Cheap to run small second car around 3-5 k?

[ED209]

Currently got a Mercedes’ Vito brabus sport x van (3 litre diesel auto) and an Audi A5 sport back on a good lease deal with about a year to run. As my wife sent her lease car back early she mainly uses the audi and me the van. The van is a hoot with 260hp and a load of torque but it is a bit crap on fuel and not Ulez compliant. This isn’t a major issue at the moment but come the summer Newcastle city centre where I often work is becoming a low emissions zone. As public transport isn’t an option due to my shifts and where I live I am considering getting a small runaround to use for work commute which is about 13 miles and short runs to the shops etc.

Will probably be looking at a budget of 3k - 5k and something that is free or cheap to tax, cheap to insure and with good mpg. Looking at a small capacity petrol engine and something that isn’t tragically under powered and reasonably refined. I would want something reliable and not likely so cost a fortune to keep on the road for the next 5 years.

My first thoughts were vw up with the 90hp engine but they seem rare and out of budget. What does PH suggest? I am in County Durham if that would help with suggestions?

[Matt Clay]

Swift Sport
Honda CRZ

[georgeyboy12345]

Alfa Romeo MiTo TwinAir
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202110238...


Ford Fiesta 1.0 Ecoboost - possibly suspect on the reliability front
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202110299...


Comfortable with your masculinity? How about this Fiat 500 TwinAir?
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202111219...



If you are prepared to spend up to £30 a year on tax, your options widen

Toyota Yaris 1.3 VVT-i - this is the most reliable of the lot here
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202105192...


Seat Leon 1.2 TSI
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202111169...

[ED209]

Matt Clay said:

Swift Sport
Honda CRZ

Crz may be an option that I haven’t considered. Swift sport is maybe a bit close to a hot hatch.

[ED209]

georgeyboy12345 said:

Alfa Romeo MiTo TwinAir
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202110238...


Ford Fiesta 1.0 Ecoboost - possibly suspect on the reliability front
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202110299...


Comfortable with your masculinity? How about this Fiat 500 TwinAir?
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202111219...



If you are prepared to spend up to £30 a year on tax, your options widen

Toyota Yaris 1.3 VVT-i - this is the most reliable of the lot here
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202105192...


Seat Leon 1.2 TSI
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202111169...

Yaris looks sensible, the 500 twin air looks quite good, the wife might decide to use that instead of the audi if I bought one! Are the twin air engines not similar to the eco boost in that the quoted mpg figures are total fantasy?

[georgeyboy12345]

ED209 said:

georgeyboy12345 said:

Alfa Romeo MiTo TwinAir
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202110238...


Ford Fiesta 1.0 Ecoboost - possibly suspect on the reliability front
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202110299...


Comfortable with your masculinity? How about this Fiat 500 TwinAir?
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202111219...



If you are prepared to spend up to £30 a year on tax, your options widen

Toyota Yaris 1.3 VVT-i - this is the most reliable of the lot here
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202105192...


Seat Leon 1.2 TSI
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202111169...

Yaris looks sensible, the 500 twin air looks quite good, the wife might decide to use that instead of the audi if I bought one! Are the twin air engines not similar to the eco boost in that the quoted mpg figures are total fantasy?

Yeah, as with all small turbocharged engines. You are never getting 80 mpg from one of those TwinAirs! 45-50 mpg is realistic.

What about the Leon? It's pretty basic spec but has the advantage of a bit more room compared to the others

[ED209]

georgeyboy12345 said:

Yeah, as with all small turbocharged engines. You are never getting 80 mpg from one of those TwinAirs! 45-50 mpg is realistic.

What about the Leon? It's pretty basic spec but has the advantage of a bit more room compared to the others

Leon is too big really. The van is for family duties, holidays etc. the wife has just got shot of a Leon estate.

Small and easy to slot into small parking spaces would be an advantage as well. An up gti is probably the ideal solution but about 10k too expensive

[WelshRich]

The twin-air is a characterful engine - I recently sold a Panda 4X4 with one and I’ve regretted it ever since. (I can see myself getting another one before too long)

[ED209]

WelshRich said:

The twin-air is a characterful engine - I recently sold a Panda 4X4 with one and I’ve regretted it ever since. (I can see myself getting another one before too long)

What’s the reliability like?

[Common Porpoise]

I've got an Audi A2 for that sort of thing. bought as a temporary commuting car a few years ago but i cant let it go!

[WelshRich]

ED209 said:

What’s the reliability like?

I’m a sample size of one but the only cost to me outside of normal servicing was fitting some decent winter tyres… (literally nothing broke in the 3 years I owned it)

I did read that some people recommend premium fuel but I never bothered and the vehicle manual said it wasn’t necessary. It did take a few weeks to reset my “ears” for when to change gear due to there being only 50% of the cylinders I’m used to…

[ZX10R NIN]

Mito Veloce:140 robust reliable & swift

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202112140...

95:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202112070...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202112110...

1.6 DS3 N/A engine is reliable & they're a nice place to be:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202112160...

208 XY

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202109177...

Kia Rio 3

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202112030...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202112020...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202112130...

[ED209]

ZX10R NIN said:

Mito Veloce:140 robust reliable & swift

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202112140...

95:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202112070...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202112110...

1.6 DS3 N/A engine is reliable & they're a nice place to be:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202112160...

208 XY

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202109177...

Kia Rio 3

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202112030...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202112020...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202112130...

I thought you would be along ha ha, the wife was looking at buying a new mito in about 2012 but the dealer wouldn’t even offer her a test drive so we walked.

Am I right in thinking the mito is a corsa in posh clothes?

[ZX10R NIN]

No it's Punto Evo in posh clothes

[anonymous-user]

megane dci 1.5.... looks great in coupe form and 65mpg on the motorway....

[ED209]

Mr Spoon said:

megane dci 1.5.... looks great in coupe form and 65mpg on the motorway....

Too big and without looking almost certainly not ulez complaint. Plus I am not looking for a motorway car.

[alabbasi]

Are they still making the micra?

[ED209]

alabbasi said:

Are they still making the micra?

Yes but not the bubble one I learned to drive in around 1994.

[Jonny_]

ZX10R NIN said:

No it's Punto Evo in posh clothes

... which is also worth a look:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202107064...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202111270...

[ChrisH72]

I'd also say Swift Sport.

If an Up gti is ideal I'm not sure why the Swift is too much like a hot hatch?

You could just about squeeze the 2nd generation Swift into your 5k budget and they seem to get a lot of praise.

Other than that if you want small small then maybe an Aygo/C1/107?