tbh, if you have £1kish to spend, i'd be looking for a sei, as late/good condition as possible. that sort of budget will either get you a mk1 spi sporting with a service history or a fairly early mk2 mpi sei sporting with a part service history.
i definitley wouldnt bother with the mentioned civics and micras.
Civics although decent cars, really are hell of a dull and their insurance for what they are is horrendous!, i looked at one a few years a back, think it was something like group 8 or 9 for a 1.4!
micras, solid, dependable....bit like a washing machine on wheels tbh.
Puntos? hmmmm, tbh, id say no to them over a tidy cento tbh.
what i will say, is if you go for a cinq over a sei, make sure you get it from a good source. Cinqs in particular are all very old cars now, most have lived a very hard life by owners running them on a very tight budget. even a supposed good one can hide a few issues, so i'd be very cautious.
but yeah, post anything you are thinking of up, and we'll see whats what