IT'S been a good many years ago, but when I think back I can still remember the adrenaline boost my old Peugeot 205 GTi used to give me.
I bought it new, a sporty 1.6-litre, black, with flame red carpets, huge wheels and a thrust like a rocket.
I struggled to fill it with petrol and pay my insurance premiums but I loved it.
Then my family came along and it had to go.
Now the legend has been said to be reborn. For the Peugeot 207 GTi, is the eagerly awaited successor to the 205, one of the most highly regarded hot hatches of the Eighties.
So, the burning question is whether the new model can emulate the hand-in-glove perfection of its grandfather.
For me it doesn't quite have the magic, but I have to say, it's certainly not bad.
The shape is too similar to other hatches to live with its iconic predecessor, but the cheap, functional plastics used in the cabin on the - in my opinion - disappointing 206 have been ditched in favour of upmarket, tactile materials.
And my GTi-spec model, priced at £14,745 for the three-door choice, had enticing glitzy 17-inch 'Hockenheim' alloys, sports seats, an aluminium gear knob and leather trim.
It looks good and is clearly built for power. Blessed with a wider and longer wheelbase than the 206, the new 7 is naturally more planted and solid on its feet.
The space is reasonably good, although a little cramped in the back.
Its doors are certainly very solid. They require quite a push to open them, and then suddenly spring out alarmingly.
That takes some getting used to - I narrowly missed several other parked vehicles until I became accustomed to their surprising springiness.
Under the bonnet, the car pinches the best bits from the Peugeot family: McPherson strut front suspension is from the 206 but groomed to return a keener steering response, while the compact torsion beam suspension from the bigger 307 is fitted to the rear.
This helps keep the car's shape tidy in corners and irons out intrusive body roll.
Peugeot has also unsurprisingly gone for electric power steering but rather than the dead feel of many systems, this one stays sharp and inspires true confidence.
It has a nice slot-action five-speed gearbox and the whole combination makes for an addictive attraction for keen drivers.
And the 1.6 diesel has to be the best power option, in my opinion. There's a 1.4-litre 70bhp HDi which eases across 0-62mph in an unimpressive 15.1secs, but two 1.6-litre HDi diesels are offered with either 90bhp or 110bhp.
The first does the sprint in 11.5 seconds while the other, which was my test car, achieves it in 11.1seconds. This version, incidentally, also has an 'overboost' action for an extra dollop of torque under full throttle.
Fond memories are always subject to the good old days syndrome which paints everything better than it actually was.
But I'll always be in love with my old 205. So, in my opinion, the 207 HDi will never better it, except in the economy stakes where official figures show it ekes out a truly impressive near 59mpg.
Given that fuel prices have rocketed so much in the past 20 years and that we are all more conscious of green issues, that is something well worth taking into consideration.
FAST FACTS
Peugeot 207 GTi HDi 110 3dr
Price: £14,745
Mechanical: 110bhp, 1,560cc, 4cyl diesel engine driving front wheels via 5spd manual gearbox
Max speed: 120mph
0-62mph: 11.1 secs
Combined mpg: 58.8
Insurance group: 7
C02 emissions: 126g/km
BiK rating: 18%
Warranty: 3yrs/ 60,000 miles, 12yrs paint, 12yrs anti-rust