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Need a small city car - what do you recommend?
I'm based in London, and since moving here I've generally gotten away with riding a 50cc Vespa, but would now like to get myself a car so as to get out of town on the weekends (Cornwall, Cotswolds, etc..).
My first (and last) car I bought was a new 1991 Mazda 323 whilst living in North America. I gave it to relatives there when I moved back to UK (It’s still running), hence am very interested in the upcoming Mazda 2. But Mazda aside, on the shortlist is the Hyundai i10 (not sure if 1.0 would be sufficient, or would be better with 1.2), Volkswagen High Up! (wins over Citigo on looks), as well as Polo, and forthcoming Hyundai i20... of which, again, not sure which displacement to go with, i.e. 1.2, or 1.4 (which I am waiting for your review).
I've just recently learned to drive a manual, so am considering that as a second option but preference is still for auto if costs permit. What do you recommend?
My first (and last) car I bought was a new 1991 Mazda 323 whilst living in North America. I gave it to relatives there when I moved back to UK (It’s still running), hence am very interested in the upcoming Mazda 2. But Mazda aside, on the shortlist is the Hyundai i10 (not sure if 1.0 would be sufficient, or would be better with 1.2), Volkswagen High Up! (wins over Citigo on looks), as well as Polo, and forthcoming Hyundai i20... of which, again, not sure which displacement to go with, i.e. 1.2, or 1.4 (which I am waiting for your review).
I've just recently learned to drive a manual, so am considering that as a second option but preference is still for auto if costs permit. What do you recommend?
Asked on 16 November 2014 by bratboy
Answered by
Honest John
Currently the best three-cylinder engine is Peugeot/Citroen's 1.2 Puretech 110 or 130. I'm currently running a 308 with this engine putting out 130PS and 230Nm torque, which is a lot for a 1.2 and can report that it is extremely smooth and is returning over 50mpg. Good value too at lost pricve £18,345 fully equipped with satnav, bluetooth etc, and the price can be chipped down by a bit of negotiation with the dealer.
If you have to have an auto, don't go for an UP because the auto is really an automated manual and a number of readers are rejecting UP autos because they are awful. But nothing wrong with Ups. Good fun to drive. Two other front runners are the Peugeot 108 and Citroen C1 with a lower power 1.2 three-cylinder motor and full length sunroofs. If you go for an i10, it better be the 1.2. I, too, have to wait for David's report of the new i20.
If you have to have an auto, don't go for an UP because the auto is really an automated manual and a number of readers are rejecting UP autos because they are awful. But nothing wrong with Ups. Good fun to drive. Two other front runners are the Peugeot 108 and Citroen C1 with a lower power 1.2 three-cylinder motor and full length sunroofs. If you go for an i10, it better be the 1.2. I, too, have to wait for David's report of the new i20.
Real MPG enables you to register the fuel economy you are actually getting against your make and model of car, its engine and type of transmission.
Every time you enter an average consumption figure against your car, the overall average automatically adjusts to reflect it.
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