New car for my wife

[James_B]

After years of not driving my wife would like to get back on the road.

She’d like a very small car, not too slow, that’s at least decent to drive and looks decent. We’re considering a Smart Fortwo or an Abarth 595c; is there anything else that should make the short list?

It’ll need to be an automatic, and I’d like enough poke that she can get out of our street and up to speed on the busy-ish hill at the end of our road.

Unfortunately she’s not going to be comfortable driving any of my cars.

This is for twin driving only, and only needs to take her and one child.

[2 sMoKiN bArReLs]

From the title I thought this was a swap thread!

Sorry, no help I know.

Mini Cooper maybe?

[James_B]

2 sMoKiN bArReLs said:

From the title I thought this was a swap thread!

Sorry, no help I know.

Mini Cooper maybe?

Ah, yes, poor wording..l

I think it’s a bit too big, she wants something properly small while she gets used to the roads again.

[Deep Thought]

James_B said:

I think it’s a bit too big, she wants something properly small while she gets used to the roads again.

I'd be careful of that - nothing like driving about in a small tin box to make her feel even more intimidated.

MINIs arent a big car.

[Hackney]

My wife has a 2yr old Seat Mii.
It's a manual but maybe other variants are available with an auto / DSG box. It's pretty nippy and there's some fun to be had on the lanes if you want.

We were looking at the Smart ForFour at the same time but the tiny boot put us off.

[James_B]

Deep Thought said:

I'd be careful of that - nothing like driving about in a small tin box to make her feel even more intimidated.

MINIs arent a big car.

She had an original Fiat 500 when younger, and a 126 before that.

She’s even concerned that the Abarth is a bit on the chunky side.

It may change later (I hope so, the R8 is pretty compact) but for now she wants small.

[kieranblenk]

Toyota iQ, C1/108/Aygo or Vauxhall Adam.

[ZX10R NIN]

Go for the Abarth you wife will love it.

[Sheepshanks]

Honda Jazz CVT.

[PositronicRay]

Deep Thought said:

James_B said:

I think it’s a bit too big, she wants something properly small while she gets used to the roads again.

I'd be careful of that - nothing like driving about in a small tin box to make her feel even more intimidated.

MINIs arent a big car.

Some Minis are saw a huge one the other day, looked much bigger than the Evoke next to it.

[alorotom]

Up! GTI??

[Sheepshanks]

PositronicRay said:

Some Minis are saw a huge one the other day, looked much bigger than the Evoke next to it.

May have been a MINI Countryman, but the Evoque is still bigger.

[Pica-Pica]

It has to be between
Skoda Citigo
Seat Mii
VW Up!

[oop north]

Is the auto box on the Abarth any good? I have heard it’s a bit rubbish on the 500 but may be better on Abarth. Up probably a good shout - auto trader suggests autos are few and far between (70 or so out of 1700 ups for sale)

[tigger1]

This being PH, an mx5 isn't massively bigger than a VW Up is it?

[ZX10R NIN]

The box on the Abarth is pretty sweet to be honest so I'd say get her that, it's a great little car.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Other options are:

Clio RS

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Clio GT Line

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

208 GT Line

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

[sparkythecat]

Suzuki Swift gets a good write up and would seem to fir the bill

[Paul_at_RH]

I'm a big fan of Abarth's. Decently quick but sound even better. They're absolutely tiny so city driving and parking is a doddle.

[James_B]

Paul_at_RH said:

I'm a big fan of Abarth's. Decently quick but sound even better. They're absolutely tiny so city driving and parking is a doddle.

Me too.

While I appreciate the other suggestions nothing seems to stand out as being enough to sway me away from it.

I like even the base model 500.

[Cap2018]

Second the Suzuki Swift. Good old fashioned torque converter gearboxes, hours and hours of research into what would best replace my girlfriends automatic mini cooper overwhelmingly favoured TCs over DSGs and CVTs. Japanese and Korean over European also being the general consensus. Wouldn't touch another auto mini cooper even if someone paid me to, terrible things! Owned 2 and both forced off the road with faults; the first in less than a month and the second in less than a year. Refunded the first for full price paid (great guy at the dealership), p/ex the second for a Swift ourselves after taking it through at least 6 different garages including a Mini specialist with no resolution. Started with emissions related engine management codes, progressed to a rough idle when stopped, sold when it began cutting out WHILST DRIVING. Wouldn't have my girlfriend out in that alone with the drive she has to do to and from work.