Replacing the wife's car, what to get?

[James-k8r82]

My partners trust Corolla is getting long in the tooth, so it is due replacement.

Stipulations are:

Petrol
Cheap to tax/insure
Cheap to run
Easy (for me) to service
Space for a little one (on the way)
Budget of £5k/6k
Reliable

I considered the following:

Ford Focus 1.0 Ecoboost (125): Reliability issues?
Suzuki Swift: Tiny boot
Nissan Qashcow: Not cheap to run
VW Polo: German

Any thoughts on these and any more suggestions?

[Tyre Smoke]

Vauxhall Corsa.

[ChrisR99]

One vote for the Focus. I’ve had my 2014 1.0 Ecoboost for nearly 3.5 years and not had a single issue with it. It’s nippy and decent on fuel too.

If you can stretch to it, try and get a late 2013 onwards. I believe cars built from November 13 onwards are fitted with a different coolant hose that doesn’t split causing loss of coolant which was the main issue with these.

[syl]

Polo or Golf depending on how much boot space required and how often you carry adults in the back.

[James-k8r82]

ChrisR99 said:

One vote for the Focus. I’ve had my 2014 1.0 Ecoboost for nearly 3.5 years and not had a single issue with it. It’s nippy and decent on fuel too.

If you can stretch to it, try and get a late 2013 onwards. I believe cars built from November 13 onwards are fitted with a different coolant hose that doesn’t split causing loss of coolant which was the main issue with these.

Looked to tick all the boxes then I read a load of horror stories of the engine giving up and clutch issues. Read into the coolant hose issue and it seems pretty straight forward to me and largely resolved by recalls. Wasn't sure if its just mud sticking to an otherwise very clever engine.

[kiethton]

Toyota Yaris, if to small an Auris - the automotive cockroach.

If you get a hybrid it'll use hardly any fuel either

[designforlife]

Toyota bB if you can find one.

[Zetec-S]

Another vote for the Focus, or if you (she) doesn't mind something smaller then a Fiesta?

[Deerfoot]

Your budget will get you a Civic 1.8. Like this...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Heated leather, Nav, plenty of space for a pushchair, reliable etc..

[PurpleTurtle]

The biggest thing that jumps out of this is "space for a little one". Modern pushchairs are massive when folded, so purely on how much boot space they take up I would go for the Focus, if your only pushchair is a large 'travel system' type. The Polo would've been my choice aside from that.

We have an Uppababy Vista buggy, which is generally brilliant, but after about 2 months my wife got fed up of its weight when collapsing and lifting it into the car. So we ended up buying a small traditional McLaren folding buggy as our 'car buggy', far easier for her to handle and takes up far less space in the boot.

[James-k8r82]

Deerfoot said:

Your budget will get you a Civic 1.8. Like this...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Heated leather, Nav, plenty of space for a pushchair, reliable etc..

This is what I would go for - I have the Mk8 Civic and is very strong all round. She, is not sold on the looks and wants something different from me...

Also, not that cheap to tax and just about 40MPG isn't brilliant

[Martyn76]

Would an electric car work? Mileage and usage dependent obviously but you can get a Nissan Leaf for under 6k.

Seem pretty reliable and cheap to run?

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

[ZX10R NIN]

Astra Elite easy to maintain & it's a decent car.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Giulietta Veloce

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Kia Ceed GT

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

1.6 Mazda3 Sport

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Volvo V40 T2

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

[Pica-Pica]

syl said:

Polo or Golf depending on how much boot space required and how often you carry adults in the back.

The Polo seems to be bigger inside than the current Golf. I sat in both a week ago, the Polo seemed roomier behind the driver, and nicer too.

[Mo28]

Toyota Yaris/Auris Hybrid or Urban Cruiser

[elanfan]

Volvo V40

There’s a reason that Volvo are top of the best reliability polls

[The Mad Monk]

James-k8r82 said:

My partners trust Corolla is getting long in the tooth, so it is due replacement.

Stipulations are:

Petrol
Cheap to tax/insure
Cheap to run
Easy (for me) to service
Space for a little one (on the way)
Budget of £5k/6k
Reliable

I considered the following:

Ford Focus 1.0 Ecoboost (125): Reliability issues?
Suzuki Swift: Tiny boot
Nissan Qashcow: Not cheap to run
VW Polo: German

Any thoughts on these and any more suggestions?

Corolla?

[lornemalvo]

I went through the same process wit the same criteria. Bought a 5 door skoda citigo. Plenty of room, lovely to drive, cheap to run. Perfect

[jason61c]

Another corolla.

That kia would be ok.

[Superleg48]

elanfan said:

Volvo V40

There’s a reason that Volvo are top of the best reliability polls

Slightly off topic, but I have held recently a very strange and inexplicable desire to own a late model well specified petrol V90 (T6). I am hoping these feelings will pass soon. I have taken paracetamol.