INSURANCE COSTS

Make no mistake: the ST24 isn’t cheap to run. Fuel economy isn’t a strong point, and the insurance group is a rather silly 32 (that’s one higher than a Fiesta ST200).

Still, thanks to its age, low value, cheap parts prices and family-runabout status, insurance companies don’t tend to be unrealistic with premiums. There’s no reason why you shouldn’t get a good deal on internet comparison sites.

But if all your choices view the ST24 as a fire-breathing BTCC racer, or your car is highly modified, the solution is a specialist broker. Even if you’re a young driver or have no NCD, you’ll pick up a decent price by limiting your mileage.

Most importantly, if your ST24 is particularly nice, insist on an agreed-value: otherwise, in the event of a claim, most high-street insurers would pay out less than a tenner - then ask you for cash to take the wreckage away.