Currently have a Clio 172 Cup (03 plate) which I have had for 6 months, but it is too expensive to run so have decided to change.
I reckon it is worth about £7000 or just less (Glasses guide) as it is high mileage (33,000).
I want to have some cash left over so have a set a budget of £5000 to buy a used car.
Main considerations are fuel economy and general costs to run, though safety is important also.
Obvious options seem to be Yaris or Micra (but dare I say it these seem girly cars?), Corsa(long in the tooth?), Fabia (good cars), Panda (strangely appealling) or Punto (too old again?)
Don't want Renault again and Fords give me backache.
Any others I should consider?
Outside option is a Smart ForTwo - had two previous ones so like them a lot and mpg is good and from other owners experience they stand up well in accidents.
All thoughts and comments are welcome to help me make a sensible decision!
Andrew
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Outside option is a Smart ForTwo - had two previous ones so like them a lot and mpg is good and from other owners experience they stand up well in accidents.
NO NO NO! absolute rubbish. Quite frankly the worst car i've ever had misfortune to drive. I'll list reasons if you want me to. You can do so much better.
I'd rather walk than own a Smart 4/2.
My pick would be the Fabia or Corsa. Both ok to drive with good build quality.
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If I were you I'd plump for the Corsa. I've got one and I love it to bits. Mines the 1.2 SXi, so is plenty nippy enough yet still gives about 42-44 mpg however I drive it. Also as its the SXi its got firmer suspension so handles well aswell, yet it still rides better than my old 106.
Theres also plenty of room for the driver and passenger (i'm 6ft and with the seat at its lowest theres a good 6 inches of space over my head) and the interior is nicely styled with aluminium plastic all over it. It also feels very well screwed together, and if you get a later one theres plenty of kit.
Hope this helps.
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33k isn't particularly high for a 2 year old car in this day and age.
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\"Nothing less than 8 cylinders will do\"
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Go for the Fabia. If you're really concerned about economy the Sdi will get halfway round the world and back on a tankful. If you want something a bit more spirited then the Tdi is the one for you.
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I read often, only post occasionally
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Thanks for the various comments everyone.
I admit the ForTwo is not everyones cup of tea :)
Visited my local Vauxhall dealer and was very impressed by the performance from just the 1.2 Corsa.
Also tried the 1.3CDTi and that really is amazingly good for a small engine plus nearly 50mpg urban! Insurance is half what I am paying and free for a year on a new one :)
Prices were a bit more than I wanted to pay - £6500 to £7000 used for most of their Corsas - but deals on new ones are so good with 4 years 0% plus balloon payment that I almost wonder whether to go that route instead!
Seems to be a hole around the £5000 used car mark!
Will also check out the Fabia but local dealer has no used ones and the other dealer is quite a distance.
Also tried an Arnold Clark supersite, which seems to have aggod selection of cheap cars on the surface but wonder just why they are so much cheaper. Delivery mileage 04 plates to me shout 'stuck on arifield' for months. Salesman was too pushy too and wouldn't value my car unless I committed to buy a car!
Thanks again.
Andrew
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what sort of miles per year are you doing?
arnold clark are well, do a search and figure it out yourself.
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I agree the 1.3 CDTi is a cracking engine, but if you only do a relatively low mileage like me the 1.2 would be plenty economical enough. Well, enough for me anyway.
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