What car?

[HelenJane]

I’m after a car and don’t know what to buy, and so I’d like some advice?
Requirements are;
not too big (fiesta size).
5 door
Up to £16,000
Cheap to insure
Cheap for parts
Climate control
Newish because it needs to last.
1:2 engine.

Please help.
Also, where would I look? Are the car supermarkets any good? I’ve looked but the cars aren’t always close.

[TREMAiNE]

Some suggestions are:

Hyundai i10
It's 1 year old, so still has 6 years of original manufacturer's warranty left.
Cheap insurance, cheap to run, 5 doors.
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202404208...

Seat Ibiza
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202406130...

Nissan Micra
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202405039...

Kia Picanto
6 years warranty left and it has only done 142 miles.
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202404038...

Toyota Aygo X
Brand new and under £15k
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202405019...

Or if you up your budget slightly, you could get a Ferrari 812 GTS
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202303215...

[sparkythecat]

Kia Rio ticks all your boxes
I was sorry when Mrs S got rid of hers.

[ACCYSTAN]

For £16k you should also consider a MG ZS brand new £15k
7 year warranty, decent kit, good driving position sitting high up
https://www.richardhardie.co.uk/


I would also recommend considering a high spec brand new Dacia Sandero
I drove one recently and it’s just as nice to drive as a Renault Clio but considerably cheaper

[davek_964]

ACCYSTAN said:

For £16k you should also consider a MG ZS brand new £15k
7 year warranty, decent kit, good driving position sitting high up
https://www.richardhardie.co.uk/


I would also recommend considering a high spec brand new Dacia Sandero
I drove one recently and it’s just as nice to drive as a Renault Clio but considerably cheaper

I've always assumed that depreciation on stuff like Dacia must be horrendous, and it would be worth about £1.50 once you'd bought it?

[HelenJane]

Thanks for the responses, there’s some I’d not considered so I’ll have a look. My daughter’s boyfriend keeps on about a VW polo or golf, and someone else says you can’t go wrong with a fiesta. It’s so confusing when I know nothing about cars

[davek_964]

I thought you could go wrong with a Fiesta these days. I'm far from an expert but don't some of the eco boost engines go bang?

[HelenJane]

Fiestas did go bang but it was fixed…
.thats what he told me, but not really sure of that

[trevalvole]

The Fiesta 1.0 Ecoboost has a turbo, which is another thing to go wrong, and at 10 years old requires the complex wet timing belt to be replaced (and if the car hasn't been looked after the belt can shred and kill the engine before that).

VW (and their SEAT, Skoda and Audi brothers) haven't done very well in recent reliability surveys.

The traditional answer for reliability is a Toyota and a 1.5 Yaris doesn't have a turbo, so is simpler, but still quick enough to join motorways etc. Also, if a Toyota has been (and continues to be) serviced on time by a main dealer, then I think you'll get a ten years from new warranty from them. You'd need to check the detailed wording on this and the car's service history to confirm that it applies to any car you might be considering. Here's an example of one: https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/16886633

[trevalvole]

Or you could try a Mazda2, which like the Toyota has a 1.5 litre non-turbo engine which comes in different power levels - the 75bhp one might be a bit slow if you want to use it on a motorway: https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/16651303

[davek_964]

I remember the Toyota adverts about their 10 year warranty before I switched to ad free.
I'm pretty sure that it doesn't require the history to be all official Toyota (or even entirely FSH). It basically seemed to be : get the next service with us and you can have a warranty (subject to fixing faults obviously)

[Tony_T]

What do you like the look of op?

[Phil.]

For bullet proof reliability, low running costs and a tardis interior have a look at the Honda Jazz:

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/2024052901...

[HelenJane]

Tony_T said:

What do you like the look of op?

I’m not really fussed, so long as it’s no bigger than a fiesta because apparently I lack special awareness 😂

[ZX10R NIN]

HelenJane said:

I’m not really fussed, so long as it’s no bigger than a fiesta because apparently I lack special awareness ??

Take a good look at the Kia Rio in either First Edition:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202405039...

GT Line S:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202405099...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202404198...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202404238...

[Diderot]

Kia Stonic? Or the equivalent Hyundai? I recently sold my late Father’s one back to the dealer. Had a number of drives in it to get it to the correct location, I was there so when he test drove it. I was a suitably impressed. Balance of 7 year warranty, frugal, decent steer, loads of equipment and a very comfy ride. I think they look nice too.

[Wheel Turned Out]

Suzuki Swift, seem to go under the radar so you'll get a lot for your money. Great little cars.

[Diderot]

BTW his had very low mileage too, for around your budget.

[HelenJane]

I still can’t choose! I’ve a few VW golf’s saved on auto trader. Can anyone tell me how the car supermarkets work, like carsa and cinch? I’m not sure I feel comfortable buying without seeing first, but a lot of cars on auto trader appear to be sold through these.
Also, private or dealer? For someone who hasn’t a clue

[MitchT]

HelenJane said:

Also, private or dealer? For someone who hasn’t a clue

In theory you're better off with a dealer. If you buy privately you'll have no comeback if there's an issue. If you buy from a dealer they have certain obligations where consumer rights are concerned. Of course, some dealers make it easier than others for you to assert these rights if there's an issue. It's also worth considering that if you buy a car that's only a few years old it might have some of the original manufacturer's warranty remaining on it, which should be transferable to you. In that case a private purchase might not be such a risk. Whomever you buy from, do a vehicle check first.