Iconic cars – they were two a penny back in the 1980s. The Ford Sierra Cosworth, Golf GTI, Austin Allegro (I jest) and, of course, the Peugeot 205 GTI.

Our 208 GTi is considerably more powerful, more agile and more expensive than the original. Yet somehow, modern day safety requirements and our constant quest for ever more mpg means it doesn’t really set the pulse racing like the 205 once did.

That’s perhaps no bad thing – the 205 GTi was a lunatic at times. Anybody who can afford the 33E insurance rating would find the 208 an absolute pussycat by comparison.

It’s considerably more subtle, easier to use and, dare I say it, more practical too (yawn). Yes, even I’m averaging 30mpg with a heavy right foot at times.

Which makes the crazy paintjob even more bemusing. A car with  than a serious hot hatch.

For now I’m only driving it under the cover of night. There are other mad colour schemes too but I’ve just grateful it gets dark earlier these days…