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Buying a small, reliable car

story said:
I’ve had three Vauxhall Corsas over the years. Handed on to me for free from those exact young people who were graduating to something else.
I was given them for free because of that thing where cars get to a point where they’re too good to scrap and not good enough to sell. I drove them all for years without any bother while others were complaining about any number of issues. They all sailed through their MOTs every time too. I was even using them to transport my entire Glastonbury pitch (that was an annual Tetris game I hated).

Had to get rid of the last one cos it wasn’t ULEZ compliant.


Now reading this thread because I want a car. I really need one that will take my camping gear. I was thinking a small van might be better than a large car. It needs to work as a city vehicle too.
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I bought a 2006 peugeot estate 4 years a go for a 3 figure amount, had to do a few repairs since but well below the original amount to be spent, fair amount of space in there but can't fit the subs of the PA.
hash tag said:
If I were looking for a small city car, this would be high on my list ( maybe a different colour ). 2 owners, full service history, low mileage

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pricey, but that number plate though
 
Had a Yaris for some time now and MIL had it before as a driving instructor car that was well researched. Never had to pay much for repairs for any of us, maintenance, you name it, insurance etc is cheap, ELUV compliant if thats required, irrelevant to us but it still passes. Ridiculously cheap, thsta why we got it, seemed not worth selling to someone else.
 
Some small cars have excellent robust safety cages. The bigger safety concern for me would be an underpowered 1.0L engined car, as one of the second hand ones that was suggested upthread, getting regular use on the open road. Overtaking in such a vehicle requires a lot more care, awareness, and longer stretch of clear road ahead.
 
Suzuki Swift - the 2010-7 generation. Not quite as practical as some of the cars mentioned upthread - the boot's small and the rear seat a bit tight - but it's very economical, very reliable, as safe as any small car, has a bit more style about it than a Corsa or a Yaris, and it's great fun to drive.

car.jpg

I bought this 2012 SZ2 (the base model) in summer 2021 for £3,500, with 59k on the clock. Since then it's done 10k miles with no more trouble than a sticking bonnet catch (and a dead battery, but that was my fault!) and it's gone through two MoTs with one advisory between them. Great little car. :cool:
 
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Maggot said:
I need to buy another car. Reliability and practicality are my main priorities. 2nd hand. Looking to spend up to £4,000 although could go higher. According to Which the Toyota Yaris and Honda Jazz are very reliable. Don't want a sporty car, but wouldn't mind something a bit more stylish. Other suggestions?
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I'd be looking for something that doesn't feel like it'll disintegrate if hit with anything harder than a marshmallow.

2010-2013 Golf 1.4s or higher mileage TSi. Don't worry about the mileage if it's been well serviced.
 
Spymaster said:
I'd be looking for something that doesn't feel like it'll disintegrate if hit with anything harder than a marshmallow.

2010-2013 Golf 1.4s or higher mileage TSi. Don't worry about the mileage if it's been well serviced.
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I have a 2011 GTD full service history, bought from the owner of a VW specialist. I was planning on a brand new one but was pissed off by the dealer's attitude, he really didn't seem interested in selling us a car, and this seemed a bargain because of its history.
 
dessiato said:
I have a 2011 GTD full service history, bought from the owner of a VW specialist. I was planning on a brand new one but was pissed off by the dealer's attitude, he really didn't seem interested in selling us a car, and this seemed a bargain because of its history.
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I think the OP is in London, so I excluded diesel.
 
T & P said:
Some small cars have excellent robust safety cages. The bigger safety concern for me would be an underpowered 1.0L engined car, as one of the second hand ones that was suggested upthread, getting regular use on the open road. Overtaking in such a vehicle requires a lot more care, awareness, and longer stretch of clear road ahead.
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I have a 995cc car. It’s fine. The trick is to just not worry about having to overtake as soon as humanly possible and just wait. It’s really not hard.
 
beesonthewhatnow said:
I have a 995cc car. It’s fine. The trick is to just not worry about having to overtake as soon as humanly possible and just wait.
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Or just forget about it completely. I had a ridiculously underpowered hire car this year in Turkey. A Fiat Agea Cross (nope, I'd never heard of it either). You could drop a gear and put your foot down and nothing happened except smoke and noise, so I didn't even try to pass anything which was a bit tiresome on roads full of tractors and overloaded HGVs. I changed it a few days into the rental after it barely made it up a couple of hills.
 
