Replacement for Aygo - Nippy-er?

[1Addicted]

My OH has a little Aygo (first gen, 1.0 3cyl) which we'd like to upgrade. She does only a few local miles in it per week (70 at a push) so it's great to have such a perfect city/town car. Despite the clunky...everything...the running costs are superb and honestly, it's quite fun to drive when you just appreciate it for everything it lacks; I just wish it had a little more grunt to get moving and/or to get out of trouble.

We're looking for a car very similar in terms of economy/tax and other costs, just one that's a little quicker that's all, and perhaps one that's a little more equipped/comfortable for longer journeys.
The reliability has been quite good also so it's important that this isn't worsened if possible.

She asked me what I thought and my mind is blank, so I'm hoping that you may have some suggestions.

The budget is £4k really as she has other commitments.

[Supercell]

Something like http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2014...

The only problems are the tax is more expensive (if the aygo is £30 per year?), but a solid reliable car, and 10 seconds 0-60 so brisk enough?

Edited by Supercell on Monday 5th January 14:39

[allergictocheese]

Turbocharge it!

[BritishRacinGrin]

Nippier?

[Matthen]

BritishRacinGrin said:

Nippier?

My thoughts exactly..

Implies its "nippy" in the first place. If you're only doing 70 miles a week, surely a V8 is whats needed?

[1Addicted]

Supercell said:

Something like http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2014...

The only problems are the tax is more expensive (if the aygo is £30 per year?), but a solid reliable car, and 10 seconds 0-60 so brisk enough?

Edited by Supercell on Monday 5th January 14:39

Good shout! I forgot about those.

What it'll come down to in the end is, me showing her a bunch of car photos, she'll pick the ones she likes the look of and we'll go and look at a few. So, if I can nail all the technical requirements before showing her the pictures, we may find a good one.

I think it's (sickeningly) cheaper at £20 but it's not a huge deal if it goes up with the new car if it's firmly under £150 for a year. I suddenly feel dizzy at taxing mine at £500.


You guys, it's nippy from around 0-20mph and that's it.

She doesn't need a V8 , she needs a car that costs FA so that she can direct her funds elsewhere. Everything about a £4k V8 is going to cost more but I like your thinking.

On the forced induction note, Rotrex make a supercharger kit for the Aygo which apparently the stabdard engine takes without fuss. Not going to happen though...

Anyway, I have performance in the form of a V8; she gets that on weekends.

Edited by 1Addicted on Monday 5th January 15:02

[Antics]

Ford Fiesta 1.0 125 Ecoboost?

[1Addicted]

Antics said:

Ford Fiesta 1.0 125 Ecoboost?

Nice little car, but we'll struggle for £4k...probably with the Ka (Fiat Panda sibling) also.

Edited by 1Addicted on Monday 5th January 15:02

[vtecyo]

Panda 100 HP.

[Supercell]

A few more to consider...

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2014...

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2014...

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2014...

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2014...

Admittedly some are larger than the aygo, but there we are. There are the usual fiestas and polos, but most seem to be around 13s to 0-60, which is not much quicker than the aygo now.

[HannsG]

I see some of these aygo type cars on the arse of my M3 on 40mph+ roads.

The owners must be ragging the fuk outta them. Rag them and you still get 50mpg+?

[J4CKO]

BritishRacinGrin said:

Nippier?

I hate that word but we have a C1 and they arent totally hopeless, the trouble is that it has a willing little engine but intergalacticly spaced gears.

They really should do a 100 ish hp one with better seats, sportier gearing, bit more grip and better handling.

In the meantime, alternatives.

Twingo Renaultsport ?
Clio 182
Polo GTI
Panda 100 HP
Swift GTi
Lupo GTI (scene tax though)

[1Addicted]

vtecyo said:

Panda 100 HP.

Supercell said:

A few more to consider...

Thanks

HannsG said:

I see some of these aygo type cars on the arse of my M3 on 40mph+ roads.

