Quick question really.

Out of the small cars, what do you reckon would be the best buy? Cheapest and reliable etc...

Wife's car conked out and we may need to shop for a new one. Budget is whatever we can scrape together (havent checked yet) 0% finance would be a bonus.

If it was me, I'd be looking at a Yaris...it's been out long enough for there to be plenty of depreciated examples out there, it's nice and small and they're generally very reliable. Also they're not total rubbish to drive...

Rob.

We looked at many before settling on another Fabia, and while we dismissed things like Puntos (made of biscuit tin), Clios (carp driving position) and Corsas (where to start! ), the only reason we ended up with the Skoda instead of a Yaris or old-ish Civic was because for some reason the insurance on Japanese cars seemed really expensive!

Having been given a lift in a Yaris recently, I can say they've got lots of space inside (thanks to the sliding rear seat), however the interior does appear a bit flimsy and fussily styled. How much of this is just the contrast with the Fabia's rather "agricultural" interior, I can't say - certainly I wasn't uncomfortable in the back or anything (at 6' tall and far too many stones...)

Avoid Rovers.

Autoexpress this week reckons the Nissan Almera is a great 2nd user buy.

I believe some Corsa and Astra models are being offered with 4yrs 0%.

How about the forthcoming Kia Ceed ? 7 yr warranty 'n all.

Proton Savy is dirt cheap.

Used Micra (the ugly one) will be cheap and reliable.

I believe some Corsa and Astra models are being offered with 4yrs 0%.

How about the forthcoming Kia Ceed ? 7 yr warranty 'n all.

Proton Savy is dirt cheap.

Used Micra (the ugly one) will be cheap and reliable.

Will check these out. Also may look at the hyundai getz

and no woman of mine is going to buy a nissan micra. (nothing against the car, its just from personal experiance 99.9999% of micra drivers have no idea how to drive)

Getz is a good buy for a second car used mainly as a run around.

5 years warranty and 3 years servicing

Old corsa, I wouldn't and the new corsa is too expensive IMHO

Yaris is a good solid car, very nice IMHO.

Getz is a good buy for a second car used mainly as a run around.

5 years warranty and 3 years servicing

Old corsa, I wouldn't and the new corsa is too expensive IMHO

Yaris is a good solid car, very nice IMHO.

thing is her car will be used all the time. She works full time so drives to and from work every day, also the occasional longish journey.

If both of us are going somewhere though we take my spaceship.

Just got to look at the cheapest financial outlay without getting something thats going to be a stinker.

Honda Jazz. Several of my friends have been asking this sort of question, and finished up with a Jazz or a Furbie.

Panda?, Yaris?, Jazz?, Polo?, Fabia?, Ibiza?, Fiesta?, C2/C3?, Mazda2?, Citroen C1/107/Aygo?

Lots to choose from and there are no bad cars here...maybe some a bit 'old hat' but you'll soon find those out;)

Citroen C1/107/Aygo?

Could have sworn I saw one of these versions selling for

Honda Jazz. Several of my friends have been asking this sort of question, and finished up with a Jazz or a Furbie.

Jazz would be nice, but needs to be a cheap car. 8k max for new and probably less for used

Does it have to be small and "womanly" ?

You'd get a cracking Octavia VRS MKI for under £8k.

New Fiat Panda is supposed to be excellent. Try Motorhouse 2000 - you can get a new 1.2 Panda with delivery miles for c.

Autoexpress this week reckons the Nissan Almera is a great 2nd user buy.

We had one as a renter & it was the most characterless car Ive ever driven BUT was 100% functional & actually handled quite well.

Its got reputation for being dull & that could be reflected in very low resale prices but I believe its got Nissans legendary reliability so if its cost driven it might just be the way to go.

If you are really struggling & want a runner search the salvage yards for a cat D write off, a car worth a couple of grand or more can be totalled with just a scrape down one side, car will be totally safe & legal to drive

Jazz would be nice, but needs to be a cheap car. 8k max for new and probably less for used

Sorry just read this post, Ignore my previous one. With that sort of money you should be able to find something quite nice, try the stealers for a 12-18 month old car, the markets tight at the moment so they are all keen, its a shame you missed the end of Jan as they would be chasing targets harder.

Surf the net & car warehouses to see what they are knocking cars out for & then go to your local stealer armed with those figures.

New Fiat Panda == no front leg room :(

Does it have to be small and "womanly" ?

You'd get a cracking Octavia VRS MKI for under

New Fiat Panda is supposed to be excellent. Try Motorhouse 2000 - you can get a new 1.2 Panda with delivery miles for c.

If you want something boringly reliable then you have to look at a Toyota or Honda , so the Yaris and Jazz would be my 2 suggestions. If only Lexus done a small car , eh?

Looks like we will be starting to look at used toyota yaris' in blue

I'd go with a Getz too - SWMBO has a 1.3 and it's been spot on, actually pretty nippy too!

At 3 years old it's had 3 free services (so you can pretty much guarantee they've been done) and still has 2 years warranty left.

Alternately, a bit of haggling will get you a spanker with extras for £7k (PM if need details).

I'd stick Japaneese too tbh.

After reading tons upon tons :-

Yaris (daughter's next car - but beware, newer versions clutch is a lot heavier - check this out), Almera (nearly bought 136BHP SXE in place of vRS for reliability etc), Honda, Skoda diesel post 2002 (seriously, it seems the 2002 and pre petrols are the bother-causers, post 2002 diesels are very good).

As a bye the bye - son has V reg Polo, cost us

Right thanks everybody for your help.

Missus is now the proud owner of an 03 toyota yaris 1.3 vvti five door in blue. 26,000 mile on the clock and she loves it.