Independent, The (London): SAVE & SPEND: Motoring: Passing the driving test; the star cars of

These days there are no truly terrible new cars (apart from the Land Rover Discovery, of course). But back in the 1970s, buying a new car was akin to a game of Russian roulette with the chambers filled with the likes of the Morris Marina, Triumph TR7 and Lancia Beta. These motoring obscenities either rusted or fell apart within moments, or worse in the case of the TR7, kept going long enough so you had to actually drive them.

Modern cars rarely rust, are comparatively reliable (compared, say, with modern computers or mobile phones) and generally hold up well in a crash. That means choosing one comes down to three key ingredients: value, practicality and style. One car in particular we tested this year had all three, the 100-year-old Ford Model T. Conversely, for all its technological prowess, and stratospheric price, the much-hyped Porsche Cayenne failed abysmally on all counts.

Here are the rest of our winners and losers from 2003, as reviewed by our ever-incisive Verdict panellists. Next year, among other mouth- watering newcomers, we have the Maserati Quattroporte, Aston DB9 and Chrysler Crossfire to look forward to, as well as crucial new mass market cars such as the Fiat Panda and VW Golf. Plus, no doubt, more bonkers BMWs.

Motoring: THE READERS' FAVOURITES

Aston Martin Vanquish pounds 164,000

THE MOST desirable car in the world is British. Of course, desirability is subjective, but the Aston's phenomenal thrust, extraordinary noise and muscular looks took it straight to the top of my list for 2003. Like many, Sebastian Sejer Larsen from Cambridge complained about the mishmash of materials inside, but called it one of the most beautiful sports cars since the 1960s. "The sound and feel when it hits 5,000rpm is unbelievable," he said. "The acceleration is breathtaking." Jane Littlewood from Wilmslow, Cheshire, above, said: "I thought it would be a real boys' car but I loved it."

Rolls Royce Phantom

pounds 250,965

AND IS the second most desirable car also British? Our star writers did not agree. "My worry is that this is a German's idea of what a British car should be," economics commentator Hamish McRae, said. "It ain't stealth wealth, that's for certain." Assistant editor John Walsh, above, likened it to a Viennese opera house, adding: "It is all absolutely delicious but rather hammy as well". Deborah Orr said: "It is a pounds 250,000 festival of conspicuous insecurity so silly and vulgar that you know only a very small person would want such a very big car."

Ford Model T pounds 15,000 (for a good example)

TO MARK Ford's 100th anniversary we went to Dagenham to try a Model T, one of five they built last year. After we mastered the "patting your head, rubbing your stomach" controls, we were charmed. "Life would be so much nicer if they'd stopped development of the car with this," said Daniel Morgan, above, of Bethnal Green, east London. "You get to appreciate there is no need to rush anywhere," said Jennifer Spearman, of Hornchurch, Essex.

Daihatsu Charade

from pounds 6,000

THERE IS no greater challenge for a car manufacturer than to build a good small car, and few even bother to try these days because profit margins are so tight. But Diahatsu came up trumps this year with their funky little Charade which was refined, spacious, brisk and well made. "It looks good; there's lots of room and it is well- equipped for a little car," said Helen Huntley, of Manchester, pictured above with her husband, Alistair, and son, Samuel.

Audi A8

from pounds 51,050

AT LAST, Audi has produced a car to challenge the Mercedes S- Class, and I think the A8's combination of discreet yet sexy styling, granite-hewn quality and sybaritic performance won the day. "It's excellent; excellent quality, excellent spec and worth the cash," said Anthony Burns, of Long Eaton, Derbyshire. Helen Lewis, of Stapleford, Nottinghamshire, above, said: "If I had one I'd want it all to myself. It really is very nice."

Motoring: AND THE ONES THAT TOOK A WRONG TURNING ...

Vauxhall Signum

from pounds 17,995

WE LIKED the 2.0 litre turbo fitted to our test Signum, but as for the rest of the car, well, we were rather nonplussed. What was a Signum actually for? Tony Harvey, from Nottingham, above, summed up our confusion: "It's like a Vectra from the front, but it's got only four seats. It's confusing, because it looks like an MPV but I've got two small kids and it wouldn't be big enough for me. There's massive unused space in the boot, but it's not going to be a builders' wagon, and it's not going to be an executive's car either."

Porsche Cayenne

from pounds 44,555

DAVID PITTARD, of Chichester, West Sussex, above right, and Roger Stubbs, from Burgess Hill, shared the view of many when they said Porsche should stick to building sports car (though Roger was more taken by it than the other testers). And though no one was arguing that the Cayenne was an impressive machine, with ample power and admirable body control for such a big beast, none felt the Porsche look transferred well to an SUV. Porsche are panicking about this car, with good reason.

Fiat Ulysse

from pounds 17,340

BEARING IN mind that the Ulysse we tested had been specially prepared for press fleet use/abuse, it was doubly disappointing that it suffered from several glaring faults including a tyre-pressure sensor warning, wobbly trim and a feeble stereo. Nevertheless, Ian Brough from Reading, Berkshire, right, thought it "very smart, very nice and much more stylish than the old one". Although it is very cheap, would you risk your own money on one?

Land Rover Discovery

from pounds 21,995

THIS IS one workhorse that should have been sent to the Kitty Kat factory years ago. David Amos, of Battle, East Sussex, used to work for Land Rover, but pulled no punches. "The body fit is awful; just look at those panel gaps. And the ergonomics are still awful. The Japanese would never produce something like this. Old, and don't you know it."

Volkswagen Phaeton

from pounds 42,905

AS I said, there are few actually bad cars around these days, and, seen in isolation, the Phaeton is a fairly stupendous car. The problem is, that for a car with a VW badge to compete with the likes of the

Audi A8 and Mercedes S-Class it needed to be significantly better and cheaper, and the Phaeton was not either. If you bought one when they came out, you could already have probably bought a Mini with the epreciation by now. "It looks like a big Passat," said Alastair Scott, of Oldham, Lancashire, above. The Phaeton in a nutshell.

vTHE VERDICT: If you would like to take part, please write to The Verdict, Features Department, Independent House, 191 Marsh Wall, London E14 9RS, giving your age, address and contact telephone number, and details of the type of vehicle, if any, you drive.

For most cars, participants must be over 26 and have a clean licence