Reliable smaller car up to 3.5k for younger family member?

[zomer265]

Evening,

As title she’s had a Clio and currently got a 207 but had quite few issues with it.

Criteria is small hatchback, petrol, manual and up to about a 1.4 and obviously budget of 3.5k

Ideal as reliable as possible without any major common faults.

Any recommendations will be greatly appreciated.

Cheers

Edited by zomer265 on Monday 7th June 21:40

[LochTay]

We have Ibiza 1.4 16v (the old engine, not new TSI). Ours is in Estate version, but you can get the hatch.

Bought at three years old / 35k. We have had it 6 years and it will hit 100k this summer. Totally reliable.

Over ordinary servicing and wear parts it has cost: one weld to the exhaust (it is a full unit - £500 vs £60 repair...) and one alternator and battery. On original clutch.

Ours has had two 17 year olds learn to drive in it, carries bikes or canoe on the roof regularly, and has been used on many a longer journey from Highlands to Nottinghamshire. Heck, I did a reverse NC500 one week for work with it loaded up with kit. It has not had an easy life.

When things do go wrong or wear out, the parts are cheap enough as far as VW go as they are from an older generation of car. Discs, pads, clutch etc is dead cheap.

If I bought again I would avoid our Copa model - the tyres are about £30 a pop more than the smaller wheels.

If it died today, I would go out and buy the same car.

Currently worth £2-3k it seems.

[ElectricSoup]

Toyota Yaris. Honda Jazz. KIA Rio. Hyundai i20. Mazda 2.

i.e. Japanese or Korean.

[MattyD803]

Reliability wise.....i'd probably say Suzuki Swift, Toyota Yaris....perhaps even Honda Jazz?

But perhaps if a little more style conscious she'd want a Fiesta - cant beat em!

[LightningBlue]

ElectricSoup said:

Toyota Yaris. Honda Jazz. KIA Rio. Hyundai i20. Mazda 2.

i.e. Japanese or Korean.

Yep, except perhaps Nissan.

I’d probably look to a Toyota of some kind, Auris could be in the mix and the Rio drives quite nicely. The previous generation Fiesta is meant to be very reliable with the 1.25 engine as well. I know plenty of people with Fiestas who rarely have issues, just not the most exciting car as they’re so common.

[XR]

Suzuki Swift, Alto/Celerio, C1/107/Yaris

[Maracus]

My 18 year old lad has an Aygo. It's been faultless in the 15 months he's had it. It seems to sip petrol.

Plus the air con still works nicely.

[kiethton]

Surely its a 1.25 or 1.4 fiesta - had a few in the family and they've been bulletproof, despite a lot of abuse.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202104171...

[PartsMonkey]

Another vote for the Kia Rio. Their 7 year warranty and their tendency to be bought by older clientele means you're more likely to find well maintained examples. Also I'd recommend the Cee'd. It's a little bigger but also has better build quality as it's a European exclusive.

[ZX10R NIN]

zomer265 said:

Evening,

As title she’s had a Clio and currently got a 207 but had quite few issues with it.

Criteria is small hatchback, petrol, manual and up to about a 1.4 and obviously budget of 3.5k

Ideal as reliable as possible without any major common faults.

Any recommendations will be greatly appreciated.

Cheers

Edited by zomer265 on Monday 7th June 21:40

Astra GTC Sport 120 Smart looking easy to maintain

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202106073...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202102058...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202102058...

DS3 DStyle Plus

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202104271...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202104121...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202104271...


DSport Plus

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202106043...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202103230...

Mazda 2 Sport

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202105202...

[ScoobyChris]

My default position now is Pug 107/C1/Aygo. Pretty much bullet proof, cheap, no frills motoring with a surprisingly revvy engine and go-cart chassis.

Chris

[billshoreham]

My daughter has had an Aygo for several years, 2009 bought it in 2012 (bought it at 3 years old,) 1 owner and service history from a Toyota dealer at not that much over 3.5K. about 5K I think. Been super reliable, cheap to run and has what she needs Bluetooth, aircon, decent sound system and goes fine, She loves it!