Super-mini for the Mrs.....???
Discussion
Apologies for the very un-PH 'what car', but I don't know much about this type of frugal little run-around.
I'm looking to spend up to £5k on a five door, manual, small petrol, for my wife to use and for ferrying junior around. A boot big enough to stow a folded up buggy is a must. Isofix would be good, but then I guess most of them have these. It'll only be used for pottering around town and short out-of-town trips. It must be economical, both in terms of fuel, low road tax and cheap servicing.
I'm guessing Fiesta, Suzuki Swift, Mazda2, Hyundai i20 size cars might fit the bill. The really small 'city cars' (C1, Aygo, etc) are too small. We have a diesel estate for longer trips and weekends away/holidays when more stuff needs lugging around.
Anyone admit to knowing about such things care to share some knowledge?
I'm looking to spend up to £5k on a five door, manual, small petrol, for my wife to use and for ferrying junior around. A boot big enough to stow a folded up buggy is a must. Isofix would be good, but then I guess most of them have these. It'll only be used for pottering around town and short out-of-town trips. It must be economical, both in terms of fuel, low road tax and cheap servicing.
I'm guessing Fiesta, Suzuki Swift, Mazda2, Hyundai i20 size cars might fit the bill. The really small 'city cars' (C1, Aygo, etc) are too small. We have a diesel estate for longer trips and weekends away/holidays when more stuff needs lugging around.
Anyone admit to knowing about such things care to share some knowledge?
Edited by pstruck on Sunday 6th January 13:39
This should fit the bill, bit of poke - fairly economical reasonable on tax etc etc and within budget!
http://classifieds.pistonheads.com/classifieds/use...
http://classifieds.pistonheads.com/classifieds/use...
Thanks for the suggestions. A Mazda2 is a possibility, but I'd probably only be looking at the 1.3. Sporty looks and performance really are not a priority. I want a size class up from the little city cars, but minimum road tax and excellent economy, but would like petrol this time.
Short list (though haven't looked at or driven any yet):
Suzuki Swift
Hyundai i20
Mazda2
Toyota Yaris
Not really keen on Corsas, or Clios. Fiesta is ok, but even the 1.25 isn't particularly frugal/cheap to tax.
Short list (though haven't looked at or driven any yet):
Suzuki Swift
Hyundai i20
Mazda2
Toyota Yaris
Not really keen on Corsas, or Clios. Fiesta is ok, but even the 1.25 isn't particularly frugal/cheap to tax.
Bought a Mazda 2 with my mate at the weekend. We had a simular brief and we were really impressed with pretty much everything about it. The 1.3 engine is surprisingly gutsy, it demonstrated to me how far engines have come in in the last 15 years since my last car's small engine was designed. It makes better torque lower down than it's competitors yet still responds well to a good thrashing. Lovely gear shift, nicely assisted steering and brakes, very adjustable seating position, £100 road tax.
Oh and Fiesta underpinnings for entertaining handling
Oh and Fiesta underpinnings for entertaining handling
Edited by HustleRussell on Tuesday 8th January 11:15
james_tigerwoods said:
Honda Jazz, reliable, Chain Cam engine and masses of space. Fun to drive (really!)
this.my dad's is boringly reliable, sweet engine, very eco, reconfigurable seats etc...have a look at honestjohn.co.uk
shame they never did a type-r!
Edited by danp on Tuesday 8th January 12:02
HustleRussell said:
Bought a Mazda 2 with my mate at the weekend. We had a simular brief and we were really impressed with pretty much everything about it. The 1.3 engine is surprisingly gutsy, it demonstrated to me how far engines have come in in the last 15 years since my last car's small engine was designed. It makes better torque lower down than it's competitors yet still responds well to a good thrashing. Lovely gear shift, nicely assisted steering and brakes, very adjustable seating position, £100 road tax.
Oh and Fiesta underpinnings for entertaining handling
This.Oh and Fiesta underpinnings for entertaining handling
Edited by HustleRussell on Tuesday 8th January 11:15
We've got a 1.3 Mazda2 and its bulletproof, nice to look at in nightshade colour, tonnes of fun around town, thirty sheets to tax and 48mpg average after 12k from new (6k motorway 6k town).
Surprisingly roomy as well. I'm over 6ft4, the wife is 5ft8 and the boy is a lanky 11yr old - we all get in fine and the boot does an alright job for the shopping etc.
5k will get you a good'un, go for the lairy green if you have the cajones.
pstruck said:
Good to hear some encouraging words regarding the Mazda2. I do like the look of these.
I'd forgotten about the Jazz. I'll look into those.
Clio 182/Trophy, fun that they maybe, do not meet my criteria for 5 door, frugal, cheap to run wife and baby transport.
hard to go wrong with a fiesta mk2, the mazda or the jazz (jazz probably roomiest but most pedestrian).I'd forgotten about the Jazz. I'll look into those.
Clio 182/Trophy, fun that they maybe, do not meet my criteria for 5 door, frugal, cheap to run wife and baby transport.
I think at your price range there is a pretty good choice, and most will be well looked after rather than playing hit and hope on a sub 2k citroen or something.
