USED BUYER'S GUIDE Volkswagen Lupo

The VW Lupo was the company's first attempt at a city car, and it was a cracker. Take time to find a good one and it'll both entertain and serve you well

- Richard Dredge

UNTIL the arrival of the Lupo in 1999, Volkswagen had never offered a city car. The original Beetle arguably sat in the bigger supermini segment, although in period it would have been seen as a small family car. Either way, when the Lupo arrived it, broke new ground for Volkswagen.

With its high-quality cabin, excellent road manners and smart design, the Lupo was definitely a premium option when new, and for years used values reflected its position in the marketplace.

But now the Lupo is a modern classic and while these smart-looking tiddlers are less readily available than they used to be, they're worth seeking out because they offer so much in return for so little. The Lupo is proof indeed that sometimes the best things do come in small packages.

HISTORY

THE Lupo was launched in February 1999 with a choice of 50bhp 1.0 or 1.4-litre petrol engines plus a 60bhp 1.7 SDi naturally aspirated diesel. The 1.4-litre engine put out 75bhp in the Lupo E and S, but 100bhp in the Sport, which was added to the range just three months later.

From July 2000 there was a 75bhp 1.4 TDi turbodiesel option. By the end of 2000 the Lupo that everyone now wants was on sale: the 125bhp 1.6-litre Lupo GTi, which initially came with a five-speed manual gearbox; from May 2001 a six-speeder was standard fare.

From May 2003 all Lupo engines were Euro 4 compliant and from April 2004 all models came with anti-lock brakes.

WHICH SHOULD I BUY?

THE obvious answer is the GTi, because these are the most fun and the most collectible; just six per cent of Lupos sold were GTi editions; the 1.0E was the biggest seller. But you pay a big premium for a GTi, and if you want cheap transport you're better off going for a 1.4-litre car; the SDi is a bit gutless but the TDi is much perkier. All diesels are frugal though.