Going to buy a small cheap car, what's your choice and why?

[Fab Foodie]

OK...
Due to changing work needs we need a second car, I'll use the C8 family bus for work.
Need a new small car as town based runabout with low insurance group (for 17 y/o daughter) and cheap running costs.

Options have boiled down to Citroen C1 and Fiat Panda both similar (good) deals. I have a view which I prefer and why, but would welcome any other feedback/experience.

We're test-driving both tomorrow.

BTW, I don't want s/h or other options really.

So boys and girls, what do we think and why!

 

[Archie_tect]

Cheapest Fiesta/Ka with smallest engine.... cheap to service and insure?

If not that then I'd go for a Citroen as it's the same as the Toyota/ Peugeot alternatives but cheaper... Panda is good for size but... it's still a Fiat!

 

[slowmotion]

Fiats rust. End of story.

 

[Smokin Joe]

Fiats rust. End of story.

I drive Fiats on a fairly regular basis, no rust or reliability issues to speak of. If you want rust a Ford Ka is the one to go for.

As for the OP's question, I would favour the Citroen purely because our ten year old Saxo has clocked 115k with minimal costs and the first 40k of that was as a driving tuition car.

 

[Black Sheep]

having driven both, i would say don't get either.

I don't like the panda's driving position and despite having stolen my dad's brand new one for three months I left it in the work car park and took the company C2 van home each night!

It's not the best car to learn in due to the position of the gear lever being forwards and higher (dash mounted) than most other cars.

The C1 has an odd layout of instruments (unless i'm thinking of the peugeot version) and I actually had problems paralell parking it despite being comfortable parallel parking a friends Volvo 850 estate. It is also a bumpy little thing not really intended to leave the confines of a large city, given the choice between a C1 or my old 1979 fiesta 1.3 for a long motorway trip, I'd be taking the fiesta!

Archie, Fiesta's aren't that cheap on insurance, the Mazda 2 is cheaper and a much better car - possibly a contender here?

out of the two however, I'd have to go with the Citroen on driving position, the panda is too much like a van but not enough to position myself in such a way, but to not look like a camp bloke I'd have to go with the panda as it says "I bought it because it does the job"

sorry

 

[slowmotion]

I had a Fiat Panda. (Note the past tense.)

 

[Archie_tect]

Or go for the smallest Hyundai which has 5 year warranty ... motoring journalist at the Sunday Telegraph says they are well built and always seems to recommend them.

[Aside: M-in-L keeps the Motoring Section for me for some obscure reason which I've never got to the bottom of as I'm not interested in cars but watched Top Gear when she stayed at our house a few years ago.... same as she only buys Yorkshire tea for when we visit because I once said I used Yorkshire tea in the office!....]

 

[Mr Cheese]

How about this for help:

What Car survey - City cars

 

[Archie_tect]

Archie, Fiesta's aren't that cheap on insurance, the Mazda 2 is cheaper and a much better car - possibly a contender here?

True- forgot that- they are exactly the same car just re-badged as Fords anyway aren't they?

 

[Noodley]

BTW, I don't want s/h or other options really.

Wasted words FF

 

[bof]

Honda Jazz? Dunno what deals you can get on them now, but a nice drive with firm suspension (too firm for some maybe) but its big plus is roominess at the back. I can fit a bike in without any wheel removal AND it can double up as a backup family car without two large teenagers (sometimes +1) complaining. Mines also been very reliable.

 

[swee'pea99]

Reliable, economical, easy to park - what more could you ask?

 

[Archie_tect]

I have a view which I prefer and why

Wasted words FF

Which is it to be FF ...and why?

 

[ian789]

C1 all the way! I have a Peugeot 107 which is mechanically identical as is the Aygo, they have different lights and bumpers. I'm 19 and without this car theres no way I could of got insurance.

£20 a year road tax! 60+ mpg. Low insurance group for the daughter. Low depreciation.

It's easy to drive and yet is fun when you get a move on.

And the C1, 107 and Aygo are much better looking than the Panda.

 

[Black Sheep]

True- forgot that- they are exactly the same car just re-badged as Fords anyway aren't they?

once they were,

The Fiesta and the 121 were badge engineered, In 1999ish the Mazda Demio replaced the 121 for five years and was based on the previous 121's chassis before being replaced by the mazda 2

Engine wise, i'm not sure if it shares mechanicals with the ford - I do know that the Demio's gear box was shared with some Mitsubishis

The fiesta and 121 that were the same car with different badges had different reliability ratings - the mazda beating prestige brands and the ford being below average.