The best jap hatch for my budget

[Foul Bob]

I'm looking to replace my daily driver for something cheaper. I've recently bought a car for weekends and trips away which ticks the fun & fast box, I just want something reliable and capable of my 60 miles per day commute & all other journeys.

I'm only looking at spending around 3-3500 or less. Hopefully less. I want the new car to be petrol powered, fairly small (easy to park in tight spots), reasonably economical, reasonably refined and comfortable whilst being an o-k steer. Wouldn't mind an auto. Doesn't have to be anything special or fast, it's for the more boring journeys after all. I would also like to be able to chuck 1 or 2 bikes in the back with the front wheels off.

Thought about a Honda Jazz, the magic rear seats good for the bike, small with good visibility etc, reliable, don't look too bad in certain trim levels IMO. Anyone know what the ride quality and refinement is like?

Other thoughts include the FN2 shape Civic, magic seats again which are good, visibility not so good and possibly not quite as practical. Older civics seem very robust but a bit tinny and unrefined

Any other reliable ideas would be great, currently looking on eBay and AT at the Auris and the like to see what they offer. Once I get a shortlist together I will arrange some test drives to see for myself.

Cheers,

Bob

[Johnny 89]

If you want reasonably modern I would be looking at the Mazda 3

[Valgar]

The Mitsubishi Colt is a good shout, looked at one this weekend, don't get (any) automatic manuals. The rear seats can be removed completely, I found the cabin a simple but pleasing place to be.

[CX53]

We bought a 2002 Corolla 5 door for my Mrs as her first car. The boot is really rather big, loads of space inside, it's comfortable, nice enough to drive, doesn't look too ancient like some cars of a similar age and it's plenty quick enough with the 1.6, but they do a 1.4 and 1.8 too I think. The T-Sport would be in your budget. I would definitely recommend one, it cost us 950 quid and it's been perfect.

A lot of the cars you're looking at are quite noisy at speed and rattly inside, the Corolla isn't so I would imagine the auris would be good too.

If it doesn't have to be Japanese, a Ford Focus would do the job very well. The Mazda's are nice, but they rust.

Edited by CX53 on Sunday 29th May 15:28

[Farmer Geddon]

It's got to be the Jazz, they're fantastic little cars. Everything you could need. Apart from image, the civic is a lot nicer in that respect, and the 1.8 type S is good fun to drive too.

Failing that; the Nissan notes are roomy and would suit your requirements, but probably aren't quite as reliable as the Hondas and toyotas.

[Willy Nilly]

I like my Jazz, you won't get one like it for you budget, but will get one of the late MKI's. Fast they are not, but very practical.

[Chateauneufdupape]

I would take the civic over the Jazz, no contest. The civic will comfortably fit your bikes in, it looks better (subjective I know), and you can have a bigger engine without much sacrifice to economy.

I get that the jap cars are reliable, but so are fords. In this case, I would definitely be considering the Mk2 focus.

[KarlMac]

Hard to look past an Ep3 at that level, as long as you find a looked after one.

[ambuletz]

1.8 yaris sr. 131hp.
1.5 mazda 3 sport

[300bhp/ton]

How about a Celica? The extra length of the fast back hatch should give more length for things like bikes.

[ZX10R NIN]

190bhp Corolla T Sport
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2016...

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2016...

Celica
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2016...

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2016...

Mazda 3 Sport
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2016...

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2016...

MPS
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2016...

[Hasbeen]

Bought a Mazda 2 in 2006, because we found after much evaluation, it was the best thing on the market to load a wheelchair into, & it's multi folding seats worked better than the Jazz. It did 185,000 kilometres with nothing but servicing.

Recently bought an old 2002 Mazda 323 hatch, to carry my remote controlled planes to the club field, again because of it's seat folding ability. I am quite surprised at what a pleasant thing it is to drive.

[Foul Bob]

There's some interesting options brought to the table, ones I hadn't even thought of at all!

I guess I went instantly to the Jazz for reliability but all of the above mentioned would be great options.

Thanks for the links also, I love the look of those, the Corolla Might be nice, quick but not too sporty with harsh suspension etc but I'm just assuming. Celica a bit more hard core but looks great, perhaps a better choice for a mid twenties chap such as myself than the slower Jazz etc.

The Mazda 3 is the favourite out of that little list, looks fantastic, cheap, Bose sound would be nice! Do they really have rust issues or is this older models? The 2's look nice but perhaps a tad on the small side.

