Smallish car options

[IanOE]

I'm looking to get a newer car, my budget is up to £5k, but I could stretch a bit if necessary.

I currently have a 2008 Suzuki Swift sport and whilst I like the handling the ride is poor on the badly surfaced local roads and over speed bumps. It is also very buzzy at around 4k revs at 70MPH on the motorway. The seats are also uncomfortable on long journeys and I am looking to do multiple road trips in the next year, so I need something with a better ride.

I live in London and the car is parked on the street so I am looking for something that is smallish so that it is easier to park and get through traffic and also doesn't stand out. I also leave the car for long periods without using it, so I need something reliable.

Criteria:

Smallish;
Good ride;
Good handling (if possible to balance with good ride);
Good for long distance cruising on motorways;
Fairly economical;
Reliable to start first time after not being used for a while;
Almost definitely Petrol due to the journeys I will use it for;
Must be ULEZ compliant because I live in the extended ULEZ area.

I was thinking of a Fiesta 1.0 EcoBoost (123hp) Titanium to meet the above criteria but I am a middle aged man and my first two cars bought as a teenager were Fiestas so I am not sure if I should be looking for something different and less sensible/boring.

Other left field candidates that I have considered are Volvo C30 2.0 and Peugeot RCZ.

Thanks in advance for any suggestions.

[ChocolateFrog]

Think you've already said it.

The Fiesta with the 1.0 litre engine.

[ZX10R NIN]

The thing with small cars is that they have city gearing which means they're short geared for motorway work, ride wise go for something Focus sized & you'll get a better riding car.

Giulietta Veloce 170

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202105142...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202105012...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202105182...

Lusso 170

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202104121...

1.6T Focus Titanium

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202105042...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202105152...

Astra GTC SRI 180

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202105212...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202102128...


https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202103310...

If you want to go for a small car then the 1.6T Peugeot 208 XY/Feline 156 are the picks:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202105052...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202104131...

[ChrisH72]

I think at 5k the ecoboost titanium fiestas could be ropey.

For a softer ride you could go for something French maybe.

DS3 1.6 thp sport

208, you may even be able to get into a Gti for that money although the lesser models like the XY may be a bit softer. I’m sure the XY only comes in purple? But there were a couple of other special Ed’s with the same engine.

[Summit_Detailing]

Fabia Tsi

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202105112...

Ibiza FR

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202105122...

Essentially the same car, despite being a 5-speed it's sensibly geared so not pulling silly revs on the motorway.

Coopers S - I appreciate it's older but has 6-speed box and very decent to drive, firm but composed ride, not firm and crashy/unresolved like your Swift!

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202104020...

Happy shopping!

Cheers,

Chris

[IanOE]

Thanks all for taking the time for the advice!

I'll have a look at the options and see if I can get some test drives.

[IanOE]

Just to update this thread in case anyone is interested, I diligently read all of the advice given - and promptly ignored all of it and bought a Volvo C30 SE Sport T5 Geartronic. This really surprised me bearing in mind I don't like automatics.

Here are a couple of pictures from the dealer:

[ZX10R NIN]

Lmfao that's normally always the way, it does fit your brief though soft ride decent amount of (great 5 pot) go & a nice interior.

[IanOE]

Yes, I suppose looking back at my criteria it does meet them, except for the fairly economical bit. And as I don't do a massive amount of miles it is all relative anyway.

[ZX10R NIN]

You should average around 27mpg, which is pretty decent for a 2.5T five pot, anyway who cares about fuel when you get to hear that 5 pot warble

There's a readers car thread on one of these.