Want to buy a cheapish runabout for the misses and have a few cars in mind.

Ford Ka, Smart Car, Ford Fiesta.

Now before we start slating these cars, this is going to be used for shopping and short journeys. Want something that i can leave in the car park and not worry about parking dents in the door.

The Smart car is quite safe and cheapish if bought second hand. Only things is the older models are left hand drive and paddle shift gear change IIRC. They have airbags, aircon and the panaramic glass roof. Nice ish for short journeys but not to sure about long ones. Good MPG and generally quirky but fun to drive. They have an 800cc Supercharged lump which is fun to use but not blisteringly quick.

The Ford Ka is cheap to run, not to sure about saftey but most of them have a drivers airbag and ABS. Good handling again not fast but economical on petrol. They have a 1.3i NA engine.

The Ford Fiesta is the SAFE option. Been around for years and will continue to be around for a few more. Cheap parts, cheap to run.

I am looking at under the

go for a ford fiesta I say -

Seat Ibiza?

Skoda Felica?

Ta

Dazz

Hi Ivan,

The Smart Cars have a 600cc turbo engine (not 800cc supercharged) which is great fun. For 2 people they are ectually quite big inside as the engine is under the boot, so you effectively have all that legroom infront of you. You can get a reasonable amount of shopping in the boot - although if you are picking up a 32" widescreen TV - forget it

The padle shift is a Brabus aftermarket option - not standard. They come with a 6-speed fully auto box - and 2 of the 3 models (cant remember which ones) also have the sem-auto box which means you can manually up/down the gears by nudging the gearlevel up/down (like driving a video game - brilliant fun!)

LHD really isnt a problem as the cars are externally much smaller than most cars. Take one for a drive and check it out - I used to have one and i would definately have another.

Want to buy a cheapish runabout for the misses and have a few cars in mind.

Ford Ka, Smart Car, Ford Fiesta.

Now before we start slating these cars, this is going to be used for shopping and short journeys. The Ford Ka is cheap to run, not to sure about saftey but most of them have a drivers airbag and ABS. Good handling again not fast but economical on petrol. They have a 1.3i NA engine.

The Ford Fiesta is the SAFE option. Been around for years and will continue to be around for a few more. Cheap parts, cheap to run.

I am looking at under the

On Exchange and Mart :

(X) SKODA FABIA 1.4 16V, red, POWER STEERING, electric windows, central locking, air-conditioning,

All good advice so far,but in MY opinion,don't be tempted into a french thing,especially pug n renault.Some of the spares costs are stratospheric,especially trim..

Cheers guys I think I need to look into them all again to get a general overview, but you lot have helped put independent views across.

They come with a 6-speed fully auto box - and 2 of the 3 models (cant remember which ones) also have the sem-auto box which means you can manually up/down the gears by nudging the gearlevel up/down (like driving a video game - brilliant fun!)

Isn't it the other way round? As in, the Tiptronic change is standard on all of them, and the "auto" button is an optional extra/higher trim addition.

Either way, I'd agree that LHD is not as much of a problem as people think it would be, and that the Smart is the best choice of the 3. If you get a diesel, it's even more economical, but you can't get them RHD...

On the minus side, getting a Smart serviced anywhere other than a Smart Centre might be tricky - they're not really that expensive compared to a Ford dealer, but I'd assume you wouldn't take the Ka/Fiesta to a main dealer.

But yes, try them all and see which suits you best!

Rob.

I'd say, they were alll good cars for a runaround, but surely the Smarts boot is not big enough for a decent shop.

I also echo the Felicia comments, easy and cheap to maintain, and the 1.3 engine is almost bombproof.

Just bought a Ka2 for swmbo.

Great little car and out of a few different models I tried (even tried a corsa), it was the sharpest and most fun to drive. TBH, the corsa I tried was more expensive, didn't have power steering, and the gearbox was unbelievably mushy. You didn't know which gear you were going to hit!

She likes the Ka, but didn't at first. I pushed her towards it 'cos I heard it was bombproof, cheap to run / maintain / insure and although the 1.3 is an old tech engine, it's OK for town pootling and I gather is cheap to service (no cambelt...)

I'd say' date=' they were alll good cars for a runaround, but surely the Smarts boot is not big enough for a decent shop.

[/quote']

Then you'd be wrong...can easily fit 8 bags of food shopping in it. I use mine use mine for delivering computers, and they're not all that small for the most part!

Rob.

Well bought a car today..

I bought a 1.1i Fiat Seicento SX.

Small little car about the same size as a Metro which pleased the wife as she loved the little Metro when we had it. Picked it up with 21,000 miles on the clock, Y (2001) reg, tinted leccy windows, sun roof, drivers airbag, 5 speed box, central locking, immobiliser, immaculate condition all for

Good price, but I'd really recommend you don't look at the euroncap site!

Rob.

Well done m8. My daughter has the previous Cinqi Sporting with the same engine and loves it. I found it drove best of all the cars listed and a lot for the money although didn't try the Ka as it was too expensive. Fiats are better than most people imagine-go to Italy and you will see why, there are millions of them.

Chris

Good price' date=' but I'd really recommend you don't look at the euroncap site!

Rob.[/quote']

Yepp I know, it was just bought as a run about for her to go shopping locally, for long trips I have told her she must use the Furby. I also mentioned the NCAP test and she understood the implications.

some interesting comments there - one more for y'all...

we are going to be moving out of the city into the country where we'll really need 2 cars (damn, wish I hadn't sold that Rover 220D 6 months ago - D'OH!) anyway, I'm considering options for a second car. It's likely to be me driving it most (despite the RS being officially my company car) as SWMBO will do a longer commute.

Anyway, thinking about:

1 - oldish MX5 (preferably UK spec - but could be too dear) - reliable and fun to drive

2 - similiarly aged "performance" car - Nissan 200SX, Mk1 Golf GTI or something along those lines....

3 - something for

get a 500 quid banger try a favorit

you decide - on autotrader...

Description: Peugeot 206 16V GTi 3 Door Coupe

Drivetrain: 5 speed Manual Gas

Colour: Silver

Registration: 1999 'V' with 2 Registered Keepers

Mileage: 48,200 miles Price:

I'd be doing about 10 mile round trip mostly daily and it'll be in a station car park a lot of the time and not garaged.

Get yourself an old Smart for about 3-4k. Then get Naughty Car Tuning to put the 100bhp remap on it...

Rob.

1 - oldish MX5 (preferably UK spec - but could be too dear) - reliable and fun to drive

Older imported 5's will often be in generally better nick since the Jap climate is better and they don't use salt on the roads (my '91 is virtually rust free). Ironically an import might be a tad more expensive than UK for older models, but an early MK1 won't be more that 3-3.5k.

Daz

Get yourself an old Smart for about 3-4k. Then get Naughty Car Tuning to put the 100bhp remap on it...

Rob.

I'd definately agree with that, both my eldest son & my wife have have Smarts, check out a Smart site and see what is done to them. They are SHED LOADS of fun around town.( my son will be re mapping as soon as he completes another years insurance )

I very nearly bought the Roadster. It might only be 800 cc, but during a test drive of the roadster, I gave a rude boy in his tarted up XR3i a thorough trashing. Only the cost kept me away.

Wouldn't trade the furby