City car for £5k - what would you get?

[El Jack]

A lazy weekend and pent up frustration over toiling a V10 just to pick up some milk leads me to ask the question, what would you get as a city car that has some soul?

Here's the criteria:
- Budget of £5k (though flexible)
- Autobox ideally
- Low insurance group
- Motorway capable/comfortable (120 miles/week)
- 40+ MPG
- 300+ litre luggage capacity

Girlfriend suggested a Fiat 500, which is cute (almost too cute). Friend of a friend is mechanically inclined so basic servicing will be at minimal cost.

Give me your best shot.

Edited by El Jack on Saturday 24th September 14:49

[freakybacon]

Fiat Panda? Aygo/107/C1? Nissan Pixo? Suzuki Alto? At £5k you are not far of a new one really though.

[Dalto123]

Smart car, plenty of space, easy to park and plenty of mpg's

[s m]

El Jack said:

A lazy weekend and pent up frustration over toiling a V10 just to pick up some milk leads me to ask the question, what would you get as a city car that has some soul?

Here's the criteria:
- Budget of £5k (though flexible)
- Autobox ideally
- Low insurance group
- Motorway capable/comfortable (120 miles/week)
- 40+ MPG
- 300+ litre luggage capacity

Girlfriend suggested a Fiat 500, which is cute (almost too cute).

Edited by El Jack on Saturday 24th September 14:49

300 litres capacity with the seats down presumably?

[Kiltox]

I was going to suggest a Kia Picanto until I saw the boot space requirement - I think you'll need to step upp to a supermini (Corsa/Fiesta/etc size) rather than a city car.

[nottyash]

I wouldn't.

[Steffan]

Dalto123 said:

Smart car, plenty of space, easy to park and plenty of mpg's

You have to respect any product that genuinely has cachet value. Not easy.

Smart cars do: so do a few other cars but no other city cars.

Get a Smart car as good as you can afford.

You will enjoy it AND be able to resell it AND talk about it for ever after.

They are a Style Icon. How many of those can you buy?

[melvster]

VW Lupo GTI or Lupo 1.4 Sport
Fiat Panda 100HP
Mini One
or if you want some real eco box, Citroen C1/Aygo/107 are probably your best bet.

[Beeby]

Citroen C1's are affected by gearbox problems and are best avoided.

[sjg]

Unfotunately most small autos are rubbish. I'd probaby get a Jazz.

[Fleckers]

Kia i guess

[FamilyDub]

melvster said:

Fiat Panda 100HP

^^ this would get my vote.

[melvster]

What about a Citroen C2?? the VTR is a semi auto.

http://www4.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

or if you want one with better fuel economy, the Furio is worth a look
http://www4.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

mega cheap as well.

[melvster]

FamilyDub said:

^^ this would get my vote.

I think it is the pick of the bunch but the OP has specified an Auto.

[chard]

What no MX5??

[pk500]

hyundai i10 we`ve got 1 each to run about in and a tvr each for the weekend, I bought a corsa 1.2 last year it was a load of crap so chopped it for the second i10 ,

El Jack said:

A lazy weekend and pent up frustration over toiling a V10 just to pick up some milk leads me to ask the question, what would you get as a city car that has some soul?

Here's the criteria:
- Budget of £5k (though flexible)
- Autobox ideally
- Low insurance group
- Motorway capable/comfortable (120 miles/week)
- 40+ MPG
- 300+ litre luggage capacity

Girlfriend suggested a Fiat 500, which is cute (almost too cute). Friend of a friend is mechanically inclined so basic servicing will be at minimal cost.

Give me your best shot.

Edited by El Jack on Saturday 24th September 14:49

[Dog Star]

I've just leased a C1 VTR+ as I'm sick of "wasting" my SL500 sitting in jams and I don't want to ride my motorbike on the commute anymore (one of the twerps I see texting willnget me one day).

They look pretty Coll and are uber economical.

[RichyBoy]

Beeby said:

Citroen C1's are affected by gearbox problems and are best avoided.

what's this? Does that mean all three variants have gearbox problems?

[va1o]

I think the Fiat 500 fits the bill quite nicely, you should be able to get a 08-reg one for £5k.

[FamilyDub]

melvster said:

FamilyDub said:

^^ this would get my vote.

I think it is the pick of the bunch but the OP has specified an Auto.

No he didn't. Ideally was the word used, not 'had to be', so with that, I'll stick with my contribution.