Still looking....

[Ron99]

For years I've been looking for a car that is all of the following:

1 Modern (not more than about 4yrs old)
2 Small (so it can live in my garage, squeeze along single-track country lanes, easy to park etc)
3 Pothole resistant (not harshly sprung, no big alloys)
4 Decent ground clearance (for going up verges on country lanes and not scuffing the bumpers going down car park ramps)
5 Fairly quick, or fairly torquey
6 Practical (hatchback with rear doors)
7 Expendable (may occasionally lose a wing mirror or headlamp to a deer/fox/pheasant, or suffer scratches from bushes intruding into the road)

Swift Sport mk2 which I previously had adequately ticked 1, 2, 4, 5 and 7 but failed miserably with 3. At about 1.7m body and 1.95m mirror width it was about the maximum that could get through my garage door.

Viva which I currently have ticks 1, 2, 3, 4, 6 and 7 but fails miserably with 5. It's also an idiot magnet when driving out of the city as everyone thinks it has a bumbler inside and will be driven at 35mph everywhere, so a lot of people take great risks trying to get past which doesn't happen when I'm in my Insignia, even if I'm dawdling!

So, what ticks the boxes and is worth considering?

Thanks,
R

[ChrisH72]

Depends on budget.

Up! TSI

Picanto 1.0 turbo

[Ron99]

ChrisH72 said:

Depends on budget.

Up! TSI

Picanto 1.0 turbo

Budget not a problem.
Wouldn't want to buy new (depreciation) so would be looking at cars 1-4yrs old.

The Up TSI caught my attention but VAG's TSI engines seem to cause more than their fair share of problems. A lot of Ups don't even come with steering wheel controls for audio volume or cruise control - small things that can be very useful.
Not on the best of terms with local VW dealer because we went there to buy two brand new cars (VW Up and a VW Golf) several years ago and the sales staff weren't interested in us and wouldn't even return several phone calls.

Also wonder whether the Up will be an idiot magnet as it's still a small 'granny' car.

Kia Picanto has also got my attention. Not keen on twin exhausts for three cylinders and the performance is suggests with only average actual performance.
No problems with the brand and the local dealer seems good. Still wondering whether the 'really small car' idiot magnet phenomenon will be a problem.

Wondering whether I should look at B-segment but a lot of those (Polo, Fiesta, Corsa) are now big cars.

[wiliferus]

What about a Nissan Pulsar? The 1.6 has 190bhp... granted they’re like rocking horse poo, but they’re a practical 5 door hatch, Jap so should be reliable. It’s a Nissan so should be easy to fix.
No idea about pot hole resistance, but any car can be made a bit more pot hole proof with some cheap steel wheels and some higher profile tyres?

[Ron99]

wiliferus said:

No idea about pot hole resistance, but any car can be made a bit more pot hole proof with some cheap steel wheels and some higher profile tyres?

I asked my insurer about changing the wheels on my former Swift Sport. The insurer said no.
In any case, it wasn't just the wheels on the SS, it was the very firm springs that were at least half the problem.
In fact, the firm springs meant it handled like sh!t on rough, rippled, bumpy back roads because it couldn't keep all four wheels in contact with the road.

[RazerSauber]

wiliferus said:

What about a Nissan Pulsar? The 1.6 has 190bhp... granted they’re like rocking horse poo, but they’re a practical 5 door hatch, Jap so should be reliable. It’s a Nissan so should be easy to fix.
No idea about pot hole resistance, but any car can be made a bit more pot hole proof with some cheap steel wheels and some higher profile tyres?

Didn't the Nissan reliability fall over when they got acquainted with Renault?

[Ron99]

wiliferus said:

What about a Nissan Pulsar?

Thanks for the suggestion but I just looked at its measurements and it's too big. 4.4m long and 1.8m wide body, even wider including mirrors. I don't think I would be able to get it in my garage.

[ChrisH72]

I think there are a lot of people in this situation. My dad lives in a flat and has to garage the car. He likes big cars but unfortunately the garage is too small. At the moment he runs a C3 picasso because it's quite narrow and has folding mirrors. Also my best mate has had a Ford Puma for 16 years because most modern small sporty cars won't clear his steep drive or go in the garage.

Your choices with city cars are a bit limited. Most aren't that quick and if they are (Up GTi) they come with lowered ride and big wheels.

A left field choice, not for everyone, might be a Suzuki Ignis. I really like them. Obviously you'd have to compromise on the performance as they're not quick.

Otherwise there may be some superminis that would go in the garage which would give you more choice. Particularly if they come with folding mirrors that could help.

Have you tried a fiesta?

[Ron99]

ChrisH72 said:

I think there are a lot of people in this situation. My dad lives in a flat and has to garage the car. He likes big cars but unfortunately the garage is too small. At the moment he runs a C3 picasso because it's quite narrow and has folding mirrors. Also my best mate has had a Ford Puma for 16 years because most modern small sporty cars won't clear his steep drive or go in the garage.

Your choices with city cars are a bit limited. Most aren't that quick and if they are (Up GTi) they come with lowered ride and big wheels.

A left field choice, not for everyone, might be a Suzuki Ignis. I really like them. Obviously you'd have to compromise on the performance as they're not quick.

Otherwise there may be some superminis that would go in the garage which would give you more choice. Particularly if they come with folding mirrors that could help.

Have you tried a fiesta?

