Can't blame him, as it's a feisty little beast and as fast as you could reasonably want in a car of this size. The engine seems to have a bit more character and revs more cleanly than other Lupo GTIs I have driven. I'm sure the fact that Y924 DWL had done over 5000 miles before arriving at Evo Towers helps in this respect. I was a little disappointed, however, to find that it didn't have the new six-speed 'box. Still, as they say, beggars can't be choosers.

First impressions focus on the brake and clutch actions, both of which feel too light, though it's easy to get dialled-in after a few miles. The steering is a bit light on feedback, too, but gains a little more feel once the car has made its initial turn-in. You just need to learn to relax a little with the Lupo's responses.

In other respects the Lupo has a big car feel. The use of quality materials throughout, and the fact that ours has optional heated leather seats, makes it a very smart, well-equipped little car. With the aluminium bonnet, doors and flared arches it really looks the part, too. I like to think of it as a mini RS4. All the extras ΂- CD, side airbags, metallic paint, and air conditioning ΂- don't come cheap, though, pushing the price to a mini-RS4 ΂£15,775!

Still, what the hell, this car has made me feel 17 again. I seem to be finding any excuse to use the car, which is surely a good sign. If I still lived with my mum I'm sure I'd be asking her if she needed any bread or milk every 10 minutes. It's not quite perfect, though. A fruitier sports exhaust, a better stereo and... Uh-oh ΂- I really am becoming 17 again!