High mileage relation
High mileage relation
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Discussion

cheesejunkie

Original Poster:

5,055 posts

36 months

Sunday 23rd November
quotequote all
Not really asking but if some have some thoughts on the situation I'd be interested in them.

I've an elderly relative that is unlikely to have many years of driving left but needs a new car. He's driving one of our old ones that's unsuitable for his situation and is becoming unreliable. He needs reliability.

Thinking something small and cheap but new enough to avoid too many problems. A small Hyundai/Toyota or some such. Is this the right approach?

His independence is important to him (and us) and his knackered old car being a gamble whether it starts has pushed beyond his patience. So risky old cars are not where I'm looking.

I suppose what I'm asking is, is a small cheap petrol the best option for a man who needs a car every day but is unlikely to do more than 3-4 miles most days?

Tisy

1,060 posts

11 months

Sunday 23rd November
quotequote all
Just get him a ~ 15 year old C1 / 107 . Aygo that's in good cosmetic condition and isn't rusty underneath. £2000 from a dealer and it'll never not start or breakdown.

What does he have currently that is apparently not starting every day and breaking down?

reddiesel

2,842 posts

66 months

Sunday 23rd November
quotequote all
Toyota Aygo all day long for me . I bought the sister one for a few thousand a couple of years back and the
reliability has been incredible . Four doors are better than two .

Tisy

1,060 posts

11 months

Sunday 23rd November
quotequote all
^ Don't get the 1.2.

cheesejunkie

Original Poster:

5,055 posts

36 months

Sunday 23rd November
quotequote all
18 year old diesel that has done less than 2 miles a day for the last 8 years and is a running miracle of welding and MOT passes.

It could be kept on the road, but you know as well as I do, once the man has decided to change car that's it, no explaining that it's maintainable will override it not starting whilst other cars drive by oblivious. The mental switch has been made that it's to be replaced.

ExBoringVolvoDriver

10,822 posts

62 months

Sunday 23rd November
quotequote all
Newest Honda Jazz that is within budget

DodgyGeezer

45,425 posts

209 months

Sunday 23rd November
quotequote all
Might not a Dacia of some flavour be an option?

wevster

900 posts

176 months

Sunday 23rd November
quotequote all
Tisy said:
Just get him a ~ 15 year old C1 / 107 . Aygo that's in good cosmetic condition and isn't rusty underneath. £2000 from a dealer and it'll never not start or breakdown.

What does he have currently that is apparently not starting every day and breaking down?
My Daughter has a 10 year old C1 it's been absolutely faultless, great little cars.




Edited by wevster on Sunday 23 November 13:21


Edited by wevster on Sunday 23 November 13:21

ChocolateFrog

33,690 posts

192 months

Sunday 23rd November
quotequote all
What's the budget?

I quite like the Kia Picanto. I looked after a relatives one and it could take some abuse. She ran it dry of oil completely to the point it wouldn't even start. Topped up the oil to the tune of about 3 litres and years later it's still running.

There's also something like a brand new Spring for about £10k. That will probably be about as hassle free as it's possible to get and no issues just doing 2-4 miles a day.

cheesejunkie

Original Poster:

5,055 posts

36 months

Sunday 23rd November
quotequote all
10k's a bit high.

7-8K is max budget.

Browsing Kias at the moment.

Honestly, the man does not care about cars and I'm glad you've given me a few options to consider. Won't repeat to the wife how many years we need the car to last for (joking).

Sporky

9,488 posts

83 months

Sunday 23rd November
quotequote all
cheesejunkie said:
I suppose what I'm asking is, is a small cheap petrol the best option for a man who needs a car every day but is unlikely to do more than 3-4 miles most days?
Or a Twizzy? Half serious.

Jamescrs

5,623 posts

84 months

Sunday 23rd November
quotequote all
A Dacia Duster would probably make sense, a little bigger and more roomy than a 107/C1 and a slightly elevated seating position may be favourable

cheesejunkie

Original Poster:

5,055 posts

36 months

Sunday 23rd November
quotequote all
Going to take him to a local dealership Tuesday and see what he likes. It has a few small petrol cars.

Thanks for all replies.

As I'm sure you can all relate he's not fussy but has opinions. His daughter (my wife) likes to think he's easy going. His son in law (me) who takes him to the football most weekends knows he's not easy going and has opinions.

It'll be a small petrol and thanks for alll the options.

Selfishly any car where I don't get orders from my wife to help my father in law\s a good car by me.

It'll be the second car we've given him that's lasted more than 18 years, one lasted less. I do like seeing old cars surviving but an elderly relative relying on transport is a different problem, reliability is key.

ScoobyChris

2,207 posts

221 months

Sunday 23rd November
quotequote all
Not sure where in the country you are but we have a 2010 petrol 107 we re looking to move on. Cosmetically has seen better days but mechanically sound and MOT till June next year.

Tisy

1,060 posts

11 months

ScoobyChris said:
Not sure where in the country you are but we have a 2010 petrol 107 we re looking to move on. Cosmetically has seen better days but mechanically sound and MOT till June next year.
Clearly an unreliable piece of junk! Need to spend a minimum of £8000 to get something reliable to do a 4 mile round trip every couple of days! /s

cheesejunkie

Original Poster:

5,055 posts

36 months

Tisy said:
Clearly an unreliable piece of junk! Need to spend a minimum of £8000 to get something reliable to do a 4 mile round trip every couple of days! /s
Lol, I'm not disagreeing, 8k is a wedge of cash for a car that does very little.

Every day though, not every couple of days. Has to start every day. 4 miles is ambitious, more like 1.5-2 most days. But having a car contributes to his independence.

Looking at the dealer we're taking him to for a look there are cars in the 4.5K range that would suit him. At the end of the day I'll not tell him what to buy but I'll be expected to offer some advice.




Matt_T

1,011 posts

93 months

Is a Nissan Leaf or Renault Zoe an option here? Can he charge it in his garage?
If he's only going to be driving 3-4 miles a day it could be a very cheap / reliable solution.

(...also, I assume the title of the post was tongue in cheek as he is doing 3-4 miles per day?)

cheesejunkie

Original Poster:

5,055 posts

36 months

Very tongue in cheek.

We've an EV but you're talking about a bloke who we had to get a candy bar phone for because he can't use smart phones. No point in sending him an SMS, he doesn't know how to read them and can't reply. Floods his car on a regular basis as he still floors the accelerator when starting it even though that's not needed on a modern car. Then I get the phone call.

I joke with my wife about old dogs and new tricks but her side of the family don't do technology. I'm a geek and would love to get him an EV but it wouldn't work.

Matt_T

1,011 posts

93 months

ha ha, ok understood!

How about a Mazda 2 - there is the old shape which is a Mazda (the newer one is a rebadged Toyota Yaris hybrid but this starts at about £10,000)

https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/19307140

Edited by Matt_T on Monday 24th November 13:16

cheesejunkie

Original Poster:

5,055 posts

36 months

Matt_T said:
ha ha, ok understood!

How about a Mazda 2 - there is the old shape which is a Mazda (the newer one is a rebadged Toyota Yaris hybrid but this starts at about £10,000)

https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/19307140

Edited by Matt_T on Monday 24th November 13:16
Glad of the recommendations. Had a Mazda 6 years ago and rate them as reliable enough. Truth be told I've seen so few on the road that I totally forgot about Mazda.