Small (semi) interesting city car?
Discussion
My fiancee has finally passed her driving test and I need to get a car that she can drive. It would be for very occasional, short journeys - to the hairdresser, to pick me up from the pub etc. I had bought her a cheap 2003 Golf GTi for her to learn in and then drive once she passed but she drove it twice and refused to drive it again as apparently it was too difficult to drive, with clunky gears and a high clutch... She has told me her requirements are (i) 'easy gears' (ii) an electronic speedometer (iii) small and (iv) good rear visibility. Probably best to get a manual so that she actually gets comfortable driving a manual. I am sure she would also prefer something with some modern tech e.g. bluetooth / parking sensors / rear view cam.
Given she will drive it so rarely, whatever we buy will probably serve a dual purpose as something I use for my commute sometimes (about 40 minutes in nose to tail traffic) and hopefully something semi interesting as a small dull city car will bore me to tears and I'll probably sell it pretty quickly.
Budget is flexible - probably up to 20k max, but if I could spend 2k and not get chastised for buying an old shed she can't drive then great.
So far things I've been thinking about:
- Abarth 595: any sweet spot in terms of age/spec for these? They've been for sale for so long and new ones seem awfully expensive given that ...
- Up! GTi: i've been in a few regular Up! and they feel pretty cheap and tinny, does the Gti feel any better?
- Smart ForTwo Brabus: i find these quite appealing but not sure if they're a bit of a gimmick and seem quite expensive for what they are
Anything else worth thinking about or should I just accept dullness and buy a Corsa?
Given she will drive it so rarely, whatever we buy will probably serve a dual purpose as something I use for my commute sometimes (about 40 minutes in nose to tail traffic) and hopefully something semi interesting as a small dull city car will bore me to tears and I'll probably sell it pretty quickly.
Budget is flexible - probably up to 20k max, but if I could spend 2k and not get chastised for buying an old shed she can't drive then great.
So far things I've been thinking about:
- Abarth 595: any sweet spot in terms of age/spec for these? They've been for sale for so long and new ones seem awfully expensive given that ...
- Up! GTi: i've been in a few regular Up! and they feel pretty cheap and tinny, does the Gti feel any better?
- Smart ForTwo Brabus: i find these quite appealing but not sure if they're a bit of a gimmick and seem quite expensive for what they are
Anything else worth thinking about or should I just accept dullness and buy a Corsa?
PrinceRupert said:
My fiancee has finally passed her driving test and I need to get a car that she can drive. It would be for very occasional, short journeys - to the hairdresser, to pick me up from the pub etc. I had bought her a cheap 2003 Golf GTi for her to learn in and then drive once she passed but she drove it twice and refused to drive it again as apparently it was too difficult to drive, with clunky gears and a high clutch... She has told me her requirements are (i) 'easy gears' (ii) an electronic speedometer (iii) small and (iv) good rear visibility. Probably best to get a manual so that she actually gets comfortable driving a manual. I am sure she would also prefer something with some modern tech e.g. bluetooth / parking sensors / rear view cam.
Given she will drive it so rarely, whatever we buy will probably serve a dual purpose as something I use for my commute sometimes (about 40 minutes in nose to tail traffic) and hopefully something semi interesting as a small dull city car will bore me to tears and I'll probably sell it pretty quickly.
Budget is flexible - probably up to 20k max, but if I could spend 2k and not get chastised for buying an old shed she can't drive then great.
So far things I've been thinking about:
- Abarth 595: any sweet spot in terms of age/spec for these? They've been for sale for so long and new ones seem awfully expensive given that ...
- Up! GTi: i've been in a few regular Up! and they feel pretty cheap and tinny, does the Gti feel any better?
- Smart ForTwo Brabus: i find these quite appealing but not sure if they're a bit of a gimmick and seem quite expensive for what they are
Anything else worth thinking about or should I just accept dullness and buy a Corsa?
