A friend has £12,000 to spend on a used car. Performance and handling are very important. Badge, status, and frivolities such as heated seats, sat-nav, electric mirrors etc are totally unimportant.

Both of us used to be fans of the original Impreza Turbo - until it became associated with the 'youths' who fit the obligatory dump-valve, big-bore exhaust, and spend their evenings showing off down the local McDonalds car park.

Are there any subtle, discreet, performance hatchbacks or saloons out there that haven't gained an undesirable reputation?

Something that will deliver the goods in terms of driving experience but which won't have the local idiots drooling over it at the petrol station?