Car appreciation... the aesthetics, the engineering, etc

I know little and care less about cars but may have need to buy one soon. Want a small city runaround, reliable, cheap insurance. Must fit in the world's smallest garage. Under a grand second hand. "If I were you" advice gratefully received. Thanks.

I'd consider a Fiesta Zetec.
Decent handling like most Fords, cheap to repair insure etc...

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201303105703913/sort/default/usedcars/price-from/500/maximum-mileage/up_to_60000_miles/price-to/1000/model/fiesta/make/ford/onesearchad/used/onesearchad/nearlynew/onesearchad/new/radius/1500/page/2/postcode/n87ra?logcode=p