Why no small luxury cars?

[runboy]

We currently have 2 cars – a Kia Picanto and Lexus LS430 – one extreme to the other. In the interests of savings we have decided to merge both and have one slightly bigger/smaller car, depending on if you talk to the wife or me!

But can I find a small car with luxury interiors? Well so far I have considered:

Citroen DS3 1.6THP Dsport Manual
Ford Fiesta 1.6 Titanium Manual
Seat Ibiza SC FR 1.4TSI DSG
Skoda Fabia Elegence 1.2TSI DSG
VW Polo SEL 1.2TSI Manual or 1.4 DSG

But there is always some combination that doesn't work. I want something a bit nice, a bit of tech inside, an armrest, a bit of power, ideally automatic etc so the:

Citroen isn't automatic
Ford isn't automatic
Seat interior is fairly basic looking and not nice to the touch
Skoda looks very good value on paper but not seen it in the flesh
VW isn't automatic in the 1.2TSI which by all accounts is a good engine and I suspect the 1.4 isn't as good, plus the costs is about £3k over the Skoda for similar equipment.

I know the like of BMW 1 series can be specced up to the hilt (and the costs to go with it), but why isn't there a good quality small car with a good range of engines?

I must be fussy devil!

[mat13]

Alfa Romeo 147?
Toyota iQ?
3 series compact?

[soad]

What's that Aston Martin + Toyota Aygo/iQ thing called then?

Probably low in bhp, is it an auto either? Steeply priced too...

Edit - Cygnet, that's it.

Edited by soad on Wednesday 12th May 15:51

[Risotto]

New or used?

Stories of £30k or £40k MINIs aren't uncommon but I've no idea whether the interior options could be called luxurious. You'd hope so at that kind of price.

Maybe you could give Aston Martin a call and ask if they'll sell you a Cygnet without having to buy a proper Aston first.

Edited by Risotto on Wednesday 12th May 15:53

[Chris_w666]

Mini Cooper D or Cooper S.

Audi A1, no idea if it is any good but might be nice inside.

Seat Ibiza FR with the 2.0TDI engine and DSG.

Once you consider a 1 series you would then open up the A3, Golf, etc etc.

[Garlick]

I remember when the Fiesta Ghia was seen as offering luxury in a small car.

Funny how things change.

[jack_st]

what about a mini cooper s or a clubman?

[anonymous-user]

Mini, Mito, Fiat 500, Merc A Class, Audi A1! all can be had with lots of toys and leather!

[jonnydm]

Alfa mito. Audi a1. New Lexus hatchback although that will be a class bigger.

[hyperblue]

How have you missed the Mini? That's the market it's supposedly aimed at.

[The Wookie]

I'd guess a combination of luxury being associated with space and therefore bigger cars, and the expectation of getting more for spending more.

I personally don't think I could bring myself to spend 60 or 70 grand on a Focus sized car when I could have a nice big Range Rover or S-Class, even if it were just as comfortable and well appointed. The only 'reason' to have a small car is running costs and parking space, and generally speaking people in the market for an expensive car don't have to worry about either.

ETA - Have I missed the point of this thread?

Edited by The Wookie on Wednesday 12th May 15:57

[Chris_w666]

Garlick said:

I remember when the Fiesta Ghia was seen as offering luxury in a small car.

Funny how things change.

I went from a Mini Mayfair complete with 1 speaker AM/LW radio, no heater and beige/brown velour seats to a 1984 Fiesta 1.1 Ghia, with a factory sunroof, 4 speaker stereo and proper seats, and the amazing gearbox with 5 forward gears. It felt like stepping from an Octavia taxi into a Bentley at the time.

[Risotto]

The Wookie said:

I'd guess a combination of luxury being associated with space and therefore bigger cars, and the expectation of getting more for spending more.

I personally don't think I could bring myself to spend 60 or 70 grand on a Focus sized car when I could have a nice big Range Rover or S-Class, even if it were just as comfortable and well appointed. The only 'reason' to have a small car is running costs and parking space, and generally speaking people in the market for an expensive car don't have to worry about either.

Hmm, I can see your point (and the type of luxury cars on offer suggests your view is the majority one) but if I had to spend a fortune on a luxurious car, I'd want something as compact as possible. I'm not keen on big, heavy, unwieldy cars but they're the only ones that seem to routinely offer any degree of luxury.

Edited by Risotto on Wednesday 12th May 16:02

[Garlick]

Chris_w666 said:

Garlick said:

I remember when the Fiesta Ghia was seen as offering luxury in a small car.

Funny how things change.

I went from a Mini Mayfair complete with 1 speaker AM/LW radio, no heater and beige/brown velour seats to a 1984 Fiesta 1.1 Ghia, with a factory sunroof, 4 speaker stereo and proper seats, and the amazing gearbox with 5 forward gears. It felt like stepping from an Octavia taxi into a Bentley at the time.

Rear wash/ wipe, heated rear window and passenger door mirror - the height of luxury at the time. Sometimes even intermittent wipers was seen as being extravagant.

[Chris_w666]

Garlick said:

Chris_w666 said:

Garlick said:

I remember when the Fiesta Ghia was seen as offering luxury in a small car.

Funny how things change.

I went from a Mini Mayfair complete with 1 speaker AM/LW radio, no heater and beige/brown velour seats to a 1984 Fiesta 1.1 Ghia, with a factory sunroof, 4 speaker stereo and proper seats, and the amazing gearbox with 5 forward gears. It felt like stepping from an Octavia taxi into a Bentley at the time.

Rear wash/ wipe, heated rear window and passenger door mirror - the height of luxury at the time. Sometimes even intermittent wipers was seen as being extravagant.

I got mine in 1998 though. But after the Mini it was amazing, kids these days don't know they are born

[sleep envy]

didn't some turncoat recently sell a Metro Vanden Plas?

[Risotto]

How about a 911?

I'm semi-serious - I know it's massive compared to a Toyota IQ but it's a damn sight smaller than your Lexus LS430 and is still towards the smaller end of the overall car spectrum. Four seats, reasonable storage space, good performance, plenty of automatics around, can be specced with toys, etc.

Edited by Risotto on Wednesday 12th May 16:11

[Garlick]

Chris_w666 said:

Garlick said:

Chris_w666 said:

Garlick said:

I remember when the Fiesta Ghia was seen as offering luxury in a small car.

Funny how things change.

I went from a Mini Mayfair complete with 1 speaker AM/LW radio, no heater and beige/brown velour seats to a 1984 Fiesta 1.1 Ghia, with a factory sunroof, 4 speaker stereo and proper seats, and the amazing gearbox with 5 forward gears. It felt like stepping from an Octavia taxi into a Bentley at the time.

Rear wash/ wipe, heated rear window and passenger door mirror - the height of luxury at the time. Sometimes even intermittent wipers was seen as being extravagant.

I got mine in 1998 though. But after the Mini it was amazing, kids these days don't know they are born

Oh, I was thinking of the 1984 era Fiesta. I'm old you see.

[E31Shrew]

mat13 said:

Alfa Romeo 147?
Toyota iQ?
3 series compact?

Go along with the 147 idea....Ours has full leather , armrest and loads of other gizmos inc computer , ipod dock and 17" spoked wheels. Cheap as chips now!

[Garlick]

sleep envy said:

turncoat