What run around for the OH?

[rosscobmw]

Hi guys, I wouldnt normally ask what car to buy, but when it comes to small cheap cars I'm pretty clueless!

Basically, my girlfriend is 8 weeks pregnant and just started maternity leave. This happened to her car last week, she was rear ended when she was sitting at traffic lights in a NSL





Luckily her and the wee man are ok.

Now we need to find her a replacement for the micra. Criteria:

Max £1500

Cheap to run/insure (maternity pay isn't great)

Reliable

Hopefully be able to stick a buggy in the boot.

I'm currently looking other micras, the facelift K11. She likes the yaris but the boot is almost non existant.

Is there anything else worth looking at or is the K11 going to be the best bet?

Cheers

[kam05]

How about a Focus or Golf? Something that will offer more protection in the event of an accident to both mother and baby?

Enough room for both mother and baby (and all of baby's kit, pram etc.) in the above cars

[kiethton]

Any of the normal contenders really....you'll want 5 doors for practicality though

e.g. corsa?:

http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/v...

Fiesta's of this age can be a bit rusty before the new model in 2002, the latter are just in budget:

http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/f...

Fabia:

http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/s...

(little over-budget but fairly new?)

Have you thought about fomething a little bigger - mondeo or focus sized - although petrol may be more you get something generally a lot sturdier and more practical for the money?

Focus:

http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/f...

Mondeo:

http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/f...

[Jayho]

How olds the other half if you dont mind me asking? In terms of something cheaper to insure, always think of left fielded choices, which not many young people drive/write off.

You can pick up old SAABS for quite a reasonable price nowadays, a nice 1.9TDI should do nicely. Good engine, all you really have to look out for is the EGR Valve clogging up, but if you have a bit of time you can take out and clean (Maybe block if you want). (Talking about early 2000's)

If you're wanting a smaller type car just to nip about then how about a SEAT Ibiza or Skoda Fabia? Usually cheaper to buy than the VW Polo, and cheaper to insure (same engine etc).

Not sure if there's many Micra sized cars which will be able to fit a buggy in tbh.

[rosscobmw]

Good suggestions. The OH is 23, but only been driving for 2 years. I'm a bit put off by fords within price range purely because of rust. Her first car was a ford Ka and i grew seriously tired of welding the damn thing, and being careful when putting petrol in so i didnt make the rust hole any bigger.

I like the idea of a micra as i shouldnt have to work on it often, and parts are cheap, and with insurance being £30 odd pounds a month its hard to beat.

I had a look at the golfs but insurance was a bit of a no-go, with most being 1.4s and above.

Diesels saabs etc, i thought about something like that but problem being it will only really be used for short 3-6 mile runs every other day

[jones325i]

Don't underestimate the amount of ste you will need to lug around if like us you regulary stay away from home with family etc.

I'd told myself that we'd be able to keep the wife's MX-5 when we were expecting our first nipper at the end of last year, and that she'd be able to easily be able to do things like travel to her folks and stay for a few days. (It had isofix on the passenger seat, and I found a buggy that would fit in the boot, what more do you need, right?)

She now has a Mazda 6 with a cavernous boot. I would definitely go for something on the larger side.

It also saves taking two cars to go places when we have friend/relatives with us as we can still fit two adults in the back seat along with the child seat on isofix base.

ETA - also once the baby is here you will probably feel even more protective and will take comfort in the fact they'll be travelling in something a bit safer.

Edited by jones325i on Wednesday 12th February 16:35

[rosscobmw]

jones325i said:

Don't underestimate the amount of ste you will need to lug around if like us you regulary stay away from home with family etc.

I'd told myself that we'd be able to keep the wife's MX-5 when we were expecting our first nipper at the end of last year, and that she'd be able to easily be able to do things like travel to her folks and stay for a few days. (It had isofix on the passenger seat, and I found a buggy that would fit in the boot, what more do you need, right?)

She now has a Mazda 6 with a cavernous boot. I would definitely go for something on the larger side.

It also saves taking two cars to go places when we have friend/relatives with us as we can still fit two adults in the back seat along with the child seat on isofix base.

ETA - also once the baby is here you will probably feel even more protective and will take comfort in the fact they'll be travelling in something a bit safer.

Edited by jones325i on Wednesday 12th February 16:35

True. I have a Volvo V40 1.9d as my daily, which will be used if we're going away, or if she's going to visit friends that arent that local

[Risotto]

Audi A2?

[KarlMac]

VW Lupo. Spoiled for choice at £1500.

[jones325i]

rosscobmw said:

True. I have a Volvo V40 1.9d as my daily, which will be used if we're going away, or if she's going to visit friends that arent that local

You might find that your car will be getting used a lot more... this what I didn't want to happen, hence we've now got two big cars. Might not be a concern for you though as your daily is sensible.

[jgtv]

Yaris?

we have had a 5 door in the family since 1999 (t reg?) from new 130K and its been a great little car, not going to win any rallys in them but they are reasonably comfortable, cheap and reliable. and with the 5 doors and sliding seats in the back surprisingly useful little cars.

[Spanglepants]

Honda Jazz?

[McWigglebum4th]

A child you say


I think anything smaller the a long wheelbase sprinter and you might struggle


Oh and if you are going for another K11 micra then open the glovebox and whip out the heater fan resistor pack as they are the only thing that reguarly breaks on a K11

[Rovinghawk]

rosscobmw said:

Diesels saabs etc, i thought about something like that but problem being it will only really be used for short 3-6 mile runs every other day

A petrol one, then?

[BL Fanboy]

We bought a 2003 1.4 petrol Berlingo a couple of months before our baby arrived and to be honest its been fantastic at being a family holdall. The sliding doors are great in car parks and the baby is seated higher up for fastening in (saves the old back!)

You can get a full sized pram in the boot without folding the pram down or the seats - saves so much kerbside hassle! Its been genius.

Sturdy things, good visibility and high seating position for the driver.

We were lucky enough to find an older one with A/C (great for hot and bothered babies) side airbags and ABS

You'd get one easily in budget.

[d3llams]

Renault Megane 2005 61,000 miles £1,600
http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/r...
Honda Civic £1,850
http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/h...
Seat Leon £1,495
http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/s...

Renault Clio, my father has been running a 1.5DCI 100 3-door Clio for 8 years now and the engine hasn't had to have anything done to it now at 145,000 miles.
http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/r...

Nissan Almera 1.5
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2014...

[bomma220]

OP - I think there's plenty of sound suggestions here for your replacement car, another thing to think about though is the type of child seat you're going to use, ie does the new car have Isofix or does it need to utilise the seat belt? When our granddaughter came along we did find that some child seats can be a real pain to fit / remove so choose carefully mate! Hope all goes well with the birth.

[0000]

rosscobmw said:

Good suggestions. The OH is 23, but only been driving for 2 years. I'm a bit put off by fords within price range purely because of rust. Her first car was a ford Ka and i grew seriously tired of welding the damn thing, and being careful when putting petrol in so i didnt make the rust hole any bigger.

I know the feeling, having had two Escorts. Shouldn't be an issue with a Focus though.

[dooosuk]

Toyota Corolla - my mrs has one.

Big enough boot for a pram and other bits and for a 02 plate with 90k miles it's (touch wood) never let her down.