Here's a riddle for our American friends: What pick up truck has a 1/2 ton payload capacity, is big enough to carry 4x8 sheet material, and is capable of 40MPG from it's petrol engine?
The answer is the Proton Arena/Jumbuck:
It's basically a Mitsubishi Lancer (think EVOI-III), built under license as a pick up. Standard with a 1.5 SOHC and 5 speed manual only. Rated for 33MPG city, but no doubt capable of much better.
In many ways it reminds me of the Swift/Metro, anyone who's familiar with those would be instantly at home. Good fun to drive with the typical go-kart handling you'd expect of a low (by modern standards) and light (1050kg) vehicle. It even has a 1 ton tow rating
Mine's the luxury GLSi which added things like wheel flares, cloth seats and power windows.
It's a 2010 with 30,000km on the clock, two owner, cost me all of $3k. That's seriously cheap motoring. Mitsubishi parts are dirt cheap too.
Best thing is it's firmly an 'ecomodder' vehicle, all those tried and tested tricks will work on it, it's not too expensive to mess with, nor is it complicated or already optimised from the factory.
I already have a stack of parts sitting in the workshop that for one reason or another, didn't make get fitted to other vehicles.