which small car to buy

[drawboy]

I'm thinking of moving into the small car market, the kids have grown up and flown the nest (well nearly) and me and mrs DB dont need a big car anymore so we are thinking of buying either a citroen c1,fiat panda,renault twingo, hyundai i10 or even a kia picanto. I must admit the cheap running costs and next to no tax is looking very attractive but which one to get? anyone drive one of these?

 

[madandra]

I still think the Mini Cooper diesel is cool but for economy I think the BMW 1 series diesel is fantastic. My pal has one and it does 65MPG.

 

[Imurg]

You'll struggle to get your golf kit in a C1. From reviews the Panda is a good bet.

 

[Losttheplot]

I still think the Mini Cooper diesel is cool but for economy I think the BMW 1 series diesel is fantastic. My pal has one and it does 65MPG.

Seconded

 

[medwayjon]

Panda is a good car for sure and they hold value reasonably.

Avoid Kia/Hyundai and the like. They are expensive on parts and after 3 years worth about £7.50.

We had a getz, needed an engine mount, 11 week back order from the far east, not good.

They are also the most tinny and horrible things you can imagine.

Other to consider is the VW Fox, great little car.

 

[Kellfire]

A Fiesta is hard to beat in terms of value for money and cheap to look after.

 

[Smiffy]

If you don't need a massive boot and are only going to use it around town, and for four people maximum I would put your money in a Citroen C1.
Great little cars, albeit a bit basic.
£30.00 a year to tax, about 55 to the gallon, they've been voted the cheapest car in the UK to run for the last couple of years.
Performance isn't too bad for a little 1.0 litre engine, quite nippy around town.
I wouldn't touch a Hyundai or a Kia or such like. As John say, residuals are crap.
Polo Fox isn't a bad car, but again, prices fall out of bed on them.
C1 for me.
PS We've had quite a few of them go through our books over the last year or two, always sell reasonably quickly and so far none of the purchasers have come back with problems.

 

[CliveW]

My son recently bought a 3 yar old 1.4 Seat Ibiza. Lovely car and quite nippy around town. Also available in a 3 cylinder 1.2 if you want more economical driving. This is the third Seat that our family own (The other two are Leons) and they have been extremely reliable and you cannot fault the quality.

 

[Gillespie16]

I would suggest Ford Fiesta, they are cheap and good little cars.

 

[haplesshacker]

According to 'Fifth Gear' you can get a cart bag full of clubs in a GWhizz.

 

[Yerman]

Nissan micra - a bit girly, but reliable, cheap to run and made to last.

 

[haplesshacker]

A friend of mine has recently got the new Volvo V50 estate. Bear with me on this one. It's not huge, but has enough boot space for shopping, clubs, trolleys etc. He got the (bluemotion, Eco diesel 1.7 one I think). Does 65 mpg, next to nothing in road tax, solid and will last a long time.

Saves going down the 'girly' car track.

 

[drawboy]

oh I dont know, quiete like girly, maybe something in a light pink perhaps.

 

[haplesshacker]

Micra CC in shocking pink it is then.

 

[chrisd]

Just bought a Toyota IQ for HID. Its a bi dearer than some of the others but better specked, we got the 1000cc automatic, 60+mpg, 0 tax, £160 fully comp ins, 80+mph on the motorway and as much room as my saloon car. Moved from a Mini Cooper s and she loves it


Chris

 

[medwayjon]

Just bought a Toyota IQ for HID. Its a bi dearer than some of the others but better specked, we got the 1000cc automatic, 60+mpg, 0 tax, £160 fully comp ins, 80+mph on the motorway and as much room as my saloon car. Moved from a Mini Cooper s and she loves it


Chris

I think thats a great choice looking at residuals and the figures you have quoted.

The price reflects the quality though I would suggest as Toyota is a byword for reliability from experience. I had an avensis D4D estate we used as a van in effect and it had done 270k when I sold it. It is still going today.

 

[kid2]

A friend of mine has recently got the new Volvo V50 estate. Bear with me on this one. It's not huge, but has enough boot space for shopping, clubs, trolleys etc. He got the (bluemotion, Eco diesel 1.7 one I think). Does 65 mpg, next to nothing in road tax, solid and will last a long time.

Saves going down the 'girly' car track.

Im completely with Hapless on this one DB........I know that here the Volvo's have cheap tax as well for the model named above.....Im a panel beater and I drive a V70.....A thirsty bugger but safe out and reliable.......If you drive a decent size car at the moment it'll be some reality change to go to a small one......Whatever you do avoid all the asian cars....there like recycled john west tins..

 

[DMC]

The Fiat Grande Punto is well worth a look,we had one for 2 years and had no bother with it what so ever.

 

[Imurg]

According to 'Fifth Gear' you can get a cart bag full of clubs in a GWhizz.

Why would you want to?

The looks you'd get....

 

[RGDave]

.... so we are thinking of buying either a citroen c1,fiat panda,renault twingo, hyundai i10 or even a kia picanto.

anyone drive one of these?

No.

Personally, my short-list would be a fabia, possibly a fiesta or even a yaris. I couldn't see myself in one of the above, just too small i.m.o.