Need a new car

[Mark A]

Hi chaps,

Can anyone recommend some RELIABLE small cars I should take a look at? Around the size of a Ford Fiesta or larger.

Preferably nothing which shares engines with Fiat models because my experience of them is not good!

Economy, equipment levels and handling characteristics aren't important, as long as they're reliable.


There isn't really a budget until I know what I'll be getting for my money, though £6000 seems about the average for a 2-3 year old hatchback.


Cheers,
Mark

 

[marcros]

New or used?

 

[Mr_P]

I'm a big fan of Renaults, currently on number 3

1st was a no.5 I scrapped it after it failed its mot. I still regret not spending money on it.

2nd a was a clio, only sold due to a free company car.

Currently on no.3 also a clio.

None of the above ever let me down EVER, touch wood I really shouldn't have said that but its true.

I've had two terrible golfs and a Passat that blew its engine and gearbox. So much for German reliability.

 

[Ali]

Toyota yaris, nissan micra. I think some of the yaris are chain driven engines, bullet proof but not all that sexy

 

[woodfarmer]

Both my wifes' car, a Panda 750 and my Tipo are over 25 years old. neither has had either the head off or the tappets done since new and they are both now at well over 100,000 miles. The tipo has had the rocker cover off to fix a rocker cover leak ( new gasket) the Panda (769cc engine) hasn't even had the rocker (camshaft) cover off since new. Just had oil, filters and camshaft belts. The Panda has one of those engines which don't get hurt if the cambelt breaks, not many engines are that robust.

The "new" Panda diesel engine is mechanically robust. But in my opinion no modern car is that fixable because of the electronics, Just look in Auto trader at all those 2005 or younger cars for sale for scrap because of an electronic problem. both diesel or petrol the electronic curse is upon them.

Years ago the idea of scrapping a perfectly good car because of an ignition fault would seem ludicrous.

 

[Mark A]

New or used?

Used. I forgot to mention it earlier so I'll edit my post.

 

[Mark A]

Both my wifes' car, a Panda 750 and my Tipo are over 25 years old. neither has had either the head off or the tappets done since new and they are both now at well over 100,000 miles. The tipo has had the rocker cover off to fix a rocker cover leak ( new gasket) the Panda (769cc engine) hasn't even had the rocker (camshaft) cover off since new. Just had oil, filters and camshaft belts. The Panda has one of those engines which don't get hurt if the cambelt breaks, not many engines are that robust.

The "new" Panda diesel engine is mechanically robust. But in my opinion no modern car is that fixable because of the electronics, Just look in Auto trader at all those 2005 or younger cars for sale for scrap because of an electronic problem. both diesel or petrol the electronic curse is upon them.

Years ago the idea of scrapping a perfectly good car because of an ignition fault would seem ludicrous.

The reason I say not Fiat is because my experience of their vans has been terrible. Our Ducatos and Scudo all suffered gearbox, fuel injection, fuel pump and electrical problems; while my Doblo has been plagued with all them (minus gearbox, though that's started to feel clunky) AND required a full engine rebuild after the cam chain snapped prematurely and mashed the valve train.

I dropped the Doblo off at a garage today to sort out another fault and he joked that my number should be on his speed dial.

 

[Ed Bray]

My wife bought a New Suzuki Alto 54 plate (based on a mini metro design) and used it daily for 5 years before giving it to our Daughter, she still uses the car daily too, at the risk of tempting fate it has never failed to start, MOTs have been passed without major incident or expense and it is cheap to insure and run. This cost just under £5000 new, and whilst it isn't the highest spec for luxuries (doesn't have Air Con) but for a 5 door small car has turned out to be an absolute bargain.

Not the coolest car available but brand new for under £6000 can't be bad.

 

[niagra]

Years ago the idea of scrapping a perfectly good car because of an ignition fault would seem ludicrous.

That's because they all disintegrated before they had time to develop an engine related problem! :wink:

 

[Silverbirch]

Why not check out the "Which" website? You can buy one off access to reports on the site for, I think £1. They are big on reliability when rating cars, based on feedback from actual owners, and they monitor the reliability performance of older cars too.

