So my mum has decided after several years to get behind the wheel of a car.

 

She can drive manual and has said if she has to she will get one but prefers automatic so would first of all like an automatic but her budget and increased running costs of an auto may change that yet.

 

Budget is fairly small at £2,500.00 tops.

 

So far I've found;

 

Hyundai i10 1.2 Auto (cat C repair with only 12,000 miles on it on a 59 plate)

 

Peugeot 206CC 1.6 Auto (2005, 71,000 miles with good service history and long MOT)

 

Nissan Micra 1.2 SE (2003, 41,000 miles with service history and apparently immaculate condition)

 

And that's about it so far. Am I forgetting about any other cars of similar size, spec and running costs etc?

 

The Hyundai is looking like a good buy as it's the newest with the lowest mileage, cheapest Tax and best MPG. Cat C was apparently dents around the car that were clearly bad enough to write it off but they have been prepared and it's now described as looking immaculate. Are Hyundais good? Will it still have a warranty?

 

Any input greatly appreciated.

Instead on the Hyundai i10 maybe look for a Kia Picanto, you should be able to get one less than 10 years old for £2,500.

Not just a basic one, an Auto like a 1.1 LX. I had one from new in 2006 until last year.

I liked that engine better than the 1.2 l in the Hyundai.

 

http://autotrader.co.uk

(put in Max price £3,000, maybe some there are in your area.)

I was going to suggest i10 but saw you have already got one on your list. Theres also its twin the Kia Picanto. The Hyundai will just be out of warranty now. You may also be able to go up to an i20/Rio.

 

I have seen Mender praising some lesser known brands for cheapness and reliability, but can't remember which.

For me I would stick with the micra we have had an 1.0 auto for 5 years with no real issues and really cheap to run I would think you should be able to get a newer one than an 2003 for 2.5k though I would be looking 2005/6 with sensible miles and you should have 5 years min cheap motoring.Good Luck

Edited 13 August, 201510 yr by andy3270

Oooh.I forgot about the Picanto!

 

I also didn't know they did a 1.0 auto Micra so I may have a look at those.

 

Really useful thanks guys.

SWMBO has the i10 1.2 auto (on a '58 plate) and it's a good town car. She only does local runs - Harrogate a few times a week and Leeds & York less frequently - and it averages 37mpg. Only issue in four years has been a binding brake disk last winter. She had a '54 plate Picanto before that which I didn't like as much as the i10, but that might just be the age difference in the cars.

Very much an Age difference.

& not all Kia / Hyundai are they same due to Face Lifts & Model Redesigns a year or 2 apart between Brands.

Leather Steering Wheel, A/C, Discs front and rear.

I went to change the 2006 Picanto 1.1 Auto for a 2009 Hyundai i10 1.2 auto as a new one came out and my 3 year old car 

ran better and was better finished than the Demonstrator they lent me for a day, so i never changed.

 

Be aware of low mileage ones maybe just not haven been used enough.

But then they were maybe serviced properly every year for 6 years or more.

Spark Plugs and Ignition Coils are important to good running and these are not expensive to change.

Look at the Disc Brakes Front & Rear and this can be the difference between Kia & Hyundai Years & Models, 

some corrode quicker than others, some hardly corrode.

Hand Brake cables can need replacing, again cheap.

Back Boxes of cars doing low annual mileages can corrode quite badly.

But choose the correct one and even an automatic can get 35-40 mpg when only doing 2 or 3 miles a day so cold starts.

 

Fit snow tyres and virtually unstoppable as long as it does not get beached.

You may struggle with budget, but the best automatic I've ever driven is the Honda Jazz with the CVT. (I was going to say "small auto" then changed my mind about the need for the qualifier since I'm commenting on the gearbox)

Micras do tend to be tough little beasties.

 

Friend of SWMBOs survived a significant high speed pile up in a Micra. Walked away with friction burns from the seatbelt.

Nothing but the safety cell left.

 

She's stuck with them ever since and had little bother with reliability either.

 

Was going to suggest Honda Jazz but I think that'll be out of budget.

Edited 13 August, 201510 yr by Aspman

Mum has an auto micra (roundish one after the k10). Auto gearbox has issues and needs constant top-ups with oil. Apparently it's not uncommon but I've not had enough time to look into it.