Cheers all

[ZX10R NIN]

The paint is thin on the Mazdas so if you get bird st on the car then clean it off straight away as it'll be through the Lacquer within a week, so my advice would be to do this most unmodern of things & Polish the car as the will help the paint.

[Foul Bob]

Thanks, I'll keep that in mind. I've had a few Japanese cars now and the paint has always been crap!

I'm really keen on the Mazda 3, it seems like a lot of car for the money. The 2.0 sport is my pick, they seem to come with xenons, Bose, auto lights and wipers etc, aux in which is always nice, I'd only have to stick a parrot Bluetooth thing in and it would be fully sorted for me. I like the celica and Corolla 190's but they lack standard kit in comparison, the celica might be a bit hardcore and harsh for my day to day journeys, and I've driven a Corolla albeit the 1.4.. It felt very lumpen, I know the VVT-li would come with different suspension etc, but I'm just not sure it's worth it for me with the rubbish spec too.

I've been reading about the rust issues with the Mazda's and it seems like it's mostly cosmetic like arches and stuff, so if I find one in good condition then chances are it should be okay.

Not ruling out other options and may test drive a few others, including my initial thought, the Jazz, just to see how it stacks up, but I have sort of come round to the idea of something a tad more involving/sporty.

[moorx]

I use a Celica as my daily (in conjunction with an MR2) and although my daily commute is not as much as yours, I do between 300 and 400 miles per week. My car was lowered by the previous owner and the suspension is reasonably 'firm' but I don't find it a problem - and I'm about twice your age!

[CX53]

moorx said:

I use a Celica as my daily (in conjunction with an MR2) and although my daily commute is not as much as yours, I do between 300 and 400 miles per week. My car was lowered by the previous owner and the suspension is reasonably 'firm' but I don't find it a problem - and I'm about twice your age!

How's the cabin noise in these at motorway speeds? Wouldn't mind changing my swift for something like that, similarly fun to drive but a bit quicker. I've heard they rev quite high and are a bit on the noisy side on the motorway - something I'm keen to avoid after my current daily being so noisy!

The Mazda 3 IIRC is quite long geared and suited to the motorway with the 6sp 'box OP if that's any concern! They do look nice but a little on the sluggish side for me...

Also, incase you hadn't thought about it, ill mention the Accord 2.4.

[nitrodave]

I was looking at similar cars at a similar price point. I originally wanted a little jap hatch for daily duties.

Ended up getting a 2006 saab 9-3 aero for £1500. A lot of car for the money and if you find a looked after one, it should last a good while. Pretty economical too. I averaged 36mpg to the last tank, mix of town and motorway and it has plenty of poke

[moorx]

CX53 said:

moorx said:

I use a Celica as my daily (in conjunction with an MR2) and although my daily commute is not as much as yours, I do between 300 and 400 miles per week. My car was lowered by the previous owner and the suspension is reasonably 'firm' but I don't find it a problem - and I'm about twice your age!

How's the cabin noise in these at motorway speeds? Wouldn't mind changing my swift for something like that, similarly fun to drive but a bit quicker. I've heard they rev quite high and are a bit on the noisy side on the motorway - something I'm keen to avoid after my current daily being so noisy!

The Mazda 3 IIRC is quite long geared and suited to the motorway with the 6sp 'box OP if that's any concern! They do look nice but a little on the sluggish side for me...

Also, incase you hadn't thought about it, ill mention the Accord 2.4.

I don't find it overly noisy, and most of my mileage is on motorways. I should point out, though, that my Celica is a 140 not a 190/T-sport. It has a 6 speed box and sits quite happily at just below 3k RPM at 70mph. Fuel consumption is pretty reasonable too (both the Celica and the MR2).

[CX53]

moorx said:

I don't find it overly noisy, and most of my mileage is on motorways. I should point out, though, that my Celica is a 140 not a 190/T-sport. It has a 6 speed box and sits quite happily at just below 3k RPM at 70mph. Fuel consumption is pretty reasonable too (both the Celica and the MR2).

That's good to know, thanks. 3k rpm would be fantastic, current car sits at 3800 at 70 which isn't great, but then pressing on above 70 it becomes unbearable!

Thought about the Corolla T Sport too, as my OH has a 1.6 Corolla and it's brilliantly reliable and practical, but the handling is rubbish, and I gather it's not that much better on the T Sport - probably better going for a Celica with either engine I imagine!