She might like the Ignis but on local trips the economy is shocking. I've done one long trip in it and frankly I was worried that we wouldn't get there on a full tank - 200 miles, 30+ litres to fill.

We did manage it with the steady motorway driving but it still wasn't great and might have got 250 miles out of the tank. Maybe the 1.3 is better.

Think I'll avoid it to be honest.

 

Although she has had a Swift in the past and she really liked it she's gone of Suzukis a little so it would be more of a last resort kind of choice.

 

Think the top contenders at the moment are a Micra, Arosa, Colt or Polo.

 

Phil

Are the Polos 8v or 16v at that age?

It's a 1.4 16v 75bhp.

 

The Arosa is a 1.4 8v MPi. I assume this is the same as the Fabia 1.4 MPi. Basically a Felicia engine with a longer stroke to increase capacity to 1.4 and a different fuel injection system. If that's the case I may avoid that one as it's very old tech and not very economical at all.

It's a 1.4 16v 75bhp.

The Arosa is a 1.4 8v MPi. I assume this is the same as the Fabia 1.4 MPi. Basically a Felicia engine with a longer stroke to increase capacity to 1.4 and a different fuel injection system. If that's the case I may avoid that one as it's very old tech and not very economical at all.

No it'll be the 1.4 8v from VW with a belt not a chain. I ran an ibiza with this engine (APQ there were a few variants). Not the greatest engine but a plodder. I broke the (manual) gearbox not the engine. Waterpumps and belts is important but same in the polo 16v. The 8v is only 60hp but the arosa is a bit smaller than a polo/ibiza.

My mates wife has an automatic Suzuki Alto, cheap small and reasonably nippy and has option of 5 door!

My two pennies worth.

My mates wife has an automatic Suzuki Alto, cheap small and reasonably nippy and has option of 5 door!

My two pennies worth.

Alto was too small for us, as Phil is looking at Picantos and i10s it might be big enough. I did originally start looking at newer type Swifts with a £5000 budget but in the end (wisely) went for something cheaper. We don't do many miles in the Ignis, the long trip was for ****s and giggles so we'll have to put up with it for a bit.

Went out today with Mum. She's put a deposit down on a car.

 

And the final choice was.... a Smart Car!

 

It's a 2002 with 31,000 miles on the clock. 599cc 54bhp.

 

Full service history and MOT till next June with no advisories.

 

Has A/C (nice and cold) and a panoramic roof.

 

Took it for a spin (my first go in one). I'm 6'7" tall and had loads of room in the driver and passenger seat. Very surprising how much go it had for such a tiny engine. Felt very strong from low down too. No rattles, bangs, knocks. Gearbox changes are spot on and the engine sounded sweet (actually sounded awesome being revved up a bit!).

 

Just a couple of issues that they are sorting before she buys it. They are giving it a service, electric mirror switch not working (it's the same one as a Vauxhall) and the brake pedal felt awful (very spongy and only gave any real braking till right down at the bottom). I think it was a servo problem. Checked the vacuum hoses but couldn't see anything. But they've said they'll sort it.

 

The draws of this is it's cheaper to tax than all the others and the economy is well above all the other small autos we've been looking at. Plus it's tiny which she likes.

 

It's also going to be dirt cheap and easy to service. Will do the next one for her. Only going to cost £24 for oil and filter for it!

 

Thanks for all your input.

 

Phil

Edited 16 August, 201510 yr by Phil-E

Went out today with Mum. She's put a deposit down on a car.

And the final choice was.... a Smart Car!

It's a 2002 with 31,000 miles on the clock. 599cc 54bhp.

Full service history and MOT till next June with no advisories.

Has A/C (nice and cold) and a panoramic roof.

Took it for a spin (my first go in one). I'm 6'7" tall and had loads of room in the driver and passenger seat. Very surprising how much go it had for such a tiny engine. Felt very strong from low down too. No rattles, bangs, knocks. Gearbox changes are spot on and the engine sounded sweet (actually sounded awesome being revved up a bit!).

Just a couple of issues that they are sorting before she buys it. They are giving it a service, electric mirror switch not working (it's the same one as a Vauxhall) and the brake pedal felt awful (very spongy and only gave any real braking till right down at the bottom). I think it was a servo problem. Checked the vacuum hoses but couldn't see anything. But they've said they'll sort it.

The draws of this is it's cheaper to tax than all the others and the economy is well above all the other small autos we've been looking at. Plus it's tiny which she likes.

