Best Small Car?

[Melvil]

Yes, yes, I know, this is CycleChat ,

But me and SWMBO are looking at buying our (first!) car, a small car that will do for longer journeys (4 hours+) so not really a city car.

We've test driven a:

Ford Fiesta
Skoda Fabia
Reanult Clio
Hyundai i-20

Anyone drive the cars above and/or have any suggestions for any other cars in this class that might be any good?

Cheers,

Stewart.

 

[domd1979]

I had the previous shape Fiesta (a 2005 1.6TDCi Zetec) for three years and couldn't fault it - nice car to drive, comfortable (did lots of motorway driving), and got about 60mpg-ish out of it. Would have had another one but the lease cost was a bit silly this time round, so I went for something else instead. Daresay the Skoda's not a bad alternative, not convinced by Renaults, dunno about Hyundai, but friend of mine has a Getz diesel and she hasn't had any probs with it.

Personally wouldn't go for a 1.4 diesel on the Fiesta, have driven one of those and found it quite tediously unresponsive....!

 

[TVC]

Fiestas are bomb proof, and if they do go wrong they cost peanuts to repair, I may go for one as my next car. I had a Clio as a hire car last week and was great on a 100mile trip up the motorway, with very light controls about town. No idea about any others, though I am told I'm getting a Corsa as a hire car next week, so I'm not looking forward to that.

 

[domd1979]

Vauxhalls are rancid, all of them, you have my sympathy!!

I'm getting a Corsa as a hire car next week, so I'm not looking forward to that.

 

[Will1985]

What do you mean it is not relevant on here? You need to make sure that it will comfortably take a bike in the back or have a decent means of carrying one.

As another possibility, how about some solid Japanese engineering with a Toyota Yaris? Like the others on the list, vastly bigger than predecessors but very reliable and efficient.

The Velvet Curtain - my 02 Yaris had its first problem last month involving an air pressure sensor; downside was an £80 replacement part whereas the Ford equivalent would have been less than a fiver!

 

[kyuss]

Fiat 500. If the bog standard one is even half as much fun as the Abarth version my brother had a loan of this weekend it'll bee a cracking little car.

 

[Piemaster]

Theres a new shape Fiesta (neighbours) sat outside which I do rather like the look of. Or how about an Alfa Mito for something more interesting - Punto based so should be OK. Have a work colleague who has a Grande Punto he is quite happy with.
My Parents have a Proton something-or-other (Gen 2?) each which have been very good.

Yes, yes, I know, this is CycleChat ,

But me and SWMBO are looking at buying our (first!) car, a small car that will do for longer journeys (4 hours+) so not really a city car.

Why would anyone need a city car who has a bike? I don't actually get the point of them. To me a true city car would be electric. Something that would be used, say within 10 miles of home.

 

[bonk man]

2cv by a mile... if you can find one that has a good chassis that is...

 

[domd1979]

Being a Fiat the electrics will inevitably go wrong.....

Had a Grande Punto for a hire car last year some time. Not a bad car to drive, nicer than a Vauxhall, though still wouldn't buy one!!

Or how about an Alfa Mito for something more interesting - Punto based so should be OK. Have a work colleague who has a Grande Punto he is quite happy with.

 

[Joe24]

Id love a 2CV. Id have one as my first car, and have it as a sort of project.

 

[fossyant]

Yaris.....we've had one since new, almost 10 years. Never a problem

 

[Melvil]

What do you mean it is not relevant on here? You need to make sure that it will comfortably take a bike in the back or have a decent means of carrying one.

V.true!

 

[Melvil]

Fiat 500. If the bog standard one is even half as much fun as the Abarth version my brother had a loan of this weekend it'll bee a cracking little car.

How was it to drive? Relaxed? Twitchy? They're cool and they look like lovely cars and get good write ups but we reckon they're a little too small for our wants.

 

[Melvil]

I had the previous shape Fiesta (a 2005 1.6TDCi Zetec) for three years and couldn't fault it - nice car to drive, comfortable (did lots of motorway driving), and got about 60mpg-ish out of it. Would have had another one but the lease cost was a bit silly this time round, so I went for something else instead. Daresay the Skoda's not a bad alternative, not convinced by Renaults, dunno about Hyundai, but friend of mine has a Getz diesel and she hasn't had any probs with it.

Personally wouldn't go for a 1.4 diesel on the Fiesta, have driven one of those and found it quite tediously unresponsive....!

I have to say that I kind of wish Ford had kept the same shape into this year's model - the one we test drove had precisely zero headspace in the back. It was claustrophobic, really. And the front window is very low too. It's a shame because it's really nice inside and handles well.

 

[TheDoctor]

If you're buying second-hand, I'd go for the Hyundai. They don't hold thier value too well, but they're very reliable.
Keep it till it dies.