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hash tag said:
Why the obsession with overtaking or not being able to overtake?
As long as you can keep up with traffic, it should be fine.
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Except when you’re on an A road behind a tractor doing 20mph and the car you’re driving can’t pass it so you’re held up, as are the other cars which cant pass you or the tractor. Keeping up with slo traffic can cause other types of congestion.
Spymaster said:
I think the OP is in London, so I excluded diesel.
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Euro6 are ULEZ complient diesels. But I’d not use diesel unless you were doing regular long drives. It’s too expensive in this country to justify the extra costs.
 
hash tag said:
Why the obsession with overtaking or not being able to overtake?
As long as you can keep up with traffic, it should be fine.
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Indeed. I drive my 54 year old car most days and never feel the need to overtake anything. It's perfectly capable, mind. and keeps up with modern traffic.

A small reliable, safe, stylish, ULEZ compliant car for under £4k:

www.pistonheads.com

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I like the Yaris.

Another suggestion would be the Skoda Fabia. A319 brought one as his first car three years ago (The Monte Carlo sporty looking version) drove it for three years and sold it to Carzoo for £200 or something less than he paid.

Sadly we have just had to stop my FiL driving his 2006 TDi version which he has since new* .

Neither had any mechanical issues, both drove really nicely and felt pretty solid. If I was in the market for a little hatchback I think I’d get one.

(* Gone to my nephew who is on a minimum wage job a 90 minute each way public transport journey away…)
 
hash tag said:
Why the obsession with overtaking or not being able to overtake?
As long as you can keep up with traffic, it should be fine.
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Tell you what, you go travel the length of the A303 on a busy weekend on a severely underpowered car, and then come back and report whether you still hold to that sentiment.. :D
 
T & P said:
Tell you what, you go travel the length of the A303 on a busy weekend on a severely underpowered car, and then come back and report whether you still hold to that sentiment.. :D
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this. There’s a lot of tractors around here, there’s a few hills too. In an 850 normally aspirated car it’s going to be a pain in the arse doing a ten mile each way trip to the shops at a max of 20 mph where a better car would give the option of passing. Of course you don’t have to pass, but it’s nice to have the choice.
 
T & P said:
Tell you what, you go travel the length of the A303 on a busy weekend on a severely underpowered car, and then come back and report whether you still hold to that sentiment.. :D
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Are the busy bits by Salisbury Plain, which I have done and it has been slow moving congested traffic and it has not been possible to overtake anything.
We used to regularly travel up and done the A3 in Mrs Tags little very old Micra with no issues. She now has a 1200CC 500 which we have used for a few long
journeys without concerns. If I feel the need for speed I will take the Alfa out for a spin.
I don't think we have any other criteria other than small reliable car for approx. £4000.
There has been no mention of town or country use, ULEZ compliance Etc.
 
dessiato said:
this. There’s a lot of tractors around here, there’s a few hills too. In an 850 normally aspirated car it’s going to be a pain in the arse doing a ten mile each way trip to the shops at a max of 20 mph where a better car would give the option of passing. Of course you don’t have to pass, but it’s nice to have the choice.
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I imagine motorway driving in an 850 wouldn’t be a great experience. And let’s face it, who in London wants a car if not to fuck off out of London in.
 
hash tag said:
Are the busy bits by Salisbury Plain, which I have done and it has been slow moving congested traffic and it has not been possible to overtake anything.
We used to regularly travel up and done the A3 in Mrs Tags little very old Micra with no issues. She now has a 1200CC 500 which we have used for a few long
journeys without concerns. If I feel the need for speed I will take the Alfa out for a spin.
I don't think we have any other criteria other than small reliable car for approx. £4000.
There has been no mention of town or country use, ULEZ compliance Etc.
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OK. So what will, and where will, it be used?