It's also going to be dirt cheap and easy to service. Will do the next one for her. Only going to cost £24 for oil and filter for it!

Thanks for all your input.

Phil

Get shot of it before it hits 80k

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Why what happens at 80k miles?

Why what happens at 80k miles?

It turns back into a pumpkin!

Good luck with the Smart, they've never been on my radar so I don't know anything about them.

Haha. It's about the size of one!

Been sifting through the smart car forums.

By all accounts they are pretty reliable. The chassis and suspension etc is rock solid and rarely suffers problems.

High mileage cars sometimes need an engine rebuild. But the little 599cc non turbo seems the strongest of the bunch although often said to be a little under powered. But it's fine for my mum!

Smarts make sense as long as all you really want/need is an "in town car". The short wheelbase and (lack of) power makes them dismal at best for doing a distance.

Edited 17 August, 201510 yr by KenONeill

I'd heard the Auto boxes on them were feckin terrible, looks like you've found it to be the complete opposite.

 

When she gets bored you can drop a Hayabusa engine into it.

 

Yeah. She's literally just going to be doing a 2 mile journey to work then back again. Then the odd day out of 10 miles or so shopping etc. Probably only likely to do 3000 miles a year. The furthest she will ever drive is to York from Birstall which is only about 30miles.

 

The gearbox isn't terrible. It is what it is. It's no slower at shifting than a manual gearbox just that you don't have to use a clutch or gearstick. It's very easy to control at low speed too.

 

It's no DSG but for pottering about it's perfect!

 

And yeah I've seen the Hayabusa conversions before. There's a couple on the smart forums that have done it. I don't think my Mum would approve! lol

 

I couldn't believe how tiny the little engine was in the back. Very neat design. They are very easy to work on it seems to. General servicing is a doddle so I should be fine with it. Plenty of info on the web for me to use.

So she picked it up yesterday.

 

They've repaired the mirror switch, changed the rear number plate, fitted new shoes to rear brakes and properly adjusted the handbrake.

 

They stuck a couple of gallons of petrol in for her too.

 

She's been out a couple of times. A bit nervous she said and her legs were shaking (bless). But she's very smitten with it.

 

I've just had a panicked phone call from her though saying "I can't get it into reverse. It's just showing 0 on the screen and it won't go". I asked her if she had her foot on the brake... "Ah... it's working now!" LOL

 

Phil

I think I made an error with my first post on the smart car.

 

While reading up on stuff today I saw a picture that labelled a radiator and fan inside the engine bay as the intercooler. I remember this one having this when I was looking in the engine compartment.

 

So I did more googling and I think all the Smart engines are turbocharged even the little 599cc one.

 

I need to stop worrying now about it though. I'm sure it will be fine and with a good service history etc I should have nothing to worry about.

 

I hate buying cars as I'm always worried they're going to break. Even worse buying one for someone else.

 

Phil

Why what happens at 80k miles?

The engine needs replacing iirc

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Having only done 31,000 in 13 years its going to be OK for a few years until it gets to 80,000 miles, 

not that its written in stone that they drop dead through miles.

 

It would be older than Tom is now if it gets to 80,000 miles.

I doubt it's ever going to see 80,000 miles!

 

It's going to be doing approx. 3,000 miles a year.

 

Plus as above it's not set in stone. I gather it's when they are given a hard time and perhaps not looked after properly. I don't think my mum even know what full throttle is.

 

Either way all cars have troubles of some kind. It's impossible to pick a car that will never have any troubles.

 

Phil

'Busa conversion at 80k you know it makes sense!

Haha... I should do It and just not tell her. lol

Hello all.......overall I feel there has been a reasonable amount decent info given forshould  original OP. However I want to point out a singular isolated opinion about one incident or a few about a make of car does should not constitute any one  stay well clear from that make. All makes have some faults............

 

It pains me to see this happening on this club but I suppose we're all human and always ready to learn.

Some manufacturers have some cars from a period of time that throw up more lemons than is actually acceptable.

 

Some manufacturers are liable to make out this is overblown online and exaggerated by owners,

Seat / VW / Skoda / Audi as part of the Volkswagen group is like this.

 

Often on this forum people give their experience of models good and bad and do not lump all the cars as going to be having faults, 

but point out where the issues might be common or an issue to look out for.

 

Vorsprung Durch Technik.

We must remember to learn from our lemons,

We must remember to learn from our lemons.

The VWG Board Members should be given this to write 1,000 times every time they build & sign off another vehicle 

that can not keep the Coolant in the engine, and the H20 out of the passenger cabin.