weslangdon

One of the last Lupo's made, 75 bhp, various faults but none insurmountable with maintenance, keep your gear box oil topped up, don't do traffic light grand prixes and keep an eye on your clutch pedal. If you get trouble with your electric windows, ditch them for wind up's. Engines good for 120,000 with regular services.

About 10 years, but by accident really as my son asked me to look for one for him, bought a 1 litre in red, then another in black, then a 1.4 16v, then a Sport, all ok but didn't impress that much until I tried a TDI, also bought a SDI, slow, pish poor compared to the TDI. Only car I haven't had is a GTI, my Arosa TDI is a keeper though, 175,000 miles, mapped, black roof, black headlining, sport seats, lowered but not ridiculous, 60 mpg, £30 tax, what's not to love, cheaper than shoe leather

Many of the Lupo GTI models sold in Nippon get re-exported to Britain as we are like you right hand drive and almost all are in very good condition. Your car sounds as if it has been used properly. Good to know you are looking after it.

Compare this to a Mini Cooper of the same age, and it seems a lot of money, actually on a par with JCW Cooper S. To me that's barking mad as the Supercharged BMW Mini with a z axle rear suspension is an infinitely better car. Lupo's and Arosa's were supposed to be cheap cars, to buy and run.

I can offer you a purple Mini Cooper 55 plate if that's of interest

On the 1.4 tdi diesel gearbox problems around the 3rd gear synchro's, quite common and you are looking at £500 for a rebuild, down to driving style really. The other models suffer from pedal box failures and again gearbox problems that start with the loss of 5th gear. That though is just them being crap gear boxes. The tdi and the GTI have hydraulic clutches so don't have pedal box failures. Mini gear boxes also problematic but were changed after 2004 to stronger units.

The Mini sold and continues to sell well, there are lots of sources for spares and a huge number being broken, so not expensive to fix, a clutch replacement is quite a big job though, gear box out, so a minimum of £500 and they don't last very long, just done that on mine. Seats wear and don't last or clean up like a VW one will, the interior is stylish but the quality is indifferent so they cant hide the mileage in the way most VAG vehicles can. If you are thinking of a Mini, study the form I mean the extras, there are so many you won't find two vehicles the same, leather is very desirable as is the sun roof and air con but they came at a price. The 1st gen Mini diesel is well regarded as it should be with a Toyota engine fitted, worth a look.

I have owned every version of Lupo bar the GTI, I also own a Mini Cooper r50 and have experience of a family members Mini Convertible. For costs and reliability the Lupo TDI wins every time, however driving, and style its not as good as the Cooper, the soft top is best avoided, heavy cramped in the rear and poor visibility. If your budget is tight get a Loop or an Arosa.

I'm in the process of renovating my daughters Mini Cooper whilst it has some nice features particularly the rear suspension set up, & looks cute, under the skin its cheaply made and you need all the extras [which this one hasn't got] & these can hugely increase the price.

If you ever get near Swansea, message me, as I have a spare set, you can have them, no charge

I can't see them salting the roads in Jersey so it might never need rustproofing

The Sport models come with rear discs, other than that the other models petrol and diesel are the same, I'd imagine rust is a big problem for you in the frozen North

Put an ebay search into your computer, then take your pick, if you are in South Wales I can give you a set of Arosa 14" alloys, gratis https://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=p2062857.m570.l2632&_nkw=vw+lupo+lowering+springs&_sacat=107059

Photo's aren't good enough to determine how good it is, mileage is low but the caveats for these delicate cars is always the bodywork and it needs a thorough inspection if you are considering paying Japanese import prices for one.

Not just 256mm front brakes but discs on the rear too, for the Sport model.

25% more power on marginal brakes is unwise, actually if you want to get the best out of your cars performance better brakes should be your very first move

A different design altogether

I have an entirely different spoiler om mine, I'll take some snaps later when the sun comes out

Only standard on GTI models, like hens teeth these days

Lots of work, I think you would need to match the ECU, and don't forget the Sport has bigger front brakes, rear discs, and a lower valance with fog lights, better seats too

I think its too low, and that is why he's had a new sump fitted, colour is very nice and I like the headlining, need a rear boot spoiler but that's nit-picking, overall I think its exceptional

No opinions on this?

It can't be upgraded to Sport Spec, only things you can do will be traditional tuning stuff like improved air flow and free flowing exhaust, not worth the bother, and even if you could you are left with deficient brakes. There is very little scope for tuning the petrol engines anywhere in the range, to tune the GTI, some owners opt for the 2 litre 5 valve turbo unit from a Golf.

Check your battery connections

Wishbones are readily available from motor factors, buy a front subframe from a breakers, or try ebay