WHEN you're buying any secondhand car, you can check on the MoT history - if it's over three years old - by going onto the DVLA website.

And this will also give you a very good guide to the mileage at the last MoT, to show that it hasn't been ‘clocked' - the mileage turned back to a lower number.

Also, look at the wear and tear on the car. Does it match up to the mileage showing?

For example, is the mileage quite low, but are the pedal rubbers and carpet or floor mats well worn? That indicates the mileage might have been tampered with and you should walk away.

None of this is true of any particular car. It's just to help you get the best buy for your money.

As with all the cars in the Peugeot line-up, there is a wide range of engines in the 207 range, so there's something for all tastes and needs.

And the same is true of the bodystyles, with a choice of three or five door hatch, two door steel roof coupe/convertible (CC) or five door SW estate.

On its side in all of these are rakish good looks and fair to excellent interior space, so the hatch and SW at least have plenty of appeal for the smaller family.

The CC does have a pair of tiny rear seats but, at best, there is only room for three adults with the passenger seat forward.

Having said that, it offers secure and fun open air motoring on a budget - but make sure the complicated electric roof mechanism works just as it should - they are very expensive to fix.

Petrol engines start with slow 73bhp and quicker 95bhp 1.4s and rise to the very quick 172bhp 1.6 turbo in the GTi. Diesels are 1.4 and 1.6 and power ranges from 67 to 110bhp.

The more powerful 1.4 petrol is the one to go for and is amazingly smooth and quiet but still gives enough urge for enjoyable performance, and has 40mpg economy.

All models apart from the top sporting offerings are comfortable even at fairly slow speeds.

And the handling and road-holding are good even in the most lowly models, making them not only fun through the corners but also very safe, with good feedback from the power steering.

The seats hold well in the corners and there is excellent seat and column adjustment giving a driving position that suits all sizes.

Equipment is very good even in the lowlier S models, with remote locking, column stereo controls, trip computer, front and side airbags, front electric windows, electric heated mirrors and split fold rear seats. SE level adds aircon, alloys and front foglights.

As with any other recent car, full service history is a must. It doesn't matter if it's been done by an independent garage or a main dealer, as long as it's been done.

Pay about £3,700 for an '11 11-reg 1.4 95bhp Active five-door, or £5,000 for a '12 12-reg Allure 1.6 HDi diesel.