Reccomend me a small car

[Felix]

Fabia.

We've had a few of them, from the 1.2 3cyl, the 1.2 Tsi with the 110 bhp that I still have and the 1.0 Tsi. Enough room for the hound(s) bulletproof reliability, great build quality and good economy.

We had the Citigo which is basically an Up, but it was very cramped and felt a bit tinny.

I had the 3cyl 1.2 in a VW Fox. It was quite a nippy thing but crap on fuel at motorway speeds. I was only averaging 35 on long runs.

[v8-powered]

Jap or German will see you right.

French. DS3 1.6 Diesel is so much fun for so little money. When this one dies i will be looking for another for sure.

I was also going to suggest a DS3. Mine has just been pinched by my stepdaughter, I miss the little roller skate.

[dern]

I'm looking at an abarth 500 or possibly a suzuki swift sport for a runabout. They both look fun.

[Rockburner]

Not a specific answer, but for anecdotal reference, we have a Fiat 500 and it's been great.

2017 reg bought 2 years ago with 17k miles, now done 75k. Nothing's really gone wrong aside from general wear and tear.

Just worth adding

Have to say that I loved mine, bought it just before Covid hit and sold it just after. It was great. Far better than I expected it to be on motorway runs. I drove it down to Poitiers and back for a New Years Eve weekend and tbh I've had worse cars for long trips. It was a 2009 and it only cost me about 2 grand and servicing costs. I did have something go wrong with it (can't remember what), but got it sorted for a reasonable amount by an independant specialist.

[Slenver]

Have to say that I loved mine, bought it just before Covid hit and sold it just after. It was great. Far better than I expected it to be on motorway runs. I drove it down to Poitiers and back for a New Years Eve weekend and tbh I've had worse cars for long trips. It was a 2009 and it only cost me about 2 grand and servicing costs. I did have something go wrong with it (can't remember what), but got it sorted for a reasonable amount by an independant specialist.

There really aren't any 'small' cars these days. The 500 is designed to look small but the only real compromise is the boot, though it's way bigger than a Mini's.

From the front seats it's just the same as any smallish* car.

ie. what would've been medium-sized in the 90s, large in the 70s and huge in the 50s

[Rockburner]

Have to say that I loved mine, bought it just before Covid hit and sold it just after. It was great. Far better than I expected it to be on motorway runs. I drove it down to Poitiers and back for a New Years Eve weekend and tbh I've had worse cars for long trips. It was a 2009 and it only cost me about 2 grand and servicing costs. I did have something go wrong with it (can't remember what), but got it sorted for a reasonable amount by an independant specialist.

There really aren't any 'small' cars these days. The 500 is designed to look small but the only real compromise is the boot, though it's way bigger than a Mini's.

From the front seats it's just the same as any smallish* car.

ie. what would've been medium-sized in the 90s, large in the 70s and huge in the 50s

True. IIRC the FIAT 500 is the same "platform" as the Ford Fiesta, which, funnily enough, my Mum had: the FIAT was far roomier internally.

[KungFooBob]

The fiat 500 shares a platform with the ford ka, which uses a version of the fiesta platform.

[Slenver]

They're also very tall, which gives an impression of space in the front. Parked next to various larger saloons and sporty cars I've had since we got it, hers dwarfs mine.

Mind you, we hired one once a few years ago in and, despite her only being 4'11", she did hit her head on the roof a few times. That was different though as it was a hire car, and it was only the occasions we were airborne

[Bigjawa]

Fabia.

We've had a few of them, from the 1.2 3cyl, the 1.2 Tsi with the 110 bhp that I still have and the 1.0 Tsi. Enough room for the hound(s) bulletproof reliability, great build quality and good economy.

We had the Citigo which is basically an Up, but it was very cramped and felt a bit tinny.

I had the 3cyl 1.2 in a VW Fox. It was quite a nippy thing but crap on fuel at motorway speeds. I was only averaging 35 on long runs.

Can't remember what ours did, but it wasn't too bad, my 1.2 Tsi averages high 40s or low 50s. The 1.0 Tsi 3 cyl was up in the high 50's low 60's. The turbos mean they make max torque from 1500rpm.

[Mr Moofo]

I have heard from a freind in the car engine business that the Fiat 2 cylinder engine should be avoided because of "issues"
Will look at a DS3 but owning a Citroen car was horrid in my past experience

[KungFooBob]

End of thread <mike drop>

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/145731581296

[Mr Moofo]

End of thread <mike drop>

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/145731581296

Doesn't have parking sensors

[Dodgy69]

You need tiny feet to drive the abarth, when you brake, you'll hit the go pedal. They do have a noisy button switch though.

[Mr Moofo]

You need tiny feet to drive the abarth, when you brake, you'll hit the go pedal. They do have a noisy button switch though.

Neither of us have tiny feet

[Pirahna]

The correct answer is a 1.0 fiesta 5 door.

The correct answer is an Up GTi.

[Mr Moofo]

The correct answer is a 1.0 fiesta 5 door.

The correct answer is an Up GTi.

You have never seen my wife in full kerb attack mode on large low profile alloys

[Wossname]

The correct answer is a 1.0 fiesta 5 door.

The correct answer is an Up GTi.

You have never seen my wife in full kerb attack mode on large low profile alloys

Both answers are correct, but skip the GTi bit- she doesn’t need the performance, although he would enjoy it, and the wheels/tyres really don’t like potholes let alone kerbs.

And it has to be 5 doors. I’ve never understood buying a 4 seater car with 2 doors. Doors are long and heavy for opening up hill, seat belt is miles away behind you, back seats are a contortion to get in and out ( kids and adults). What for? Save a couple of quid? So I’m ruling out Minis and 500s.

What about a Panda? Cheap, capable…

[Mr Moofo]

Panda is on the list, as is the 500
Aygos do look as though they are made out of folded cardboard
Up could be on the list

That said the Mini has just come back from having a new water pump and it is driving better than it has done for ages. God knows why - but there may be a stay of execution

[Supermofo]

Hyundai i10. I put 70k miles on the one I owned, surprisingly roomy inside for such a small car. The later models look much nicer than the one I had too. Did a few trips with me, the Mrs, both little uns and a double buggy in the boot.

[Mr Moofo]

Hyundai i10. I put 70k miles on the one I owned, surprisingly roomy inside for such a small car. The later models look much nicer than the one I had too. Did a few trips with me, the Mrs, both little uns and a double buggy in the boot.

I am glad they got better looking because the few I have seen around West Sussex are pretty forgetable (not that this is an important criteria - but i will have to drive it occasionally )