Suzuki Ignis is an interesting one that I probably would never have thought of.
It seems to be in-between the size of my current Viva and previous Swift.
It's a pity they only come with 89hp nat-asp 1.2 and take 12s to reach 60mph. If they produce one with a livelier engine - even a diesel - it might be a good choice.

I find Fiestas lack headroom for me - and the latest version is now huge and probably wouldn't fit in my garage (I've seen a few about and thought they were a Focus until I could see the badge). I'm tall and my forehead brushes the sun visor of Fiestas and if I lean forwards my forehead touches the top of the windscreen which I suppose could be pretty nasty in a crash.

I have similar problems with headroom in Clios but, oddly, Twingo is OK. No problem with Swifts or Corsas. No problem with Up, Viva, i10. I think I can fit in a Picanto. Can't fit in a Fiat 500/Ka or Aygo/108/C1. Just about squeeze into a Panda.

[ZX10R NIN]

I think I've found a car that ticks all the boxes:

Ford Ecosport Titanium S 140

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

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...

ST Line with sensible alloys

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

Mokka X Elite 140

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

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

[Ron99]

ZX10R NIN said:

I think I've found a car that ticks all the boxes:

Ford Ecosport Titanium S 140

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

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...

ST Line with sensible alloys

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

Mokka X Elite 140

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

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

Thanks but maybe a bit on the large side to get in the garage. The Swift Sport mk2 is about the biggest I'd want to regularly have to get in and out of the garage.
At about 2.05-2.1m wide including mirrors I don't think I'd get the Ecosport or Mokka through my garage door. I had an Astra mk6 which I think was similar width and it needed both mirrors folding to get through the door and even then there was only a small amount of clearance.

[Ron99]

While browsing car ads, I saw this (metallic orange 2016 Twingo 0.9T) which might tick all the boxes.
However, I know very little about Twingos so I certainly wouldn't rush into anything.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...

[ChrisH72]

Can you go up to supermini length at around 4m?

My father in law has a Renault Captur. According to autotrader it's only 1778mm wide. You can get the higher spec ones with a 1.2tce which is good for 60 in just under 10 secs.

If it does need to be city car size I think I'd compromise on the power with something like a Picanto 3. Not fast but still fun to drive and if you go for the luxury spec rather than sporty the wheels would be smaller. Or another compromise might be the age of the car. Something older would be narrower with smaller wheels and it might be possible to pick up a more interesting car. I'm thinking along the lines of an Audi A2? Or Panda 100hp?

[ChrisH72]

Twingo is quirky but fun.

Another similar is the Smart Forfour. The Brabus has a 0.9 turbo as well.

[Ron99]

ChrisH72 said:

Can you go up to supermini length at around 4m?

My father in law has a Renault Captur. According to autotrader it's only 1778mm wide. You can get the higher spec ones with a 1.2tce which is good for 60 in just under 10 secs.

If it does need to be city car size I think I'd compromise on the power with something like a Picanto 3. Not fast but still fun to drive and if you go for the luxury spec rather than sporty the wheels would be smaller. Or another compromise might be the age of the car. Something older would be narrower with smaller wheels and it might be possible to pick up a more interesting car. I'm thinking along the lines of an Audi A2? Or Panda 100hp?

Width is more a problem than length. 1778mm body is too much once mirrors are added to the width. I already have an Insignia which is both far too wide and far too long to put in the garage.

Picanto won't gain me much compared to Viva (which I think handles very well and has good pothole resistance). If I change the Viva for a Picanto, it needs to be noticeably quicker, so would have to be the 1.0T.

I thought Panda 100hp had rock hard suspension? Also thought they stopped making them several years ago and I don't want an older car because I already have an ageing one (2012 Insignia).

What's quirky about the Twingo?
Good quirky or bad quirky?

[kieranblenk]

The Suzuki Ignis with the SHVS mild hybrid system might be a bit peppier than the standard car. The Baleno might be worth a look and is seriously cheap now.

Some other options for you to consider are:
Dacia Sandero Stepway (90bhp diesel or petrol)
Fiat Panda Twinair 4x4
Ford Ka+ 1.5 TDCI
Citroen C4 Cactus (maybe too big but the 130 petrol is quick)
Toyota Yaris 1.5 VVTI Icon (small wheels)
Mini Cooper on 15 inch wheels
Skoda Fabia/VW Polo/Seat Ibiza with the 1.0 TSI engine

[defblade]

The "biggest" "small" car I could find was the Skoda Rapid (shorter in spaceback form - 4.3m x 1.71m) and available with a variety of engines - updated tsi from 2016 - and wheel specs. I went for the SE sport, but maybe one with a lesser engine coupled to 15" or 16" steelies instead of the sport's 17" alloys would suit you?

Another vote for the Ignis, too - surprising amount of room, the trick moving back seats on anything above base trim helps. And might be worth looking at the latest Micra/Clio... I felt the Micra was the far more mature car of the pair, but still slightly too small for my needs.

[edc]

Small crossover like a Seat Arona.

[Begall]

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

[Ron99]

Begall said:

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

Won't a Honda Jazz give the impression that it's being driven by a bumbling old fool? My wife looked at a Jazz about ten years ago and her friends informed her they were for old people.
So a Jazz might attract bad driving around it as everyone behind takes risks trying to get past because they're worried they might be held up.
That's a big problem with the Viva I currently have; everyone nearby switches to 'must get past even if it kills me' whereas if I'm in the Insignia everybody happily and sensibly plods along behind.