A what (is wrong with this) car thread
Discussion
Miss bobda wants a car. It has to be small, up to 3.5k ish (maybe 4 at a push if it's worth it) budget. And as she works 25 miles from where we live it will go on the motorway so I have dictated a minimum engine size of 1.3 so it's not dangerous when trying to overtake or pull into traffic.
We have been looking around classifieds for a few weeks now, although not yet seen anything in the metal, and had shortlisted 5 or 6 K12 Nissan Micras of around 2006-2007 to go and see this weekend - that is until I decided to have a look at what Honest John had to say about them; http://www.honestjohn.co.uk/carbycar/nissan/micra-... "Not well packaged. Not much rear seat room and luggage room. Difficult to get into back of 3-door. Renault electrics can fail. By 2012 had developed quite a lot of faults, especially with ABS. AVOID THE MODEL."
The first few items I can deal with - it's a small car after all, but the last couple of sentences killed off the idea.
Any ideas or experiences to the contrary?
The next thought is either a Suzuki Swift which I like the look of (1.3 or 1.5 engines) or a Toyota Yaris but to get one which doesn't have the three cylinder 1.0 engine that takes half a century to get to 60 we'd have to pay around 4.5k. Fiestas are a possibility but the ones she can afford are the old style based on a facelifted 2002 model which I'm not keen on as crash safety, engines, suspension etc has moved on a long way in that time - VW Polos are the same. A Mini would be an older car (2003ish to be affordable) and she stated yesterday that this is too old.
So - any ideas?
We have been looking around classifieds for a few weeks now, although not yet seen anything in the metal, and had shortlisted 5 or 6 K12 Nissan Micras of around 2006-2007 to go and see this weekend - that is until I decided to have a look at what Honest John had to say about them; http://www.honestjohn.co.uk/carbycar/nissan/micra-... "Not well packaged. Not much rear seat room and luggage room. Difficult to get into back of 3-door. Renault electrics can fail. By 2012 had developed quite a lot of faults, especially with ABS. AVOID THE MODEL."
The first few items I can deal with - it's a small car after all, but the last couple of sentences killed off the idea.
Any ideas or experiences to the contrary?
The next thought is either a Suzuki Swift which I like the look of (1.3 or 1.5 engines) or a Toyota Yaris but to get one which doesn't have the three cylinder 1.0 engine that takes half a century to get to 60 we'd have to pay around 4.5k. Fiestas are a possibility but the ones she can afford are the old style based on a facelifted 2002 model which I'm not keen on as crash safety, engines, suspension etc has moved on a long way in that time - VW Polos are the same. A Mini would be an older car (2003ish to be affordable) and she stated yesterday that this is too old.
So - any ideas?
2008/9 1.3 (previous shape) Yaris's are floating around the 4k mark, I had one (58 plate 1.3SR NAV) which my mum now owns, its 60k deep with no issues, plenty quick enough, gets mid 40's to the gallon, well made, great packaging, good motor all round.
If you can find an SR nav they have built in TomTom based sat nav in the dash and nice wheels.
If you can find an SR nav they have built in TomTom based sat nav in the dash and nice wheels.
There is a sub-Sport Swift 1.5 called the GLT or something with over 100hp which got very good reviews.
I would have bought a Micra 1.4 Sport had the dealer not been an asshat and went and bought a Fiesta ST instead, mainly because it has 3 seatbelts in the back and needed to be short for parking outside the house. THe Micra also has 3 belts in the back (I think) but most in the sector only have 2 in the back. The Micra and Swift and Fiesta all come in 4 door varieties.
Swift Sports were pricey as was the Fiat Panda 100hp. After hiring a Panda in the Canaries a few weeks ago, I wouldn't recommend one as while the petrol seemed to last forever, the understeer on the Eco Contact tyres was horrendous and it was Tupperware inside (looks nice though).
I would have bought a Micra 1.4 Sport had the dealer not been an asshat and went and bought a Fiesta ST instead, mainly because it has 3 seatbelts in the back and needed to be short for parking outside the house. THe Micra also has 3 belts in the back (I think) but most in the sector only have 2 in the back. The Micra and Swift and Fiesta all come in 4 door varieties.
Swift Sports were pricey as was the Fiat Panda 100hp. After hiring a Panda in the Canaries a few weeks ago, I wouldn't recommend one as while the petrol seemed to last forever, the understeer on the Eco Contact tyres was horrendous and it was Tupperware inside (looks nice though).
) in it. Miss bobda said it would make her feel cheap, driving a 'Suzuki'. I questioned her being a car snob when she doesn't even have a car yet.s_zigmond said:
What about an ignis?
cirian75 said:
I have the 1.3 Ignis 5dr esate with the 1.3 VVT (same as the swift)
very good car
I can guarantee she won't like an Ignis. I tried the possibility of a Panda and she hated it - the ignis looks similar. Not even sure I like the look if them to be honest.very good car
LuS1fer said:
There is a sub-Sport Swift 1.5 called the GLT or something with over 100hp which got very good reviews.