The owners must be ragging the fuk outta them. Rag them and you still get 50mpg+?

You better believe it. There is a sweet spot you can keep it in which allows you to (feel like you can) play with the big boys for a split second but then it's gone. You can drive them as hard as you like with little effect on economy. A full tank costs her about £30 and last about a month at the minute.

J4CKO said:

I hate that word but we have a C1 and they arent totally hopeless, the trouble is that it has a willing little engine but intergalacticly spaced gears.

They really should do a 100 ish hp one with better seats, sportier gearing, bit more grip and better handling.

In the meantime, alternatives.

Twingo Renaultsport ?
Clio 182
Polo GTI
Panda 100 HP
Swift GTi
Lupo GTI (scene tax though)

Yeah, not a great word but it describes a car well that is not fast, merely...errr...zippy...small and light...Hopefully you get what I mean.

I totally agree about the gearing on these cars.

[PositronicRay]

1Addicted said:

[

You better believe it. There is a sweet spot you can keep it in which allows you to (feel like you can) play with the big boys for a split second but then it's gone.

As long as it's not uphill.

[Leicester Loyal]

Polo GTI.

[Rickyy]

J4CKO said:

BritishRacinGrin said:

Nippier?

I hate that word but we have a C1 and they arent totally hopeless, the trouble is that it has a willing little engine but intergalacticly spaced gears.

They really should do a 100 ish hp one with better seats, sportier gearing, bit more grip and better handling.

In the meantime, alternatives.

Twingo Renaultsport ?
Clio 182
Polo GTI
Panda 100 HP
Swift GTi
Lupo GTI (scene tax though)

2nd to 3rd gear is a pain in a C1! It will redline in 2nd at 65mph, change to 3rd and its doing around 3.5krpm!

I hate my (my OHs really) C1 with a passion! Its only saving grace is the non-existent running costs. Circumstances have changed now, so when the lease is up this October, I'll probably replace it with a warm hatch of some description, a Mini Cooper S or a Suzuki Swift Sport maybe.

[paranha]

My Aygo was replaced by a Kia Picanto, Super car at a great price.3 years later I wouldn't swop for Anything as its a great comfortable reliable car.Good roadholding and performance around town or long distance.Zero road tax.

Edited by paranha on Monday 5th January 17:01

[nickofh]

Mitsubishi Colt

1.3 Cleartec , still nearly 60 mpg , £30 tax and a few seconds off the 0-60 time( 10secs ). Little 1.3 Mivec makes a nice little sound too. Should also be pretty solidly reliable too !

Something like

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/09-09-Mitsubishi-Colt-1-...

Or a colt Ralliart

Not so much economy and higher tax , but a genuinely quick little car

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2010-Mitsubishi-Colt-Ral...

Edited by nickofh on Monday 5th January 17:14

[loose cannon]

Twingo 1.2 turbo very nippy indeed

[J4CKO]

Rickyy said:

J4CKO said:

BritishRacinGrin said:

Nippier?

I hate that word but we have a C1 and they arent totally hopeless, the trouble is that it has a willing little engine but intergalacticly spaced gears.

They really should do a 100 ish hp one with better seats, sportier gearing, bit more grip and better handling.

In the meantime, alternatives.

Twingo Renaultsport ?
Clio 182
Polo GTI
Panda 100 HP
Swift GTi
Lupo GTI (scene tax though)

2nd to 3rd gear is a pain in a C1! It will redline in 2nd at 65mph, change to 3rd and its doing around 3.5krpm!

I hate my (my OHs really) C1 with a passion! Its only saving grace is the non-existent running costs. Circumstances have changed now, so when the lease is up this October, I'll probably replace it with a warm hatch of some description, a Mini Cooper S or a Suzuki Swift Sport maybe.

We only have one so we can get eldest insured to use it, my wife loves it, I must admit I find it really useful for shopping and town driving but would not want one full time, I will take it over my 350Z a lot of the time.