Eco warrior: the term conjures up images of Extinction Rebellion activists protesting or maybe Swampy single-handedly obstructing a major infrastructure project. Our warriors are less troublesome, and most have either galvanised steel or aluminium bodies for a long life, while all but one or two are modern classics likely to be cherished for years to come.
Vauxhall Corsa, 2000-2006
£500-£3500: We’re used to 1.0-litre three-pot petrol engines today, but it was a surprise when Vauxhall sprang one in the Corsa in 2000. Would it be gutless? Oh, yes: how about 57bhp and 0-62mph in 16sec? Still, if you weren’t in a hurry, there was 50mpg to savour. (Peppier, less frugal engines are also available.) And it’s a Corsa, so it’s cheap to buy and to run. They’re reasonably rust-resistant but the engine is a little lumpy and there can be issues with its emissions controls.
One we found: 2003 Vauxhall Corsa 1.0, 122k miles, £499
Citroen AX, 1986-1998
£500-£2000: My dad bought a new AX 1.4 diesel in around 1991, charmed by its quirky French engineering and seduced by its real-world 70mpg. But even the petrol versions are frugal. Our spot is a 45bhp 1.0 petrol for £900. Weighing less than 700kg, it will return at least 50mpg. Look for rust, of course, as well as sundry dents and dings and broken trim. Expect to see a little oil smoke and some drips, but at least these can be fixed. What can’t is your feet: too big and they’ll get jammed in the tiny pedal box.
One we found: 1994 Citroen AX 1.0 manual 5dr, 89k miles, £900
Audi A2, 2000-2005
