Car for short journeys without looking like a nannan?

[hit-it-with-hammer]

I really don't want a Toyota Aygo or a 106 or i10 or anything similar..

I want to buy a used car, I have £4k. I want it to be really economical, 55mpg+. Half decent looking with a few mod-cons. Known for being reliable & sturdy.

So after a week of researching I finally decided on Honda Civic 1.6 i-DTEC 2014/15. But now I've come to the conclusion that 90% of my journeys will be short, 10-20 miles per day. And now I am reading that having a diesel for short journeys is bad for the engine and I should instead be looking at Aygo, 106 etc..

Other than the usually tiny nannan cars, what else should I be looking at for my budget?

OR could I still get the Civic but thrash it down the motorway once a fortnight for 20 or so miles?

(I'm coming from a 08 Fiesta and really don't want another!)

Thanks in advance

[Nickp82]

Nissan Leaf

[ZX10R NIN]

1.4T Astra GTC:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202510257...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202511087...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202511248...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202309011...

The real world difference will be small between this & a diesel because of your usage type.

1.6d:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202511208...

[hit-it-with-hammer]

ZX10R NIN said:

1.4T Astra GTC:


The real world difference will be small between this & a diesel because of your usage type.

Thanks for the links but the Astra is coming up at only around 35mpg for in city/short journeys

[OldGermanHeaps]

If you want mega mpg from a petrol in the city it will need to be extremely lightweight.

[paul_c123]

hit-it-with-hammer said:

(I'm coming from a 08 Fiesta and really don't want another!)

I was going to suggest Ford Fiesta LOL. For 4k, if a supermini is big enough, I'd possibly suggest an alternate of a Seat Ibiza. Looks very similar (and IS similar) to a VW Polo, but more affordable. 3 door cars will be cheaper (much less desirable these days, since everything is available with 5 doors so why not just get 5) but obviously harder to sell on later.

If you need a Golf sized car, its more tricky to get anything decent in your budget. An older Golf convertible or Audi A3 convertible could be an option at this time of year.

[ZX10R NIN]

hit-it-with-hammer said:

Thanks for the links but the Astra is coming up at only around 35mpg for in city/short journeys

You won't be getting much more out of the Civic (most 1.6d's) real world on short journeys real world 35-40mpg at best vs 30-35mpg for most 1,4T petrols.

Also around 10p per litre cheaper when it comes to filling up time.

Edited by ZX10R NIN on Sunday 30th November 19:40

[hit-it-with-hammer]

OldGermanHeaps said:

If you want mega mpg from a petrol in the city it will need to be extremely lightweight.

I think maybe I'm expecting too much. I guess thats why everything points towards the Aygo etc with them being for small and light they get the mega MPG.

I guess I'll have to lower my MPG exceptions if I dont want to go really small

[hit-it-with-hammer]

ZX10R NIN said:

You won't be getting much more out of the Civic (most 1.6d's) real world on short journeys real world 35-40mpg at best vs 30-35mpg for most 1,4T petrols.

Edited by ZX10R NIN on Sunday 30th November 19:36

That's fair enough. Hows the 1.2 DS3 2015 stack up against the two? it seems a decent size and supposedly gets around 45mpg in city

[OldGermanHeaps]

Do you need ulez? Pre dpf diesel ? Audi a2
Fabia vrs?

[ZX10R NIN]

hit-it-with-hammer said:

That's fair enough. Hows the 1.2 DS3 2015 stack up against the two? it seems a decent size and supposedly gets around 45mpg in city

Do not touch the 1.2 puretech engines found in Peugeot/Citroen/DS cars.

[ConnectionError]

save your money and keep the Fiesta

[georgeyboy12345]

Get one of these Lexus CT200h, they have lovely interiors and while not rapid, they never feel slow due to their hybrid system. Don't worry about the high mileage of this one, it has a good 100,000 miles of life left in it yet
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202508235...


Supposedly these Honda CR-X hybrids have a more sporty drive
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202511137...


Another couple of Honda hybrids

Honda Insight
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202511208...


Honda Civic IMA
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202508095...


Then there's the obvious choice of the Toyota Prius if you want to look less like a "nannan" (whatever one of those is) and more like a taxi driver. This one has suspiciously low mileage for such a car so check it hasn't had a mileage blocker installed and also check the seller really is a private seller. It does look pretty clean to be fair.
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202511258...


Non-hybrids

How about something rear engined, real wheel drive and turbocharged? No it's not a 911 turbo, it's a Renault Twingo 0.9 TCe
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202511197...


The VW Up has a fairly youthful image
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202501318...


This Audi A1 1.0 TFSI won't make you look old, might make you look like a 19 year old girl though
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202511258...


Make sure the airbag has been sorted on this DS3 1.6 THP Prestige, don't want it decapitating you. Otherwise, great cars
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202510026...


Wildcard - Smart Roadster
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202509286...

Edited by georgeyboy12345 on Sunday 30th November 20:43

[Chris_i8]

Can you charge at home/work?..if so a Renault Zoe fits the bill.

[7 5 7]

ConnectionError said:

save your money and keep the Fiesta

This is the answer really, you have the perfect car already - mod cons can easily be retrofitting pending what you actually need (apple carplay/android etc).

2008 was peak Fiesta, reliable running gear, good on fuel and still look pretty modern to me, but understand if you want something different.

Just need to tread carefully with the newer high output petrol engines in some of these smaller cars, they can be a little fragile compared to what your coming from.

1.6d Civic actually is one of the better diesel engines, it was designed from the ground up with the DPF etc in mind, so it's a very good reliable unit compared to other diesels.

Edited by 7 5 7 on Monday 1st December 11:34

[Scrump]

What does “nannan” mean?

[RSTurboPaul]

Scrump said:

What does nannan mean?

Came here to ask the same.

[itcaptainslow]

7 5 7 said:

ConnectionError said:

save your money and keep the Fiesta

This is the answer really, you have the perfect car already - mod cons can easily be retrofitting pending what you actually need (apple carplay/android etc).

2008 was peak Fiesta, reliable running gear, good on fuel and still look pretty modern to me, but understand if you want something different.

Just need to tread carefully with the newer high output petrol engines in some of these smaller cars, they can be a little fragile compared to what your coming from.

1.6d Civic actually is one of the better diesel engines, it was designed from the ground up with the DPF etc in mind, so it's a very good reliable unit compared to other diesels.

Edited by 7 5 7 on Monday 1st December 11:34

This - cost to change will far outstrip any fuel saving, plus to achieve the economy you desire it ll need to be something more compromised than a Fiesta.

The price point you’re fishing at will also come with the risk of a load of problems you’ll need to be spending on to sort.

The car you have fits well (unless it’s a total basket case), stick.

[Pica-Pica]

RSTurboPaul said:

Scrump said:

What does nannan mean?

Came here to ask the same.

Baby talk, I guess.

[LunarOne]

Pica-Pica said:

RSTurboPaul said:

Scrump said:

What does nannan mean?

Came here to ask the same.

Baby talk, I guess.

I've never heard of it either. Sounds Scottish to me.