Small car ideas - Manual, £10K ish

[SlowV6]

Hi All,

Bit of background. Our daughter will be 17 in a couple of months and will be learning to drive. Our current fleet comprises an ageing E91 330D M-Sport auto and a Mondeo Mk4.5 Titanium X estate (land yacht size!). The Ford does family lugging so is staying. So we are looking to get shot of the beemer and get a small, manual car. The plan is to add the daughter as a named driver whilst learning and if/when she passes her test equip her with the default C1/Aygo/107 or similar and remove her from the insurance.

I would like small car to be fun to drive and anticipate it getting used for most short journeys as well as my wife using it for work. Her usage is mostly urban but can occasionally extend to 50miles each way into more rural Dorset (we are near Poole). We are both looking for something less cumbersome to drive and park in town.

Criteria:
Budget £10K or so.
5 doors
manual
petrol
folding rear seats so wife can get work gubbins in which can be a bit bulky.
Heated seats (borderline optional or possibly mandatory)

The cars I have considered so far are:
Kia Picanto 1.0 T-GDi GT-Line
Suzuki Swift Boosterjet 1.0T
Fiesta 1.0T Titanium X (need the X pack to get heated seats)

I would buy outright. No finance. I anticipate keeping whatever we buy for a good few years.

As you can see the 1.0T flavour appeals! My favourite on the list is the Kia at this early stage, although I have a hunch the Fiesta is arguably the best all rounder. I am a little bit nervous of the ecoboost engine and also the expensive wet belt change irks. The Kia only just sneaks in at the top of the budget.

I would be keen on our resident experts thoughts on the above, alternatives to consider and also any ownership experience of any of the above. Obviously cars continue to be expensive post-Covid. Bit annoying there isn't an obvious softening of prices but we are where we are.

thanks.

[georgeyboy12345]

SlowV6 said:

Hi All,

Bit of background. Our daughter will be 17 in a couple of months and will be learning to drive. Our current fleet comprises an ageing E91 330D M-Sport auto and a Mondeo Mk4.5 Titanium X estate (land yacht size!). The Ford does family lugging so is staying. So we are looking to get shot of the beemer and get a small, manual car. The plan is to add the daughter as a named driver whilst learning and if/when she passes her test equip her with the default C1/Aygo/107 or similar and remove her from the insurance.

I would like small car to be fun to drive and anticipate it getting used for most short journeys as well as my wife using it for work. Her usage is mostly urban but can occasionally extend to 50miles each way into more rural Dorset (we are near Poole). We are both looking for something less cumbersome to drive and park in town.

Criteria:
Budget £10K or so.
5 doors
manual
petrol
folding rear seats so wife can get work gubbins in which can be a bit bulky.
Heated seats (borderline optional or possibly mandatory)

The cars I have considered so far are:
Kia Picanto 1.0 T-GDi GT-Line
Suzuki Swift Boosterjet 1.0T
Fiesta 1.0T Titanium X (need the X pack to get heated seats)

I would buy outright. No finance. I anticipate keeping whatever we buy for a good few years.

As you can see the 1.0T flavour appeals! My favourite on the list is the Kia at this early stage, although I have a hunch the Fiesta is arguably the best all rounder. I am a little bit nervous of the ecoboost engine and also the expensive wet belt change irks. The Kia only just sneaks in at the top of the budget.

I would be keen on our resident experts thoughts on the above, alternatives to consider and also any ownership experience of any of the above. Obviously cars continue to be expensive post-Covid. Bit annoying there isn't an obvious softening of prices but we are where we are.

thanks.

You can go for the Fiesta, but be aware the 1.0 T Ecoboost engines need a cambelt replacement at 100,000 miles or 10 years, whichever is sooner and it will cost you £1000 to replace due to their wet belt design, so I'd go for the newest, lowest mileage one you can afford. You are probably alright in Poole, but here in Manchester they also get stolen a lot. Therefore, out of your shortlist, I'd pick the Swift.

Here are some other suggestions

VW Polo 1.2 TSI
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202302234...

VW Up 1.0
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202301253...


Mini Cooper
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202302023...


Mazda 2 1.5
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202302244...


Nissan Micra 0.9 IG-T
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202302194...

[ZX10R NIN]

I'd say go for the Rio (rather than the Picanto) with the same 1.0T drivetrain it's a better allrounder & more comparable to the Fiesta.

First Edition:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202301203...

3:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202212192...

[Glosphil]

Skoda Fabia 1.0TSi. Can be 95hp with 5-speed or 110hp with 6-speed. Also Seat Ibiza. Both a cheaper (or newer) alternative to a Polo.

[fido]

Honda Jazz has loads of space as rear seats fold down flat. I know it isn’t cool to i drive one but revvy naturally aspirated engines and a nice manual box.

Edited by fido on Saturday 11th March 16:46

[SlowV6]

Thanks everyone for their suggestions so far. Much appreciated.

