Any advice on small hatch back run-around below £2200

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I am looking to buy a small car for my daughter in London. She will only use it for run-around trips at weekends and the occasional visit home to the Midlands at week-ends. I was thinking of perhaps a 998cc Nissan Micra or Toyota AYGO which are also cheap to insure. I have been told for cars at around 10 years old then Japanese cars tend to be more reliable. Is this true ? - As I am 130 miles away and she only knows how to check the levels she has to rely on local garages for all repairs so it needs to be cheap to maintain. Do readers have any advice on which models to consider for her ?

[okenemem]

for ka , picked one up for 200 the other day

[mick_coupe]

Toyota Yaris

Mick

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okenemem said:

for ka , picked one up for 200 the other day

Does the smaller Ford Ka engine have a belt or chain. As she is too far away for me to do any work -a belt change could be expensive it has not been done ?

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mick_coupe said:

Toyota Yaris

Mick

Yes I have been told the Toyota Yaris and Aygo are still cheap to run and reliable at 10 years old.

[DamnKraut]

Smart Fortwo model 451. Ideal to park and should not be worse for her trips up North than an Aygo or Ka as they are all rather nasty for long distance trips. Would however be more complex to maintain I'd say.

[Roger Irrelevant]

mick_coupe said:

Toyota Yaris

Mick

+1. I've banged on about how good ours has been on here quite a few times before, and I'll happily do so again. It doesn't seem to matter whether it's hardly used at all for months on end or is doing 500+ miles a week at 80 on the motorway, it just carries on working and costing naff all to run. I hardly ever bother checking the oil/coolant any more, waste of time!

[MSC_27]

I suppose the most basic models of any car would be best as there is less to go wrong ?

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Roger Irrelevant said:

+1. I've banged on about how good ours has been on here quite a few times before, and I'll happily do so again. It doesn't seem to matter whether it's hardly used at all for months on end or is doing 500+ miles a week at 80 on the motorway, it just carries on working and costing naff all to run. I hardly ever bother checking the oil/coolant any more, waste of time!

Sounds excellent. Is the Yaris the next car up from the Aygo in the Toyota range?

[Stuart M 1976]

Mazda 2 is also worth adding to the list. A great little run around, should be reliable, cheap to insure and tax. Pretty sure all the petrol engines have timing chains too.

[mick_coupe]

MSC_27 said:

Sounds excellent. Is the Yaris the next car up from the Aygo in the Toyota range?

Yes, unless your really unlucky you can't go wrong ! They appear more solid than the Aygo

Mick

[Baldchap]

The Smart 451 is not a brilliant choice. The MHDs suffer belt failure (and therefore total engine failure) at an alarming rate, despite multiple redesigns. The non-MHDs are slightly less unreliable but equally poor from a performance, economy or reliabiliy standpoint.

Smart only ever made one acceptable car, and that was a Mitsubishi. And the Mitsubishi version was better.

[jkh112]

MSC_27 said:

okenemem said:

for ka , picked one up for 200 the other day

Does the smaller Ford Ka engine have a belt or chain. As she is too far away for me to do any work -a belt change could be expensive it has not been done ?

The big issue with the older Ka is rust.

[jkh112]

You mentioned the Aygo. You may not be aware but the older Aygo is the same as the Citroen C1 and the Peugeot 107.
Edit: there is another thread on the Aygo,107, c1 just down the page. Lots of advice on them there.

Edited by jkh112 on Sunday 13th May 18:10

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Other cars suggested to me were the Nissan Micra , Renault Clio and 998cc Vauxhall Corsa. Do any readers have any comments on these cars ?

[Shiv_P]

I would also recommend the 1.25 fiesta mk6. Very reliable engine if had usual servicing etc and ensure the cambelt has been done and should be golden! Not seen any rust on my grandads 55 plate either (prefacelift). Maybe step up to the 1.4 if she wants a little extra poke (only 5bhp increase but a decent amount more torque which would help)

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mick_coupe said:

Toyota Yaris

Mick

Do any of the Yaris engine range have timing belts or chains and do these need changing at a certain mileage ?