Best small petrol 50mpg+ on a budget
Best small petrol 50mpg+ on a budget
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squarehead94

Original Poster:

24 posts

188 months

Saturday 17th December 2022
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Hi all. Friend is a delivery driver and is looking to replace his ageing Seat Arosa 1.4 TDI.
Looking at spending up to 2k-2.5k at the most. (Private sale obviously)

He wants the newest car he can get for his money and the most reliable one at that. Does around 15-18k a year (mainly short journeys but rural in Cumbria) has no issue with diesels but is afraid of more modern diesel's for potential reliability concerns (DPFs etc, with the journeys he does it may not get a chance to regenerate)

He's been averaging 51mpg in his arosa so somewhere around this figure is what he is aiming for (slightly less is fine, with the petrol Vs diesel prices considered)

He's looking at things like Suzuki Altos, Skoda citigos etc. And also Suzuki celerios (from what I can gather there just an upsized Alto - which is fine for him) celerios at 15 reg or so can be had for around the money he is looking at, altos even less. Citigo/mii/up! Tend to have a bit more a premium being a more premium car but he isn't fussy on badge, as long as it's relatively comfortable up to motorway speeds he isn't fussy.

Are there any alternatives people can suggest for a reliable small capacity petrol under 30 VED hatchbacks that will get around 50mpg?

Thanks
Steve

squarehead94

Original Poster:

24 posts

188 months

Saturday 17th December 2022
quotequote all
Forgot to mention, he's looking for something under 10 years old ideally. His Mrs has a fiat 500 which he has used once for the job and got around 48mpg which was fine, and relatively comfortable but reliability is again a concern, mainly electrical as the 1.2 engine itself is a great wee thing.

Krikkit

27,920 posts

209 months

Saturday 17th December 2022
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Mk1 5-door C1/107/Aygo and use the leftover budget to give it a good refresh - clutch, service, shocks springs and lower arms, cills sorting etc.

Once done they're great fun, easy 50mpg, easy to get spares etc.

I bought one for a friend this year, £750, plus another 300 sorting it out

bearman68

4,929 posts

160 months

Saturday 17th December 2022
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Simples. Toyota aygo, (Citroen C1 , Peugeot 107) 1.0. Fab little things.

Don't be tempted by the 1.2 turbo petrol engine - it's rubbish.

I run loads of these, tough, reliable, cheap to tax (sometimes free), >55 mpg. Not a bad drive either.

Gee Whizz

89 posts

268 months

Saturday 17th December 2022
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2012+ Kia Picanto '1'. Basic but will likely fit the bill.

Bobtherallyfan

1,502 posts

106 months

Saturday 17th December 2022
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Toyota Yaris or Suzuki Swift….very popular in Iceland for a reason.

Turtle Shed

2,835 posts

54 months

Saturday 17th December 2022
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Another vote for the Aygo. Did at least 70k miles in 10 years of ownership of hours. Petrol, maunal, four door.

Never, ever, put a foot wrong. Impossibly reliable, running costs as low as you could imagine.

And talk about economical, I once drove it back from London fairly gently and after perhaps 70-80 miles I called into the services for a quick splash as I genuinely believed the fuel gauge might have stuck. Reckon it would do 80mpg with a very light foot.

squarehead94

Original Poster:

24 posts

188 months

Saturday 17th December 2022
quotequote all
[quote=Krikkit]Mk1 5-door C1/107/Aygo and use the leftover budget to give it a good refresh - clutch, service, shocks springs and lower arms, cills sorting etc.

Wants something a tad more modern. I don't mind them though!

squarehead94

Original Poster:

24 posts

188 months

Saturday 17th December 2022
quotequote all
Bit of a noob on this forum so rather than replying individually I'll cover what's been said.

He does like the Aygo but only really in the newer shape (2014 I think? And the equivalent peugeot / 108/ c1) but a bit of a stretch money wise on private sales. Doesn't mind a cat N but the majority near that money are Cat S which puts him off.

Panda - not keen on the older shape again, do they really achieve near 50mpg though?

I guess my next question would be how does the Aygo/c1/108 stack up against say the celerio? Or possibly the panda (2013 shape)

InitialDave

14,957 posts

147 months

Saturday 17th December 2022
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I'm afraid he's trying to spend "need" money, not "like" money.

The original Aygo and its siblings are a solid option.

PositronicRay

28,864 posts

211 months

Saturday 17th December 2022
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Another vote for aygo/c1/107 great things we've had a few.


Buttons to run, good to drive, intelligent design.

911sse

191 posts

194 months

Saturday 17th December 2022
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I'd go VW Up!

dave_s13

14,015 posts

297 months

Sunday 18th December 2022
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Suzuki celery is one of the worse modern cars in existence. I'd pay 2grand not to own one.

VS02

2,411 posts

88 months

Sunday 18th December 2022
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dave_s13 said:
Suzuki celery is one of the worse modern cars in existence. I'd pay 2grand not to own one.
Have to say I agree. Truly awful.


I also prefer the old Aygo to the later model. I don’t know why, they were fundamentally similar, but it just seemed a little less soulless and fun.



For 2.5k surely you’re still going to be in Aygo zone? You could probably only pick up a very rough Up for 2.5 k, unless times have changed. I prefer the Up to the Aygo though.

bearman68

4,929 posts

160 months

Sunday 18th December 2022
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VS02 said:
For 2.5k surely you’re still going to be in Aygo zone? You could probably only pick up a very rough Up for 2.5 k, unless times have changed. I prefer the Up to the Aygo though.
You might prefer it, but it's not anywhere near as good, in terms of reliability and durability.

I'm also of the 'buy something you need, not something you fancy' school of thinking. Very very small budget has Aygo all over it. Excellent little cars.
The one I drive has just had it's 175k service, is used as a pool car, is hammered around the lanes, is in terrible condition, and is a complete hoot to drive. It has never missed a beat despite the obvious neglect it has had, and is surprisingly useful.
It does close on 500 miles to a tank of fuel which is about £50, and is about the fastest thing on 4 wheels around the local lanes and B roads, as it will nip through small gaps really nicely. Fab car.

A500leroy

8,258 posts

146 months

Sunday 18th December 2022
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panda 2012 on, 1.2, 50mpg ,done.

steveo3002

11,191 posts

202 months

Sunday 18th December 2022
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another vote for a clean aygo /c1/107 , will have to suck it up and have a mk1 shape , get it looked over for rust at the rear of the sills and axle mount area before buying

georgeyboy12345

4,563 posts

63 months

Sunday 18th December 2022
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The fact the Aygo is getting a lot of praise here tells you something - that your money will go further with one of its French cousins, so that’s where I’d be looking.

ChocolateFrog

34,954 posts

201 months

Sunday 18th December 2022
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georgeyboy12345 said:
The fact the Aygo is getting a lot of praise here tells you something - that your money will go further with one of its French cousins, so that’s where I’d be looking.
They're all polish anyway from memory.

I'd guess 107 is the way to go as the Aygo is the most well known and the C1 is used for racing as it's a few kilos lighter.