[Fade_Away]

SlowV6 said:

Hi All,

Bit of background. Our daughter will be 17 in a couple of months and will be learning to drive. Our current fleet comprises an ageing E91 330D M-Sport auto and a Mondeo Mk4.5 Titanium X estate (land yacht size!). The Ford does family lugging so is staying. So we are looking to get shot of the beemer and get a small, manual car. The plan is to add the daughter as a named driver whilst learning and if/when she passes her test equip her with the default C1/Aygo/107 or similar and remove her from the insurance.

I would like small car to be fun to drive and anticipate it getting used for most short journeys as well as my wife using it for work. Her usage is mostly urban but can occasionally extend to 50miles each way into more rural Dorset (we are near Poole). We are both looking for something less cumbersome to drive and park in town.

Criteria:
Budget £10K or so.
5 doors
manual
petrol
folding rear seats so wife can get work gubbins in which can be a bit bulky.
Heated seats (borderline optional or possibly mandatory)

The cars I have considered so far are:
Kia Picanto 1.0 T-GDi GT-Line
Suzuki Swift Boosterjet 1.0T
Fiesta 1.0T Titanium X (need the X pack to get heated seats)

I would buy outright. No finance. I anticipate keeping whatever we buy for a good few years.

As you can see the 1.0T flavour appeals! My favourite on the list is the Kia at this early stage, although I have a hunch the Fiesta is arguably the best all rounder. I am a little bit nervous of the ecoboost engine and also the expensive wet belt change irks. The Kia only just sneaks in at the top of the budget.

I would be keen on our resident experts thoughts on the above, alternatives to consider and also any ownership experience of any of the above. Obviously cars continue to be expensive post-Covid. Bit annoying there isn't an obvious softening of prices but we are where we are.

thanks.

Out of your three choices,

Reliability: Suzuki has the most reliable turbo engine among the three. Kia (Hyndai) Turbos do have quite a few horror stories.

Fun to Drive: Fiesta and then Suzki Swift

Spacious: Fiesta and then Suzki Swift, Do consider Suzuki Baleno, they are cheap to buy and bit more spacious.

SEAT Ibiza TSI are also spacious and fun to drive.

[SlowV6]

Thanks again for the suggestions.

We have booked a test drive for the Kia on Wednesday. Am quite excited.

[ZX10R NIN]

SlowV6 said:

Thanks again for the suggestions.

We have booked a test drive for the Kia on Wednesday. Am quite excited.

Try the Rio while you're there.

[SlowV6]

ZX10R NIN said:

SlowV6 said:

Thanks again for the suggestions.

We have booked a test drive for the Kia on Wednesday. Am quite excited.

Try the Rio while you're there.

Well we drove the Picanto. It was a 1.0T-GDi GT-Line S. Amazing spec for such a little car even including a sunroof, which was a nice blast from the past (why did they go AWOL?!). Plenty of poke from the little 1.0T. But, as much as we liked it we felt it was just too small for our needs so Fiesta size it must be.

So ZX10R NIN was right! There is a Rio 1.0 T-GDi 3 locally so might go and check that out. We liked the engine in the Picanto and the Rio 3 has a similar great spec.

Any thoughts on this one? https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202302184...

edit. There is also this Fiesta reasonably locally. I must admit I am struggling to come to terms with £11k for a 7yr old Fiesta and I honestly much prefer the Rio's interior. https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202210291...

Edited by SlowV6 on Wednesday 15th March 14:08

[filthypig]

Mazda CX-3 a possibility? We’ve had 4 Mazda 2’s and these are on the same platform but a bit better specced in the higher trim with the heated seats you require. Fiesta sized too.

[ZX10R NIN]

SlowV6 said:

Well we drove the Picanto. It was a 1.0T-GDi GT-Line S. Amazing spec for such a little car even including a sunroof, which was a nice blast from the past (why did they go AWOL?!). Plenty of poke from the little 1.0T. But, as much as we liked it we felt it was just too small for our needs so Fiesta size it must be.

So ZX10R NIN was right! There is a Rio 1.0 T-GDi 3 locally so might go and check that out. We liked the engine in the Picanto and the Rio 3 has a similar great spec.

Any thoughts on this one? https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202302184...

edit. There is also this Fiesta reasonably locally. I must admit I am struggling to come to terms with £11k for a 7yr old Fiesta and I honestly much prefer the Rio's interior. https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202210291...

Edited by SlowV6 on Wednesday 15th March 14:08

The Rio is the pick out of those two, if you decide you like it I'd say that the First Edition I linked to is the better (& more nicely spec'd) buy, I've personally dealt with JCT on a number of occasions so having it delivered isn't an issue.

[SlowV6]

For thread closure, after my wife and I spent a bit of time thinking about it we concluded we wouldn't buy a manual at all if it wasn't for our daughter turning 17 and needing something to practise on alongside lessons.

So I am going to change tack and look for a C1/Aygo/107 style cheapy instead to add to the fleet and hive daughter off onto that!

Thanks for the suggestions.