Might be worth looking at Mazda dealers, not sure if there will be any at 5k but if you can stretch to a few quid more you could get one with a years warranty. Sometimes its worth paying dealer money for hassle free driving for the family.
pstruck said:
Good to hear some encouraging words regarding the Mazda2. I do like the look of these.
I'd forgotten about the Jazz. I'll look into those.
Clio 182/Trophy, fun that they maybe, do not meet my criteria for 5 door, frugal, cheap to run wife and baby transport.
I take my OH's out for a hoon every now and then - fun, reliable and pokey - and always surprises people as they expect it to be driven slowly...I'd forgotten about the Jazz. I'll look into those.
Clio 182/Trophy, fun that they maybe, do not meet my criteria for 5 door, frugal, cheap to run wife and baby transport.
carparkno1 said:
Might be worth looking at Mazda dealers, not sure if there will be any at 5k but if you can stretch to a few quid more you could get one with a years warranty. Sometimes its worth paying dealer money for hassle free driving for the family.
The one we bought was a '59'-plate with one owner and 17,600 miles. Sticker price was £6k and although I tried to drive a hard deal it was clear there was little room for movement (It didn't help that another couple who had arrived 30 minutes after us also took an interest in the one we wanted). My friend also wanted to opt in to Mazda's lifetime warrantee (which actually looked rather good for our requirements) which came in at an additional £599.Basically with little room for money off I went for extras instead and the final price was £6,599 with the warantee, 12 months tax, just serviced, just MOT'd, a full tank of petrol and a set of over-mats and the first service for free. Finally I went to town on the car's condition and insisted that they did a lot of rectification work to minor chips and scratches prior to our collection.
Naturally we would've wanted more off but it was the right car and the deal was just about decent enough for us not to walk.
HustleRussell said:
The one we bought was a '59'-plate with one owner and 17,600 miles. Sticker price was £6k and although I tried to drive a hard deal it was clear there was little room for movement (It didn't help that another couple who had arrived 30 minutes after us also took an interest in the one we wanted). My friend also wanted to opt in to Mazda's lifetime warrantee (which actually looked rather good for our requirements) which came in at an additional £599.
Basically with little room for money off I went for extras instead and the final price was £6,599 with the warantee, 12 months tax, just serviced, just MOT'd, a full tank of petrol and a set of over-mats and the first service for free. Finally I went to town on the car's condition and insisted that they did a lot of rectification work to minor chips and scratches prior to our collection.
Naturally we would've wanted more off but it was the right car and the deal was just about decent enough for us not to walk.
I think you did the right thing mate to be honest, that's not a bad deal at all.Basically with little room for money off I went for extras instead and the final price was £6,599 with the warantee, 12 months tax, just serviced, just MOT'd, a full tank of petrol and a set of over-mats and the first service for free. Finally I went to town on the car's condition and insisted that they did a lot of rectification work to minor chips and scratches prior to our collection.
Naturally we would've wanted more off but it was the right car and the deal was just about decent enough for us not to walk.
We bought the mazda2 during a no-vat promotion, so just basically paid the price (3k off list) and got half price metallic paint. At 10k for a brand new supermini we were, and still are, very happy. it does the motorways every other friday perfectly well, but around town it is a real hoot.
If they did a proper warm/hot one I would have another on the drive for me right now. There's something very satisfying about a pokey little engine and a nice manual gearchange.
james_tigerwoods said:
I take my OH's out for a hoon every now and then - fun, reliable and pokey - and always surprises people as they expect it to be driven slowly...
My missus loves her Honda Jazz, and is on her second (didn't even want to look at anything else when we replaced it) but "hoon"....
The previous model is looking very old now (been around for 11 years) and they do have various issues with gearbox, roof to body seals etc. Honda will generally look after owners for 7-8 years though. They are good cars but don't overpay for one based on the perceived reputation.
carparkno1 said:
I think you did the right thing mate to be honest, that's not a bad deal at all.
We bought the mazda2 during a no-vat promotion, so just basically paid the price (3k off list) and got half price metallic paint. At 10k for a brand new supermini we were, and still are, very happy. it does the motorways every other friday perfectly well, but around town it is a real hoot.
If they did a proper warm/hot one I would have another on the drive for me right now. There's something very satisfying about a pokey little engine and a nice manual gearchange.
I think it's one of the cheapest 'grown-up' feeling hatchbacks that you can get (in terms of road manners, motorways, noise etc) but it struck me as good fun too.Our budget could've stretched to a new Citroen C1 or a Dacia but I reckon this was a good option. I was re-assured to see that ours had one owner and it had all the same tyres Toyo it left the factory on (as far as I could tell at least, judging by DOT codes). Better than brand new ditchfinders the dealership tends to fit anyway.We bought the mazda2 during a no-vat promotion, so just basically paid the price (3k off list) and got half price metallic paint. At 10k for a brand new supermini we were, and still are, very happy. it does the motorways every other friday perfectly well, but around town it is a real hoot.
If they did a proper warm/hot one I would have another on the drive for me right now. There's something very satisfying about a pokey little engine and a nice manual gearchange.
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