Ian

 

[user 19915]

E.MAIL SENT

 

[marcros]

I am not sure about pricing but I have heard good things from friends about Kia- with the 7 year warranty. Particularly the ceed. We have had a couple of renaults and currently have one as my wife's car. I wouldn't say that I would have another but she likes it and we haven't had anything much wrong with them.

On the plus side, for 6k I expect you will have a bit of choice, even if you have to go to 3-4 years to bring a few more I to budget.

Personally, and it is very much a personal choice, I would far rather have a high/top specced, high priced car that is older and therefore cheaper than a new cheap car. As long as you can afford to maintain it- it is possible to buy a Maserati for 10k but I wouldn't fancy keeping the latter on the road on a budget.

 

[adidat]

Had a 10 plate Yaris which I used as a van, drove it pretty hard for 2 years. Never a single problem apart from tires and break pads. Traded it in for a transporter on Wednesday which I'm currently in love with!

30 quid tax for the year and 300 for insurance, now gone up to £240 and £1600

My boss used to call it the 8 yard skip due to the mess it was usually in, so almost choked when VW offered me 3k

Adidat

 

[blackrodd]

Toyota yaris, or toyota aygo or Citroen berlingo all boringly reliable!
Regards Rodders

 

[Ring]

My daughter has a Yaris and she loves it great on fuel and £112 road tax cheap to insure as well.

 

[gregmcateer]

'Anything Japanese or South Korean' according to my local mechanic

 

[Claymore]

.

 

[woodfarmer]

Years ago the idea of scrapping a perfectly good car because of an ignition fault would seem ludicrous.

That's because they all disintegrated before they had time to develop an engine related problem! :wink:

Think you should include all my post.. The electronics is great unless it fails, no maintenance but failures are often sudden, complete and catastrophic. On my last trip to Poland via Italy , Austria and Czech republic on my Enfield the big end started to rattle. I was able to complete my journey back through Germany, Holland and Belgium and ride it into a garage and have it fixed ( upgraded to bigger stronger crankpin and bearing) and ride home. the cost of repair was less than a third the estimate for an electrical fault on a Volvo (without any guarantee to fix the problem). Thing is old technology is far more survivable that the new. I have a modern bike as well as the Enfield. for a long trip in wild places I would take the Enfield. For a poodle about in western Europe the Triumph.

But a big end failure shouldn't be cheaper and simpler to fix than an ignition fault.

 

[Mark A]

My wife bought a New Suzuki Alto 54 plate (based on a mini metro design) and used it daily for 5 years before giving it to our Daughter, she still uses the car daily too, at the risk of tempting fate it has never failed to start, MOTs have been passed without major incident or expense and it is cheap to insure and run. This cost just under £5000 new, and whilst it isn't the highest spec for luxuries (doesn't have Air Con) but for a 5 door small car has turned out to be an absolute bargain.

Not the coolest car available but brand new for under £6000 can't be bad.

Going by Google images I think the Alto looks a little bit too small, but nevertheless it's a good endorsement for Suzuki.

Why not check out the "Which" website? You can buy one off access to reports on the site for, I think £1. They are big on reliability when rating cars, based on feedback from actual owners, and they monitor the reliability performance of older cars too.

Ian

Thanks for the tip, I'll take a look now.

I am not sure about pricing but I have heard good things from friends about Kia- with the 7 year warranty. Particularly the ceed. We have had a couple of renaults and currently have one as my wife's car. I wouldn't say that I would have another but she likes it and we haven't had anything much wrong with them.

A Kia Cee'd with a long warranty sounds encouraging, cheers

Had a 10 plate Yaris which I used as a van, drove it pretty hard for 2 years. Never a single problem apart from tires and break pads.

A Yaris may be a bit small, but the next size up, a Auris, could be okay.


Thanks for all the advice so far, it's very interesting!

 

[Mark A]

Vauxhall Astra's can be picked cheap with low mileage by large dealerships (a guy near me bought a brand new Dacia for £6000 and loves it)

I've read some alarming things about Vauxhall's Q Network cars: apparently they are all ex-hire cars and company cars which are tarted up and put back on the forecourt. Hire cars are driven hard* so that's something to think about.

*I've done some pretty serious off-roading in hire cars in the past :roll: