Old petrols aren't cheap to tax, they have much higher emissions than diesels. Only lately with hybrids and various other developments have petrols started knocking on the doors of diesels for road tax.

1.4 TDI is the one to go for, It might be more to buy the car but it'll hold it's value so it's worth it in the long run. If you can't get one of those, maybe look at some other VAG cars that have a similar package, the same-age seat ibizas came with 1.9 TDI engines and they'll be cheaper than lupos. You might even be able to get a 'bubble' shape later ibiza for lupo tdi money. And there's lots of TDI engined ones of those.

http://www.parkers.co.uk/ is a good site to compare road tax, performance and economy figures. Doesn't usually cover cars as old as mk3s but covers the lupo and so on

Erm, whatnow?

Not aimed at you dude :-)

I'm just being a dick But the EGR valves on every Lupo I know personally cause constant running problems and no matter whether you clean them or replace them at £80 a pop, they fuck up within a matter of days.

I had a feeling that's what you were getting at I cleaned mine out when I got it & it's been fine since