Opinions on whats a good small car.

[ICB]

Old peoples cars are always the best buys.

See I disagree there, they may have been serviced regularly and not ragged to buggery but they often have shagged 'boxes and clutches, questionable bodywork from parking dings, etc. "One careful lady owners" rings alarm bells, much rather have a car owned by an amateur mechanic

My car's service history was completed in biro for about the last 6 or 7 services by the two previous owners, they detailed every last thing they'd done to it and signed and dated it every time. Bless.

Sunray - just shut up and buy a Polo, you clearly didn't want any advice in the first place.

 

[ExtraRefined]

Fiestas have better handling than any other supermini, will survive an ungodly amount of abuse, and if they do break are easy and cheap to fix.

 

[Calva dosser]

Fiestas have better handling than any other supermini, will survive an ungodly amount of abuse, and if they do break are easy and cheap to fix.

The latter is 100%

And a fiesta handles like an unfriendly pig. And I like pigs.

But I bet the new fiesta is ok. But I thought this was poor peoples jam-jars?

1996 Citroen AX 1.5 D- 79 mpg 3-UP wiv bikes on the back.

There was a bleedin' moteur.

 

[han]

"83k So do you have a record of the timing belt being changed?"

"I don't know what that is but it drives lovely!"

*sigh*

Lady owners are a right fucking pain in the arse.

That is such a sexist comment. Men aren't all knowledgeable about mechanics either, are they!

 

[ExtraRefined]

That is such a sexist comment. Men aren't all knowledgeable about mechanics either, are they!

No, but we do all pretend to. That's got to be worth something.

 

[chio]

Really?? For or repair daily?? There's a reason loads of mechanics say that or fords! Ime Fords aren't reliable. And I had a few different ones yrs ago.

I have a Ford Ka and for the price, you can't really fault it. It's only been in the garage once, to fix the heater which started blowing only cold air in the middle of winter! It's a 1.3 and tax is £115 for the year, but it got me 400 miles to Scotland last week.

 

[angryfaceman]

I wouldn't go for a small ford, middle ford, pr even a big ford! As for renault, peugeot, citroen etc - not in a million years. Fiat - fix it again tomorrow. As everyone else has said, go Japanese. Id go for the K11 model Micra pictured by Iemanja. Should get one for reasonable money adn they go on for ever!

 

[girasol]

I think your in a strange place.

I'd want a car that cruses down the m/way without sounding like its going to explode, put me out of the 1.0 bracket, but the 115 quid tax and 60mpg restricts me to a 1.4 which is what I am going to get.

If anyone wanted to know how little mileage means.... 67K 1100 quid for a nice looking Polo caught my eye.

"So, what service history does it have then, its got 67K, has it had the 60K service?
"Its got history up to 30,000 miles."
*sigh*

No record of any service on that car for 37,000 miles. Its totally worthless, I have no way of knowing apart from partially rebuilding the engine that it will even last the trip home.

What is it about girls, cars and servicing? I've been ringing round and not a single girl selling their car has had it serviced. Its like a panic sale. "Oh no, I need to get it serviced, argg. I know I'll sell it."

As long as the wheels have been aligned properly, there's no problem going on the motorway. I have done 90mph (ok, it was downhill) and travelled to/from Cornwall - no worries there. Although, you might have a point, it's a bit noisy, but the radio can be turned up louder.

As for servicing, I've had my micra serviced 4 times in 7 years so out the window goes your theory about girls and servicing

 

[angryfaceman]

As for servicing, I've had my micra serviced 4 times in 7 years so out the window goes your theory about girls and servicing

Shouldn't the Micra be summat like 10k OR 12 month intervals, so in 7 years, should be at least 7 services???

 

[girasol]

Shouldn't the Micra be summat like 10k OR 12 month intervals, so in 7 years, should be at least 7 services???

erm, well, yes, but each service costs about £150, so bearing that in mind, I think I've done quite well

 

[angryfaceman]

£150??????
Is that at a nissan dealer? That's extraordinary. Normal interim service at an independent shouldn't be much more than £80. Or why not invest a few quid in some spanners and do your own. Probably get the service parts for "20. Oil + oil and air filter. Laughing. Only take you 20 minutes

 

[Calva dosser]

Of what is this 1.0 Barry? eh geeze?

Only time I got pulled over for speeding (In a car) was a 1.0 Yaris v-tec. 167KM/hr on a dead straight 90km limit. Les Flics were behind the tree.

Bitch still had some in her

You can transfer the man from Essex to Armagnac, but one can never remove the Essex from the man.

Oh, I forgot to mention, I don't normally set Dr Feelgood to vollo eleven until hire car redlines. Toyotas are wonderfully quiet cars. Too quiet.

 

[chio]

but the radio can be turned up louder.

That tends to be my solution to the car making a funny noise

 

[Space Girl]

I second the micra, my mum has one and it's really solid and can get up to a ton without sounding like it's going to explode, fab little car that does look like clowns should start emerging from it but apart from that, it's great