I bought a new VW Lupo 1.4s in 1999 to replace a hopeless Alfa Romeo 145. The VW was in a different class to the Alfa, being well made and reliable. The engine performed well for a little 1.4, it was eager and fairly fast. I fitted some alloys on the car and it looked good too. Inside it was to the usual VW quality, with nice features like damped grab handles and cup holders. The boot is fairly small, as it is a compact car. However the back seats can of course be folded down for more room. I did 10,000 miles in the car and had no problems with it except for the door lock on the driver's side which needed a new part. I only sold it because it was a bit small for my needs....I just wanted to get out of the Alfa Romeo and really should have bought a Polo instead. Obviously these are now only available second hand, but if you want a small car that's not a Fiesta/Corsa/Punto it's a great choice. Avoid the 1 litre though...it's gutless.

This Volkwagen Lupo 1.4 S is a great little city car for a single person that does a lot more than just getting you from a to b. Perfect for someone who does not often have more than one extra passenger. It looks great and holds its value well although it is a little pricey to buy. I have owned one from new for 2 years and has not yet caused me a single problem. Very reliable. Extras are pricey and you notice the difference when you have a couple extra people in with luggage. I have not driven a lesser powered lupo but I can tell that anything less than the 1.4 would be underpowered. The 1.4 is a good engine size for the lupo because it is small and light but holds the road very well. Even at high speeds it feels very secure. It gathers speed very well but not the fastest acceleration from standstill. Body feels very sturdy and doors are solid and heavy. They create that deep thud you like to hear when you close them. It feels much larger when sat in the driver's or front passenger's seat than it looks. Has a large amount of headroom (fact: has much more than the golf). I am 6ft1" tall and have plenty of space even after spiked hair. Seat goes back a lot but in the expense of the rear seat. Adjustable steering very handy.

My view is these Volkwagen Lupo 1.4 S city cars are not up to the usual standard of VW. The engine is obviously too soft and I was informed the bodywork was galvanised so how did the roof rust then eh? The suspension is not tough enough to cope with the ever increasing amount of speed humps the councils seem to be placing willy nilly. I will NEVER buy another VW after this, I am very VERY annoyed my car has so many problems when it is supposed to be a new generation of reliability and value for money.

Always look at the SEAT version before you go to the VW dealer..SEATs can be the same car for £1k to £1.5K less viz Arosa/Lupo,Polo/Ibiza & Golf/Leon. You really will pay a lot more for the VW badge when the residuals are identical for both marques. The difference is that SEATs are "off the peg" with few options whereas a VW will be built for you with the options you choose. IF YOU DON'T WANT THE OPTIONS - DON'T BUY VW ESPECIALLY IF YOU ONLY WANT A MANUAL GEARBOX. Our Arosa is 4 years old, has paint like an Audi, is fast and so easy to drive. Recommend the auto version every time.

The Volkswagen Lupo 1.4s car has many virtues and it will appeal to single people who want a cute-looking vehicle, but by the time you have added a couple of nice options (alarm + alloys or sunroof) this pushes the car well over ten grand - Mini One territory. You will have to have the rear seats down even for a quick visit to the supermarket.