Mum kills cars – what car (shedding, £4k budget)?

[BackPedal]

She's a 67 year old, driven all her life. Killed cars all her life.

Is fairly mechanically sympathetic (i.e. can change gear smoothly and doesn't ride the clutch) but has absolutely no inclination to learn how to keep fluid levels topped up correctly, wont stop the car when it overheats and is totally adverse to cleaning them.

Her latest car (a 2006 Ford Ka) is just about to die an undignified death (head gasket, rot and suspension). She relies on a car for her lifeline (lives in the arse end of nowhere) and I'd like to keep her rolling for the foreseeable future.

There's a budget of £4k and it needs to be petrol, economical, small and most importantly particularly robust. There are no other criteria.

I've been looking at:

2008(ish) Toyota Yaris 1.0 or 1.3VVTI engined cars. Are they a good bet? Are the engines known for their reliability?

Would the equivalent Micra be just as good?

Honda Jazz? 1.3 or 1.4 petrol? Are they a good bet? Are the engines known for their reliability?

Many thanks for your thoughts and help.

Edited by BackPedal on Monday 15th May 20:47

[Hackney]

My mum is of a similar vintage although I think she's marginally more sympathetic to cars.
She's had one since 2002, a bought new Hyundai which apart from the odd issue is still going strong.

Now, I know your mum won't want a 15 year old Hyundai but, in our experience, the brand is good and cheap to repair.

We originally went with the brand because they were one of the few manufacturers putting an automatic in a small car and for the 7 year warranty.

I think the latest iteration of the model she had is the i10 (previous model was Getz and before that Amica, which my mum has)

[BackPedal]

Hadn't considered Hyundai. Will have a look. I wonder if there's a particular vintage that is 'better' because of less complication and emissions related guff?

[kurt535]

Honda Jazz

Toyota Corolla?

[RSTurboPaul]

Short wheel base / 2-door Defender?

4WD for winter, designed to be neglected, boxy so easy to place on the road, raised driving position for seeing over those country lane hedges, simple/easy to fix (AIUI), minimal depreciation.

[HustleRussell]

RSTurboPaul said:

Short wheel base / 2-door Defender?

4WD for winter, designed to be neglected, boxy so easy to place on the road, raised driving position for seeing over those country lane hedges, simple/easy to fix (AIUI), minimal depreciation.

[nadger]

Mitsubishi colt. Cheap as chips to buy now, a hoot to drive and cheap to repair/maintain. Plus Japanese, so bullet proof

[CraigyMc]

Get her a jazz. It's the best "don't gaf" maintenance schedule car on the list.

[The Mad Monk]

RSTurboPaul said:

Short wheel base / 2-door Defender?

4WD for winter, designed to be neglected, boxy so easy to place on the road, raised driving position for seeing over those country lane hedges, simple/easy to fix (AIUI), minimal depreciation.

Yes.

Yes!

Of course!

Now. Why didn't I think of that??!!

[TooMany2cvs]

The Mad Monk said:

RSTurboPaul said:

Short wheel base / 2-door Defender?

4WD for winter, designed to be neglected, boxy so easy to place on the road, raised driving position for seeing over those country lane hedges, simple/easy to fix (AIUI), minimal depreciation.

Yes.

Yes!

Of course!

Now. Why didn't I think of that??!!

Quite.

£4k budget. D90. Yeh, that'll buy something trouble-free...

[markirl]

Jazz is a great bet.

Another consideration is a Kia Picanto - £4k will get you a 13-plate car with 3 years warranty left...

[GreatGranny]

As has been suggested, Yaris is a good choice.

http://www4.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Jazz also but I've heard the older ones are firmly set up but a test drive will determine if it's comfortable enough

http://www4.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

VW Polo? Look nice IMO. Wife had one a few years ago and it was 100% reliable. Engine was asthmatic though.

http://www4.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Leftfield.... Sandeo?

Insanely cheap, Ambience has decent spec. 14 reg for your budget

http://www4.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Nothing wrong with the Micra either

http://www4.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

ETA - KIA Picanto as above with warranty is a great suggestion for peace of mind.

[Sheepshanks]

nadger said:

Mitsubishi colt. Cheap as chips to buy now, a hoot to drive and cheap to repair/maintain. Plus Japanese, so bullet proof

One of my daughters ran one from new for 6yrs/60K miles. It was cheap - 5dr with a/c was £7K new - but apart from the brilliant 1.1 3cyl MIVEC engine the rest of the car felt cheaply made. Only got £1K for it when we p/x'd it (dealer gave us WBAC valuation) but it was carrying at least a grands worth of issues so I didn't want to even try it privately.


Jazz is a good call - we've had a mk1 and still have two mk2's (2009 onwards) in the family. Again, they're not without issues though so don't overpay - they somehow have a reputation for being more reliable than they are. Gearbox and wheel bearings are regular issues on both mk1 and 2. mk1's had problems with the roof to C post seals failing so the spare wheel well fills with water.

[RSTurboPaul]

TooMany2cvs said:

The Mad Monk said:

RSTurboPaul said:

Short wheel base / 2-door Defender?

4WD for winter, designed to be neglected, boxy so easy to place on the road, raised driving position for seeing over those country lane hedges, simple/easy to fix (AIUI), minimal depreciation.

Yes.

Yes!

Of course!

Now. Why didn't I think of that??!!

Quite.

£4k budget. D90. Yeh, that'll buy something trouble-free...

I thought everyone on PH was finding one-elderly-owner, FSH, 2k-miles-per-year-from-new motors for about a grand?

[BackPedal]

Hi all,

Thanks very much for your replies and suggestions. I'd not thought of the Hyundai or Kia either. Not entirely sure a Defender is right, but, hey, top marks for trying.

Cheers all!