Honda E - if you have an ability to park and charge, then push your budgetGiven she will drive it so rarely, whatever we buy will probably serve a dual purpose as something I use for my commute sometimes (about 40 minutes in nose to tail traffic) and hopefully something semi interesting as a small dull city car will bore me to tears and I'll probably sell it pretty quickly.
Budget is flexible - probably up to 20k max, but if I could spend 2k and not get chastised for buying an old shed she can't drive then great.
So far things I've been thinking about:
- Abarth 595: any sweet spot in terms of age/spec for these? They've been for sale for so long and new ones seem awfully expensive given that ...
- Up! GTi: i've been in a few regular Up! and they feel pretty cheap and tinny, does the Gti feel any better?
- Smart ForTwo Brabus: i find these quite appealing but not sure if they're a bit of a gimmick and seem quite expensive for what they are
Anything else worth thinking about or should I just accept dullness and buy a Corsa?
PrinceRupert said:
bennno said:
Honda E - if you have an ability to park and charge, then push your budget
I really want one and have offroad parking but it is difficult to justify 30k for such short range.Truckosaurus said:
Suzuki Swift Sport, Boosterjet version.
Cheap, reliable, half decent performance.
Thanks for the suggestion, something like this looks ideal: Cheap, reliable, half decent performance.
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202210130...
I supplied one of these to a client today & it actually surprised me as I didn't know this model been updated from the 1.4, so I give you the Vauxhall Adam S:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202209220...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202105042...
You can get a nice one for under half of your budget or for just over 10k you can get a last of the line model:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202211051...
They also come with Android Auto/Apple Carplay
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202209220...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202105042...
You can get a nice one for under half of your budget or for just over 10k you can get a last of the line model:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202211051...
They also come with Android Auto/Apple Carplay
Edited by ZX10R NIN on Monday 7th November 23:01
PrinceRupert said:
Truckosaurus said:
Suzuki Swift Sport, Boosterjet version.
Cheap, reliable, half decent performance.
Thanks for the suggestion, something like this looks ideal: Cheap, reliable, half decent performance.
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202210130...
not as 'sporty' as the regular boosterjet
Auslander said:
If she finds a Mk4 Golf difficult to drive, then I'd send her out to find her own car, because it's likely she'll be unhappy with anything you choose.
Indeed she will need to test drive but in fairness to her the Golf did have a very high clutch which wasn't the easiest to drive smoothly! Tbh I think she just wants something to run around in that isn't an old shed!
lord trumpton said:
Thats the boosterjet hybrid
not as 'sporty' as the regular boosterjet
Thanks though it seems to be quicker/more powerful?not as 'sporty' as the regular boosterjet
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202209069...
EDIT: Ah it seems there is a 1.0 Boosterjet and a 1.4 Boosterjet. Assume you were referring to the latter. Why do cars in this class have so many different bloody trim/engine etc options!
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202205085...
Are Twingos any good? E.g.
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/2022091798...
This already has better half buy in
Cheap to buy and run, rwd so apparently great manoeuvrability, decent looking. Im sure pretty dull but could put the money i didnt spend on an abarth etc into something i would actually enjoy...xjr or quattroporte, yes please!
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/2022091798...
This already has better half buy in
Cheap to buy and run, rwd so apparently great manoeuvrability, decent looking. Im sure pretty dull but could put the money i didnt spend on an abarth etc into something i would actually enjoy...xjr or quattroporte, yes please!
The swift sport 1.4 used to have 140bhp. In fact a lot of reviews suggest it actually had more than that out of the box. These would be 2018/2019 cars. From 2020 they changed to the mild hybrid with around 120bhp. I'd go for a 19 plate personally.
Another to look at is the Picanto Gt line s with the 1.0 turbo triple. Only 100bhp but very small and light so about as easy to drive as you'll find.
Another to look at is the Picanto Gt line s with the 1.0 turbo triple. Only 100bhp but very small and light so about as easy to drive as you'll find.
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