Fiesta v Corsa v Swift v Ibiza v Mazda 2...

[Legend83]

...for a £3-4k runaround to ferry 3 kids round town, to clubs, friends etc.

Cheap to run, reliable and fun to chuck around the corners when I get to drive it would be main criteria.

What would you go for?

[ZX10R NIN]

With it needing to ferry three kids & their kit I'd actually go a size up whilst still having a decent steer.

1.6T Focus Titanium 150

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

Giulietta Veloce 170

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

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

Mito Quadrifoglio

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

Cloverleaf 170

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

Veloce 140

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

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

Astra GTC SRI 180

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

1.4T Sport

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

[Legend83]

Thanks ZX but I think we plan to stick with city-car size as we have the S Max for lugging capabilities - this is for my wife to nip around town, park without bashing anything etc.

Although I do love the Alfas...

Needs to be 5 door too, sorry should have specified that.

[culpz]

Fiesta. It's a great car to drive in any 'guise, subjectively good-looking, cheap to buy and run. It's popular for a reason.

The Swift is a close second. The rest are just a bit "meh".

[LimSlip]

The Swift and the Fiesta will be at the top of the pile for driving enjoyment, but whilst I adore my Swift I would have to defer to the Fiesta for ferrying three kids around. The Swift has a pretty minuscule boot, not as much room in the back seats as the Fiesta and the suspension is pretty harsh (assuming you mean Swift Sport). Guessing you would be looking at one of the 1.0L Ecoboost Fiestas rather than the ST?

EDIT: just saw budget, an ecoboost probably won't fall in that range, at least not a half decent one. May be able to find a Mk7 Zetec-S with the 1.6 engine though, or go to Mk6 and get a 2.0 ST (not that great on fuel though!).

Edited by LimSlip on Thursday 6th February 16:29

[quimbles]

im the 10%. i have an ibiza for this very purpose.

test drove a fiesta. OK it handles better but its a harder ride.

the handling in the ibiza isnt great but you can tempt it into a slide a much slower speeds ..... and their cheaper.

[geeks]

As much as I hate to admit it, in that list I would take the Fiesta!

[Legend83]

LimSlip said:

The Swift and the Fiesta will be at the top of the pile for driving enjoyment, but whilst I adore my Swift I would have to defer to the Fiesta for ferrying three kids around. The Swift has a pretty minuscule boot, not as much room in the back seats as the Fiesta and the suspension is pretty harsh (assuming you mean Swift Sport). Guessing you would be looking at one of the 1.0L Ecoboost Fiestas rather than the ST?

EDIT: just saw budget, an ecoboost probably won't fall in that range, at least not a half decent one. May be able to find a Mk7 Zetec-S with the 1.6 engine though, or go to Mk6 and get a 2.0 ST (not that great on fuel though!).

Edited by LimSlip on Thursday 6th February 16:29

Spotted a 11 plate 1.6 Titanium for £4k which is top of budget but looks a decent car.

Yeah I am with you on the Swift - the idea of one puts it top of the pile but not sure about the reality...

[ZX10R NIN]

Legend83 said:

Thanks ZX but I think we plan to stick with city-car size as we have the S Max for lugging capabilities - this is for my wife to nip around town, park without bashing anything etc.

Although I do love the Alfas...

Needs to be 5 door too, sorry should have specified that.

In that case the Fiesta would be my first pick


1.6 Fiesta Titanium X

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

Titanium

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

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

[Legend83]

ZX10R NIN said:

Legend83 said:

Thanks ZX but I think we plan to stick with city-car size as we have the S Max for lugging capabilities - this is for my wife to nip around town, park without bashing anything etc.

Although I do love the Alfas...

Needs to be 5 door too, sorry should have specified that.

In that case the Fiesta would be my first pick


1.6 Fiesta Titanium X

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

Titanium

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

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

That last one was the one I had spotted.

[stevemcs]

Either the Fiesta, Swift or Mazda would be my choice, although i voted Mazda 2

[LimSlip]

ZX10R NIN said:

In that case the Fiesta would be my first pick


1.6 Fiesta Titanium X

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

I know cars are getting larger, but that Fiesta looks very much like a Mondeo

[ZX10R NIN]

LimSlip said:

I know cars are getting larger, but that Fiesta looks very much like a Mondeo

Lol so it does here's the Fiesta:

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

[Ardennes1944]

ZX10R NIN said:

Lol so it does here's the Fiesta:

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

Am I right in saying that those Powershift gearboxes are problematic, or am I mixing it up with some other version?

[Legend83]

Ardennes1944 said:

Am I right in saying that those Powershift gearboxes are problematic, or am I mixing it up with some other version?

Depends what variant. We have the 'wet-clutch' version in our S Max which is supposed to be reliable if the oil is changed every 32k miles. I think it is the "dry-clutch" version which has been problematic.

[Legend83]

Not much love for the Corsa.

[gweaver]

You can get a decent Swift 1.2 (90bhp) for that budget and they are great around town. The boot is small though.
You'd be looking at a much older Fiesta for the same money. Lots of 1.25s around - a good engine but it wouldn't know which way the Swift had gone.

Obviously you could find an older 1.6 Fiesta or Swift, but the 1l Ecoboost would be out of budget and you might be scraping the barrel to get a ZC32S Swift 1.6, which has the more compliant ride than the older ZC31S.

[LimSlip]

gweaver said:

you might be scraping the barrel to get a ZC32S Swift 1.6, which has the more compliant ride than the older ZC31S.

The ZC31 must be a spine smashing machine. My EP3 Type R was positively soft compared to my ZC32.

[gweaver]

LimSlip said:

The ZC31 must be a spine smashing machine. My EP3 Type R was positively soft compared to my ZC32.

I've long thought the ZC32S is pretty good for a hot (tepid) hatch, though IIRC the RS Clio 197/200 without the Cup pack was very good. I've passengered in taxis and several Audi's that are worse than the Swift and Clio.

The EP3 had the advantage of independent rear suspension, unlike the FN2, which I've heard is pretty hard.

[ZX10R NIN]

Ardennes1944 said:

Am I right in saying that those Powershift gearboxes are problematic, or am I mixing it up with some other version?

The 1.6 uses a wet clutch which is reliable the problems seem to be on the dry clutch version which is fitted on the 1.0T