Tony could finish one off. Otherwise, the Robin Hood and Tiger kit-car brands are great value if the cars are properly put together.

CAR CHOICE

Please write to Car Choice, Features, Independent House, 191 Marsh Wall, London E14 9RS, or e-mail James Ruppert at carchoice@ independent.co.uk, giving your age, address and phone number, details of the type of vehicle in which you are interested and budget.