 

Fortunately yours is the shape after so you should be fine

Edited 13 August, 201510 yr by bspman

Good luck, you'll need it.

Its a struggle to find a decent under 10 year old small (not city) automatic for that price. I know, I've tried but going private should help you. That cat c does seem cheap, are you sure the story is the truth? Small autos do seem to be a large bill waiting to happen though.

Edited 13 August, 201510 yr by 'daiking'

I'm with daiking. Leave the Cat. C. There'll always be a niggle at the back of your mind. There have been roof-folding problems with the Peugeot 206CC.

Lots of smallish autos on autotrader under £2500, up to 1.4 and under 50k. Most probably driven by retireds. Ford Fusion, Fiestas, Pug 206, Honda Jazz., etc. Ford pitched the Fusion at young couples. Mainly bought by oldsters, cos it's easy to get in. looks a bit like a previous generation Fiesta, but XXL.

Thanks for all your input guys.

 

So I don't think I trust the Cat C. Looking at the Advert further it's listed as a trade seller but only lists a mobile number and no garage details!

 

You're right about the 206CC... the risk of the roof going wrong is not one I'd like to take!

 

There are some Honda Jazz 1.4 I-DSI (CVT auto) in budget but they are higher mileage at around 80k miles. But from what I gather they are very reliable and hide their miles well.

 

It's looking like a Picanto or Micra. I've found a Picanto of good spec with the 1.1 and auto box. I've also had an offer of a Brisky member of a nice sounding Micra 1.3 SVE auto.

 

The Fusion although a good car... all the autos I've seen are the durashift which I understand to be an automated manual box which may prove to be less reliable than a conventional auto (says me with the DSG!!!).

Had a few mates with 206CC. All leaked from new.

Some issues with microswitches in the boot making the roof stick either up or down. Down age will have improved that any.

 

If you're looking at an older car simple is definitely going to be better. Steel wheels will avoid any nasty looking alloys. Wind up windows and no ac all good.

If it was me I would keep away from any Micra. I had one for 15 months after listening to reviews of other peeps. They feel like they are made out of egg shell, they are known to suffer from electrical faults , mine had keyless entry and start,  if that packs up you are in big trouble, evidently the electrics are Renault, the engine which was pretty pokey for a 1.4 was also derived from a Clio, fuel consumption was 47 mpg on a run at best due to the gearing which could do with a 6th gear. If a tail light bulb blows the car goes into limp mode, the boot lid also rattles and suffers from wind noise, all in all I was glad to get rid of it.

The age you're looking at, Kia/Hyundai were still building a reputation and while reliable will not be as pleasant to be in as more recent cars. Honda have had a quality reputation for a good while, and a Jazz will be a better (and more comfortable) car all round. I wouldn't worry about mileage, history and condition counts more as the miles clock up.

My missus has a 2009 Nissan Note 1.6 auto.

 

It's been brilliant, never puts a foot wrong.

 

I'd get the gearbox oil changed when you purchase it (they are pretty much bulletproof if oil is changed), but other than that, they cost very little to run and maintain.

 

Think £2,500 would get you into a 2006/7 Note?

A little over budget, but get good reviews - Mender liked his one:

 

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/used-cars/perodua/myvi/used-perodua-myvi-1-3-ezi-5dr-lincoln-fpa-201507255492737?logcode=p

 

Can't see anyone's mention a Honda Civic yet - plenty available for the money.

 

1.6 too big?:

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201507135155412?channel=cars&onesearchad=used&sort=default&page=11&radius=1500&transmission=automatic&make=honda&price-to=2500&model=civic&engine-size-cars=1-4l_to_1-6l&postcode=bn213uu&search-target=usedcars&fuel-type=petrol&logcode=p

 

Gaz

Oooh.I forgot about the Picanto!

 

I also didn't know they did a 1.0 auto Micra so I may have a look at those.

 

Really useful thanks guys.

 

Be aware the Picanto can suffer problems of the crank pulley bolt working loose on the pre 2008 models, they need checking properly if purchasing. Odd post 2008 models have been known to fail too. It's a known problem, and I have experience having bought one for my daughter and it had this problem but has been sorted Kia. They don't admit to a problem but in my daughters case a quoted £1800 fix has only cost £200, Kia picked the rest of the bill up, go figure.

havent read the whole thread so i am sorry if this has been said but the mirca is not clever...

