Need Advice For Small Car (New Panda, 107, Twingo or Used?)

[84greg]

Hi,

I have just recently introduced myself and would appreciate if you could advice me on the following. I am after a new car for my sister, she has set aside a budget of around £6k (cheaper the better). I have looked at various websites for deals and found the following:

Panda Active Eco £5595
Peugeot 107 £5999
Twingo Expression £5990

and after a browse on various used car, I think within her budget, she could have a nearly new Citroen C2, nearly new Renault Clio, nearly new Grande Punto, nearly new Peugeot 1007, nearly new Toyota Yaris 1.0

I have had a look at the interior of all of the cars apart from the C2 and in terms of new car, I think the Twingo has a better interior than 107 and Panda.

I have also had a drive on the Panda. I am extremely impressed by how quiet it is and the ride. However when tacking roundabouts, I felt it was a little too top heavy and seems to understeer a bit.

I have taken it on a quick country road run where it reached 60 and was relatively stable, but does anyone have any experience driving it on the motorway? How does it handle in cross wind (slab side car).

I am also wondering as she would be doing regular motorway trips, should I totally forget about these city cars (Panda, Twingo and 107) and instead concentrate something a little bigger (such as Clio, Grande Punto or older Fiestas and Polos?)

I would appreciate any view on that. The biggest concern is insurance, in terms of insurance, after quite a lot of checks, the Panda costs £900 and she is willing to go upto £1300, which would allow her to insure a Fiat Stilo 1.2 or Peugeot 307, in which case are these much better??

Thanks! Greg

[TheDetailDoctor]

The Panda is a brilliantly honest car, it just does what it claims, no more, no less. I love them.

[84greg]

Thanks, I also notice a Renault Megane (shakin' your ass) 1.4 fits the bill nicely, and costs around 2.5k, alternatively a 306 1.4, which is considerably cheaper. Are they good at motorway?

[Risotto]

What about an Audi A2? Years ahead of their time with their aluminium construction, frugality and clever layout.

The diesels will do 60+ mpg and are only £30 to tax. They can be had for considerably less than some of the cars you've mentioned. There are some fairly high spec ones around - leather, Bose stereo, etc which is unusual for cars that size.

On the downside, they're older than the cars on your shortlist and don't offer much in the way of performance.

Edited by Risotto on Tuesday 14th September 22:28

[84greg]

Good idea there, thanks! A2 is indeed a very nice car, unfortunately the insurance is a little on the high side, thanks for the advice though!

I know this might upset some people, but I am actually thinking about a Corolla (2002 - 2007) 1.4 or 1.6, might be good for her since she isn't highly technical minded.

[missing the VR6]

How many motorway miles? What's her annual mileage?
For £6K for me it'd be a used Fiesta Zetec S 1.6 TDCI, fun to drive, good on fuel and pretty cheap servicing and probably more reliable than the French stuff.

[skip_1]

The Twingo is a nice car in and around town and seems reliable enough (my OH has a 1.0 litre one, no issues in it's first year) but is not a motorway car, where it is underpowered and not the best MPG (revving high).

[AyBee]

Mum is on her second panda (first written off through no fault of her own and she chose to get another one after it came off well in a ~45mph collision), I've driven the second one quite a few times and it's a reasonably nice place to be. Yes, it's a bit on the high and narrow side for massive cornering speeds but is reasonably fun to drive