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

[mark barker]

Hasn't the c1 got a cylinder missing?

I used to have a Panda (06 model) and it was fine. Not exactly exciting to drive, but 50mpg was easily achieved and its a lot bigger on the inside than it looks. The only issue I had was the ultralight steering if you left it in city mode, however once or twice this was really handy in those tight spots!

 

[ian789]

Hasn't the c1 got a cylinder missing?

I used to have a Panda (06 model) and it was fine. Not exactly exciting to drive, but 50mpg was easily achieved and its a lot bigger on the inside than it looks. The only issue I had was the ultralight steering if you left it in city mode, however once or twice this was really handy in those tight spots!

Yes the C1 is a three cylinder 1 litre. It is more powerful and faster than the Panda and still gets better MPG.

 

[Archie_tect]

There you go FF; one question - 17 different answers and counting!

 

[slowmotion]

I'd have to go for the Panda because you can get a 4x4 version!

"Just the job when the going gets tough outside Habitat", as one wag commented a while ago.

 

[Fab Foodie]

Wasted words FF

Oh yes!

 

[Fab Foodie]

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

The C1 is more economical mpg-wise, but feels like it's made of tinfoil and cheap plastics. I drove one once and wouldn't want to drive one far. Space-wise it's all a bit tight, it has to be able to carry Mrs FF, 2 teenage daughters and a 10 y/o lad plus school kit. It may have to do the occasional motorway run to H'row and Bristol.

The Panda to me seems much better built and more refined inside, notably spacier and with a better boot. Feels like a real car. The slightly odd driving position and gear stick location is no issue to us driving the C8 anyway, it's like a mini version. No mechanical rust or electrics worries, they've built bloody millions of em.
The only downside I see with the Panda is the lower urban MPG.
I also prefer the Panda's looks too.

But Mrs FF is likely to have her views too... less objective I reckon!

 

[TheDoctor]

Having driven one, I'd say there's no way on earth you'd get 5 people in a C1. Even four is uncomfy for long.
Perfectly OK for two and luggage, but not a lot more IMHO.

 

[Archie_tect]

The C1 is more economical mpg-wise, but feels like it's made of tinfoil and cheap plastics. I drove one once and wouldn't want to drive one far. Space-wise it's all a bit tight, it has to be able to carry Mrs FF, 2 teenage daughters and a 10 y/o lad plus school kit. It may have to do the occasional motorway run to H'row and Bristol.

The Panda to me seems much better built and more refined inside, notably spacier and with a better boot. Feels like a real car. The slightly odd driving position and gear stick location is no issue to us driving the C8 anyway, it's like a mini version. No mechanical rust or electrics worries, they've built bloody millions of em.
The only downside I see with the Panda is the lower urban MPG.
I also prefer the Panda's looks too.

But Mrs FF is likely to have her views too... less objective I reckon!

Case proven m'lod!

Permission to change my mind sah?

 

[Fab Foodie]

How about this for help:

What Car survey - City cars

Thank you Mr Cheese!

The comment about Citroen dealers is hugely valid, they're a shambles.
But here they are the same group (Hartwell) as the Ford and Fiat dealership...

I don't have much hope...

 

[Fab Foodie]

Having driven one, I'd say there's no way on earth you'd get 5 people in a C1. Even four is uncomfy for long.
Perfectly OK for two and luggage, but not a lot more IMHO.

Well I hope we'll never need to fit 5 into either. 4 at the most on a regular basis for school runs and the like. We can alsways swap cars if we know we need the extra seating or a long-run.

 

[GM]

I'd go for whatever Honest John recommends, he knows his stuff. www.honestjohn.co.uk

 

[threebikesmcginty]

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

Now you said s/h or other options, what you didn't say was s/h and other options so I'm taking that as a green light to offer my, as usual, invaluable advice. Before we had children, Mrs 3BM used to have a VW Lupo and it was a really nice car and felt really tough and well bolted together - I thought it was quite fun to drive.

The two options, Fiat and Citroen, you've highlighted are without a doubt flimsy rubbish. I speak with experience regrading the Fiat - we had one, a Punto van a few years back at work and it was hopeless, when a side-loader dropped a pack of timber on it - squashed it flat, a complete write-off! And Citroen's smell of garlic and go on strike at the drop of a beret, probably.

 

[vernon]

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.

The three cars are identical and they all share a common problem, a clutch that falls part in less than 12,000 miles in some instances.

Google for 107 and clutch problems, C1 and clutch problems and Aygo and clutch problems and spot the difference(s). If anything the Aygo clutch appears to be more robust than the warantees which are not honoured by the manufacturers.


It's a shame because at one stage I was contemplating buying a C1 or 107 before having the clutch problems brought to my attention along with the 107 leaking like a sieve in wet weather.

 

[ian789]

The three cars are identical and they all share a common problem, a clutch that falls part in less than 12,000 miles in some instances.

Google for 107 and clutch problems, C1 and clutch problems and Aygo and clutch problems and spot the difference(s). If anything the Aygo clutch appears to be more robust than the warantees which are not honoured by the manufacturers.

Yes that is true the cars suffered clutch release bearing failure but they changed the clutch in cars from 08 onwards so they now use the bigger yaris clutch so it's no longer a problem. Mine went at 25k

It's a cheap car which uses cheap plastics but it is well put together and the engines one of Toyota so it is reliable. Surely the really cheap running costs outweigh this.

And it's only a 4 seater with a small boot. But it's so much cooler than a Fix It Again Tomorrow.

Heres a picture of a bike in the back of a 107, surely thats worth a few votes

 

[ian789]

And the 107 doesn't leak.