A lass at our station had one its it was ALWAYS broken/failing/about to fail she chopped it in for a kia i think

I think a 1.6 may be too big. She hasn't driven for years and doesn't any no claims bonus so insurance may be an issue.

 

Anyone know much of the Fiat punto 1.2 Speedgear? From what I can gather it's a CVT gearbox.

 

V6TDI. I wish we could stretch the budget that far as that's a cracking price given the age and mileage.

 

I've seen a couple of 1.6 Notes in budget. I've been looking more towards smaller engines but we may have to broaden the search.

 

She's doing some insurance quotes on a Micra 1.4 auto and a Picanto 1.1 to give some ideas.

 

Phil

How about an older polo auto?

What about a Mitsubishi Colt , a very underrated but capable little car , we have an 08 model which is mainly used for short runs and is the general dogsbody , nothings ever fell off and its never let us down .

What about a Mitsubishi Colt , a very underrated but capable little car , we have an 08 model which is mainly used for short runs and is the general dogsbody , nothings ever fell off and its never let us down .

a reasonable shout, my dad has a 59 but I'm not sure how cheap they are.

I know I commented earlier but this is my full personal observation - not advice - observation on small autos

3 x Chevrol-aewoo Kalos - Ok car threw up some consistent engine faults over the years.

Chevrolet Aveo - better than the Kalos, less faults. They're actually not that bad. I think they're pretty practical, good size inside although I'm not sure how economical it'll be. The one I know is a 1.4 - better than the Kaloses I'm told. Conventional auto, imho you could do worse.

Mitsubishi i - My dad loved this but wrote it off. very economical, suprisingly good for space but mid engine/RWD, oops.

Mitsubishi Colt - this is fine, nothing major has happened that I'm aware of.

K11 1.3 Micra - this was a shed but engine and gearbox ran fine even when I scrapped it. However I always had the feeling it was a bomb waiting to go off. They're getting very old now and have a few consistent niggly problems thta get annoying after a while like burning out headlight connectors, burning out heating blower system resistors, and regular rust repairs. Personally, I'd only want a good one that I was sure worked in the troublesome areas as otherwise they were quite likeable. I didn't even mind the CVT gearbox

Suzuki Ignis 1.5, 55plate - Don't, not economical with a thimble for a fuel tank and apart from the (good) angry noise the engine makes I don't particularly like driving it and other road users give you no repsect - even less respect than the battered old micra was given presumably because people thought you were some desperado with no money and nothing to lose when driving it.

Oops nearly forgot the Metro, sorry, Rover 114. Really dont't, not that anyone would now, that was over 10 years ago. HGF a-go-go.

When looking recently at this price, sub £3000 I found that VAG products were far more than other brands and I'm not sure you can afford to pay that premium at this level. My preference would have been a Note or a Jazz. Notes are cheaper than a comparable Jazz but the Note is far newer so its harder to find a cheap (sub £3k) model. I also would have given the Ford Fusion a chance but like the Note and Jazz, my wife didn't like them. She didn't like the K12 micra and from what I'd read, I wasn't sure on the thing either. The Note on the otherhand seemed ok in that respect.

Before the ignis popped up, we were looking at a Rav 4. Seeing that she's hit things twice in the ignis and been done for speeding, I'm actually glad we have the ignis, not a Rav.

Interesting comments on the Picanto engine problems I'll do some googling.

 

Some mixed comments on Micras here too. Always thought they were just fine and would just work. But like any car some things are bound to break at some point.

 

I've found a couple of Polo 1.4 Autos which look decent.

 

I've found a Mitsubishi Colt 1.3 Elegance with the automated manual box. Some googling suggests it's very robust and no problems. Very interested to see this one looks promising.

 

The vag cars I've found (Polo and Arosa) are a bit more expensive with higher miles but they seem like a possibility.

 

She used to have an R reg Rav 4 2.0 auto and loved it! It was some special edition or something with leather seats and gold badges. Bit thirsty on the fuel though.

 

Thanks for the heads up on the Ignis as i'd found an Ignis 1.5 auto and looked quite good but the tax is much higher than the rest and the MPG seems quite shocking!

 

Also seen a couple of Kalos's and they looked quite decent.

 

Plenty to go on here folks. Thank you.

 

Seems we are spoilt for choice. I've heard these small autos are quite sought after and often sell very quick!