My best friend had one for a first car at 17, crashed it at a year old with 4k miles (very hard use) rather hard into a railway embankment brick wall, full airbags off, the works. It stood up impecably and all occupants (barring seatbelt marks) were un-harmed.It was replaced with another identical model which lasted another 4 years without incident and continued hard use.
The only things to go wrong were some loose undertray trim (he didn't slow for bumps and lived on an unmade road) and a poorly designed filler cap entry which was fixed under recall.
bobda said:
And as she works 25 miles from where we live it will go on the motorway
Andy, if my missis was doing 50 miles a day around here I would want her in something with a bit more crumple zone than a Micra. Wouldn't you be better looking at something more Focus/Golf/Civic sized?bobda said:
Miss bobda said it would make her feel cheap, driving a 'Suzuki'. I questioned her being a car snob when she doesn't even have a car yet.
Most badge snobs seem satisfied with an Audi, in which case, what about an A2? Way ahead of their time, light, frugal, clever use of space, etc. They can be had with leather, Bose, panoramic roof, etc. The 1.6 would probably meet your performance requirements.As an aside, I wouldn't necessarily be put off a particular car because there are horror stories about them on the internet. The web allows anyone with a problem to post about that problem. The huge majority of owners who never experience the problem keep quiet, so there's tons of anecdotal evidence but all of it is massively skewed.
RicksAlfas said:
Andy, if my missis was doing 50 miles a day around here I would want her in something with a bit more crumple zone than a Micra. Wouldn't you be better looking at something more Focus/Golf/Civic sized?
Hi Rick - how are you? Are you saying she's going to be bouncing her car off solid immovable objects? 
The good folk of Barnsley are thick skinned but I don't think they'd stand for long if she was driving (literally) into the office every day. Although Swifts do get pretty good NCAP ratings & this looks OK; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xW5otlyiTiUThat class of car is what I suggested initially but they're too big for her. She can drive and has had a licence for over 10 years but hasn't driven very much and has never owned her own car, instead using her mums cars (all Fiestas) when back home over christmas etc. Incidentally, a Fiesta is the only car she has ever driven - even the driving refresher course she did a couple of months ago was in one. My old 147 was 'too big' and the GT is 'like a tank'.
Edited by bobda on Thursday 14th February 15:44
bobda said:
Hi Rick - how are you? Are you saying she's going to be bouncing her car off solid immovable objects? The good folk of Barnsley are thick skinned but I don't think they'd stand for long if she was driving (literally) into the office every day. Although Swifts do get pretty good NCAP ratings & this looks OK; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xW5otlyiTiU
That class of car is what I suggested initially but they're too big for her. She can drive and has had a licence for over 10 years but hasn't driven very much and has never owned her own car, instead using her mums cars (all Fiestas) when back home over christmas etc. Incidentally, a Fiesta is the only car she has ever driven - even the driving refresher course she did a couple of months ago was in one. My old 147 was 'too big' and the GT is 'like a tank'.
Good thanks Andy. Hope you are too. The good folk of Barnsley are thick skinned but I don't think they'd stand for long if she was driving (literally) into the office every day. Although Swifts do get pretty good NCAP ratings & this looks OK; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xW5otlyiTiUThat class of car is what I suggested initially but they're too big for her. She can drive and has had a licence for over 10 years but hasn't driven very much and has never owned her own car, instead using her mums cars (all Fiestas) when back home over christmas etc. Incidentally, a Fiesta is the only car she has ever driven - even the driving refresher course she did a couple of months ago was in one. My old 147 was 'too big' and the GT is 'like a tank'.
A Swift sounds like a good compromise. Micra just seemed a bit tinny to me.
What about a.... Fiesta!
kiethton said:
My best friend had one for a first car at 17, crashed it at a year old with 4k miles (very hard use) rather hard into a railway embankment brick wall, full airbags off, the works. It stood up impecably and all occupants (barring seatbelt marks) were un-harmed.
It was replaced with another identical model which lasted another 4 years without incident and continued hard use.
The only things to go wrong were some loose undertray trim (he didn't slow for bumps and lived on an unmade road) and a poorly designed filler cap entry which was fixed under recall.
Yes, like kiethton says, undertray came loose on my dads, easy fixIt was replaced with another identical model which lasted another 4 years without incident and continued hard use.
The only things to go wrong were some loose undertray trim (he didn't slow for bumps and lived on an unmade road) and a poorly designed filler cap entry which was fixed under recall.
some have whiney gearboxes, most don't
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