A city car is a different thing to a country or mixed use vehicle. In the meantime we’re all making broad assumptions about how it’ll be used. Which is where all the discussion and disagreement arises.
 
Spymaster said:
I'd be looking for something that doesn't feel like it'll disintegrate if hit with anything harder than a marshmallow.

2010-2013 Golf 1.4s or higher mileage TSi. Don't worry about the mileage if it's been well serviced.
Click to expand...

Those Golfs are notoriously unreliable. Contrary to what everyone seems to belive in the UK. Big issue with stretched timing chains. I'd buy one with a timing belt any time. Also you really need good service history with those engines, not an oil change every 12k every 2 years. Also theyre wildly overpriced second hand.

Pretty much any modern car is really safe. Well, aside from Sizukis which ive heard skip some safety features. Doesnt fill me with much confidence.

My instinct would be a Yaris Or a Honda Jazz too. Both great cars. And both very popular and not cheap. Neither are that stylish or fun to drive.

If you're on a budget...


I would look at a 2009-2017 Fiesta without the 1.0 litre eco engine. 1.2 or 1.4 or whatever. Much more reliable. And fun to drive!

Or a 2011 onwards Mazda 2. Uses the same chassis as a Fiesta and also very good to drive. Economical engines and very reliable too. Quite basic interior. But will be much cheaper than your Yaris or Jazz I reckon.

Controversial choice but a Renault Clio 2010-2012 (older model) or 2012-2015 (newer model) would be muuuuuch cheaper and gives you lots of money spare to solve any future repair bills. Which might not even be that bad! They dont suffer from rust too bad unlike many Japanese cars either.
 
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dessiato said:
In the meantime we’re all making broad assumptions about how it’ll be used
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Agreed. Performance was not mentioned either.
Incidentally, if you are risk adverse and safety is a priority Latest Safety Ratings | Euro NCAP a make&selectedModel=0&selectedStar=&includeFullSafetyPackage=true&includeStandardSafetyPackage=true&selectedModelName=All&selectedProtocols=49446,45155,41776,40302,34803,30636,26061,24370,-1&allClasses=false&allDriverAssistanceTechnologies=false&selectedDriverAssistanceTechnologies=&thirdRowFitment=false
 
Riklet said:
Those Golfs are notoriously unreliable. Contrary to what everyone seems to belive in the UK. Big issue with stretched timing chains. I'd buy one with a timing belt any time. Also you really need good service history with those engines, not an oil change every 12k every 2 years. Also theyre wildly overpriced second hand.
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The chains should have been done before 100k and at £4k you'll be buying a 100k+ car so shouldn't be an issue, though it is definitely something to check. Price-wise they're a bit more than the equivalent Yaris or Jazz but not wildly, and you should get some of that back on resale. Totally better quality driving experience too.

And of course, they're German, so you get to use the outside lane on motorways.
 
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VW Up!
SEAT Mii
Škoda Citigo

All roughly the same car, built in the same factory. Different prices.

I’m a big bloke and it’s the most comfortable small car I’ve ever driven.
 
hash tag said:
Agreed. Performance was not mentioned either.
Incidentally, if you are risk adverse and safety is a priority Latest Safety Ratings | Euro NCAP a make&selectedModel=0&selectedStar=&includeFullSafetyPackage=true&includeStandardSafetyPackage=true&selectedModelName=All&selectedProtocols=49446,45155,41776,40302,34803,30636,26061,24370,-1&allClasses=false&allDriverAssistanceTechnologies=false&selectedDriverAssistanceTechnologies=&thirdRowFitment=false
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Performance will be related to the intended use of the car. For example a city car that can potter about in, say, London, will need a very different performance to one that will be, say, used to go from London to Edinburgh.
 
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