Reliable,Practical Supermini for the other half???

[davidif]

3K Max NOT looking for performance (Not Very Pistonheads-I Know!!), BUT are looking for practicality and reliability.

Thinking Jazz or Yaris.

Anything i should know or have missed?

Thanks in anticipation.

[Deerfoot]

davidif said:

3K Max NOT looking for performance (Not Very Pistonheads-I Know!!), BUT are looking for practicality and reliability.

Thinking Jazz or Yaris.

Anything i should know or have missed?

My wife had a Mk2 (2009) Jazz for 4 years and she now has a 2014 Yaris. The Jazz is by far the more practical and so far more reliable.

The Yaris rides better, our Jazz was an EX model on 16 inch wheels, the Yaris is on 15 inch so that might have something to do with it.

However, I`d get a Jazz, despite their image on PH (I don`t care about image, neither does my wife...) they`re great litte cars.

[davidif]

Thanks Deerfoot

Exactly the sort of feedback i was hoping for.

[Deerfoot]

You`re welcome.

I`d avoid the 1.2 if you decide on a Jazz and find a 1.4, the ES is a decently equipped but our EX was a decent spec, climate, cruise and a nice glass roof (fixed but with an electric sunshade) are standard on the Mk2 EX.

Only the stupidly sized wheels (requiring 185/55/16 tyres) annoyed me during our ownership, the ES has a more common (and cheaper!) 175/65/15.

Nothing went wrong at all with our Jazz, it was serviced once a year by Honda (they do a reduced rate for cars over 5 years old) and had tyres and brake pads. The magic seats in the Jazz are fantastic, you wouldn`t believe the stuff we could get in the Jazz that we couldn`t get in our Volvo V60 estate.

The air-con packed up on our Yaris last summer and it took Toyota 4 weeks to sort under warranty, my wife wasn`t too impressed...

[V8RX7]

Suzuki Swift (preferably Sport) great fun, cheap, reliable and FUN - you'll want to borrow it too.

[davidif]

V8RX7 said:

Suzuki Swift (preferably Sport) great fun, cheap, reliable and FUN - you'll want to borrow it too.

Bizarrely i had thought about a Swift Sport which would probably 'do' the reliable bit although maybe not the practical quite so well?

[juice]

I've got an 07 Jazz (Sport!! donchaknow ) and it's a brilliant little car.

The magic seats are always up and that space is used to transport my 2 dogs. It's a commuter car apart from that. Paid 1700 quid for it with FHSH and 64K on the clock.
I thought it would be a miserable experience but it's actually quite fun to drive, does about 40MPG regardless of how you treat it and while not fast by any means is 'nippy' and more than able to keep up with traffic

[V8RX7]

davidif said:

Bizarrely i had thought about a Swift Sport which would probably 'do' the reliable bit although maybe not the practical quite so well?

Why not ?

I bought a 3dr Sport just for popping about locally in, my wife borrowed it and won't give it back !

IME if they enjoy driving it (she has a 3ltr Jag) then they will put up with the small boot etc.

[edc]

Not particularly exciting but we have a W169 Merc A class. Wife likes the higher riding seating and the inside is very spacious for the class of car.

[ZX10R NIN]

Renault Twingo GT

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

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Dynamique

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

Suzuki Swift Sport

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

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

SZ4

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

Fiat 500 Diesel jeans Edition

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Lounge

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[V8RX7]

ZX10R NIN said:

Various ads

I appreciate they are the first you came across but you'd get the later (2010+) Swift if you look.

I only paid £1000 for my Swift Sport with 82k on it

[ZX10R NIN]

As you know they're just to give the OP an idea of whats out there.

[davidif]

Some great suggestions and plenty for us to think about.

I'm also thinking about adding an Aygo to the mix, any thoughts?

Thanks

[Deerfoot]

davidif said:

Some great suggestions and plenty for us to think about.

I'm also thinking about adding an Aygo to the mix, any thoughts?

Thanks

We looked at one prior to getting the Yaris, they`re tiny inside...

[gweaver]

I managed to find a Swift 1.2 for my (now ex) gf last year. 2011, 34k miles, full main dealer history, 3dr, SZ3 spec, private sale for £3100.

It has some minor dings (nothing a PDR man couldn't fix) from car parks and had the rear bumper replaced a few years back, but overall it is a well looked after and tidy car. We gave it a thorough clean, did a bit of catch up and preventative maintenance (pollen filter, wipers, coolant, brakes bled, air con re-gas) and it's been great - just needed a new radiator cap at £9 (for a genuine one).

They're fun to drive and the 1.2 engine is a good one - simple engineering, 90bhp, 44-49 mpg brim to brim over the ~3000k miles she's had it. I don't think there are any reliability concerns with that generation of Swift (2010-2017) - some of the previous generation can have gearbox bearing problems, and the ZC31S (2006-2010) Sport is a bit thirsty and should be run on super unleaded.

For £3k, I couldn't find a Yaris anywhere near to that condition, mileage or age. Another ex gf does have a 2007 Yaris and it's also been great over the 80k miles she's put on it, but they hold their value too well for the OP. The Yaris rides well, is very practical and doesn't rattle at all, but it's dull to drive.
I also couldn't find a decent Jazz - for that price you're looking at first generation cars, and the only one for sale in our area had knackered gearbox bearings (a common issue).

Edited by gweaver on Thursday 9th January 12:58