What small car?
 

Am looking around, thinking about trading in the current jalopy for a new(er) car and looking for some ideas or recommendations.

In my dreams I would like a Mini Cooper but...sigh...unless I win the Lotto....prices are super scary!! Next on the dream list I had my eye on the Suzuki SX4 but thinking a tad too big (2.0L) and juicier than I would like. I would prefer not to be spending more than I already do on petrol.

I am presently umming and harring around the low-rent end of the market and not been very inspired; Suzuki Swift, Mazda 2, or something else?

It seems the Suzuki Swift is the most popular car on the road at the moment and that's putting me off quite a bit; I'm thinking I could go for the slightly cooler sportier model. I liked the Nissan Tiida when I first saw one, but seems like it might be something more your mother might drive. :p

I had a Peugeot 206 with all the bells and whistles before and really liked that, but don't want another and would worry about anything European for ongoing cost purposes.

So anyone got a cute little hot hatch / shopping cart that they would recommend?

Re: What small car?
 

Have a friend who's a mechanic, he says VW parts are cheaper than most Jap parts.

as for the choice of car all i know is our kid has swift sporty model and he loves it, says its a fantastic car

Re: What small car?
 

Thanks, I'll bear that in mind. I would consider a Golf but had ruled it out as a no go due to concerns about the cost of upkeep

Re: What small car?
 

I had a Suzuki Swift when living in Auckland City fantastic little car IMO! Cheap to buy,run and insure! Easy to park too.:)

Re: What small car?
 

A most important consideration indeed!! Being of the spatially challenged gender, I can't be doing with reverse parking small buses into some of these weeny parking spaces.

I get annoyed with cars that are way too big for the designated spaces; they generally don't care though and feel it's okay to invade 'my space' and block my doors. Some of those big UTES and 4x4s overhang the front, back and sides of the space; add in a tow bar and they're a blooming hazard.

Re: What small car?
 

I bought a new Holden Barina Spark for $16,000. Love it.

http://carandsuv.s3.amazonaws.com/wp...fq-688x455.jpg

Very small engine though, struggles with hills if you have passengers but lovely to drive. I had been looking for second hand cars in the same price range but decided small and new was better. Would have considered the Suzuki Alto as well. I drove a Citroen C1 in UK and the Barina feels similar with the added bonus of a light in the boot!!:D Has air con too. It doesn't look like it in the picture but it is a five door.

http://carandsuv.s3.amazonaws.com/wp...rq-340x229.jpg

Re: What small car?
 

Thanks for sharing, I would never have thought of or noticed one of those. Looks like a cool little car, I'll be on the look out for one of those on the road.

That's very well priced for my budget, was that brand new? Cos I think i'd prefer $16k of newer car than $16k worth of older car. :rofl:

I spotted a VW Polo today as well, I hadn't thought of one of those before either but now I have checked the price tag, I can rule that one out. We won't be going VW. :rofl:

Re: What small car?
 

Watch out if you are only driving short town type trips and do not go diesel go petrol. The new generation diesel economy engines need the filters burning out by a sustained high reving drive at regular intervals....;)

Re: What small car?
 

Yes brand new - priced at 16,999 and got the 999 knocked off so 16,000 on the road (I may have negotiated off the extras like registration as well). You get to choose the colour too! The Alto was a similar price new I think.

Re: What small car?
 

I have a Kia Rio
Not remotely cool, however it is great for me
has excellent safety features for a small car and good cabin space for a small car too
I have a 2007 one so not the new breed.
I would never have chosen it but got a great deal and have really got to like it.

Re: What small car?
 

Oh and I just took mine around the coromandel with four of us in it up those hills and it was fine with it. A wee bit slow up the big one between whitianga and coromandel but stuck behind a campervan so it didn't matter

Here's a link for the new one Kia rio 2011 road test
My MIL has this one but actually finds that the 2007 outperforms it. Saying that she hasn't got use to it being tiptronic (or what ever it is called) yet

Re: What small car?
 

That's why I asked really for some thoughts as there's lots out there on the road we either barely notice or have some preconceived ideas about. I was always led to believe in years gone by that one should avoid buying any Japanese car beginning with an M (Mazda, Mitsubishi) as they either weren't very reliable or had lots of problems but don't think that holds true anymore.

All options being considered at the moment to see how much dosh I would need to raise.

Re: What small car?
 

Sirion if you like the Spark, boring(er?) but it'll be cheaper to run because underneath it's still a Toyota.

Re: What small car?
 

Toyota Vitz RS 1.5, Mazda Demio Sport 1.5 (with bodykit)

Re: What small car?
 

Wifey zips around in a Fiat Panda 100HP....little flier.