Thinking of scrapping -> supermini or "hot" hatch

ifconfig

My Renault Megane, 2001 (119k miles on the clock) is getting long in the tooth and has seen better days.

Ideally I want to take advantage of the scrappage scheme (which I qualify for).

I think the 01 Megane (Petrol) had a reasonably high BHP for a 1.4L petrol.
I might be prepared to go for a lower powered engine this time as it is for a second car. My wife gets the honour of the large saloon/diesel for long journeys, etc.

My choices at the moment seem to be (in no particular order)

1. Hyundai i30 (petrol or diesel models).
2. Renault Clio Diesel
3 Mazda 2 (Mazda 3 is out of my price range).
4. Kia Rio .. Ceed might just about fit in my price range.
5. Ford Fiesta.
6. Opel Corsa
7. Skoda Fabia. (the combi has nice space but I'm hearing mixed reports on the refinement of the Skoda engines in the Fabias.)

I'm not keen on VW on account of the pricing.
I bought a 1998 Polo (saloon) around 1998 new and was underwhelmed.
The Megane was nice but it broke my heart a few times on account of electrics (eg , ignition coils/wiper motor/failed Aircon compressor) over the years....

Is there anything else I should be looking at based on that sort of price range ?
Any of the above stick out as being a nice replacement (even if it is a step down on engine size, etc ?)
I'm a bit unclear at the moment as to whether boot size is a big requirement for me. I'm not a golfer and don't plan to do long journeys in the car.
I want to be frugal but sensible, basically.. boring me )

Sorry for the open-ended question, thread.
I'm sure there are others in the same position at the moment...

--ifc

Soarer

Dunno if it's in your budget, but (I think) the Skoda Yeti is the coolest car on the road*.

* - This opinion was formed long before Clarkson jumped on the bandwagon!

ifconfig

Yeti is, I imagine, very good indeed.

I can endorse Skoda as my good lady has the privilege of the bigger car,
Skoda Superb.
Sober type of car but fantastic space and very refined.

Yeti would be a bit outside my budget (although would be a great investment).
It would be tough for us to carry the burden of 2 car loans of that size, Superb + Yeti in the one family.
good suggestion nonetheless!

Mar4ix

new polos aint expensive, scrappage + polo with petrol engine =around 12 k.,

ifconfig

Mar4ix wrote: »

new polos aint expensive, scrappage + polo with petrol engine =around 12 k.,

I guess I shouldn't rule out the VW.
I'm guessing a 2011 VW/polo is a very different beast to the one I bought new in 1998.

I'll keep it in mind.

-ifc

techie

New Kia Rio due out soon, look it up on Google, much nicer than current model.

ifconfig

ifconfig wrote: »

1. Hyundai i30 (petrol or diesel models).
2. Renault Clio Diesel
3 Mazda 2 (Mazda 3 is out of my price range).
4. Kia Rio .. Ceed might just about fit in my price range.
5. Ford Fiesta.
6. Opel Corsa
7. Skoda Fabia. (the combi has nice space but I'm hearing mixed reports on the refinement of the Skoda engines in the Fabias.)

I'd take the i30 diesel from that selection any day of the week.

Mar4ix

ifconfig wrote: »

I guess I shouldn't rule out the VW.
I'm guessing a 2011 VW/polo is a very different beast to the one I bought new in 1998.

I'll keep it in mind.

-ifc

i got 010 diesel polo last year, small , solid and economical. There is long way technologies changed since 1998, also there is no harm have a test drive. When i was buying new car(scrappege schema also), i was researching internet a lot about small city cars, because it was my first new car, and seams to be last new car.... dohh.. never will save enough money anymore.

Cionád

Fiat 500 perhaps?



or it's cousin, the Ford Ka?



The Fiat just around 10,500 on the road. Ka is just under 10,000

Or a SEAT Ibiza SC



Of course the basic spec versions of these cars will have basic wheels, although the Ka comes with alloys

billyboy01

I would wait for the new Toyota Yaris coming in late 2011. It looks good and I have heard that its new Dual VVTi 1.33 enigines are twice as fuel efficient as the current 1 litre engine, giving MPG's of 65-70! Plus there is a hybrid version coming in Jan 2012!

Cionád

billyboy01 wrote: »

I would wait for the new Toyota Yaris coming in late 2011. It looks good and I have heard that its new Dual VVTi 1.33 enigines are twice as fuel efficient as the current 1 litre engine, giving MPG's of 65-70! Plus there is a hybrid version coming in Jan 2012!

The scrappage scheme expires in July unfortunately.

EPM

If you're looking at a Polo you should look at the Fabia and Ibiza too. Same chassis but the interiors are slightly less plush and some of the engines are a little old tech. Had a high spec Ibiza as a loaner for a while in the UK and found it quite good bar the big wheels (same as the white one linked) making awful thumping sounds over bumps and tramlining quite a bit.

stephencaul

Literally just ordered a Skoda Fabia Combi Elegance 1.2 TSI/63KW/85bhp - got the dealer to throw in an alarm + USB Connectivity (which are standard on Hyundai i30) for 15.5K.

Decision based on the larger boot volume + 3 kids booster seats fitted comfortably in the passenger area. The Skoda is a bit of a dour looking candidate, however is a nice drive, packed with kit + if you believe the websites it retains its value better than the Hyundai i30 & is more reliable.

Personal opinion (and my wife is French and agrees) would not trust a Renault based for reliability. Ford Fiesta very small in comparison to Skoda or Hyundai.

Opel is the same + the spec can be mean as well as the engines being underpowered (at least those being offered as scrappage deals).

The KIA Rio looked too bland, did not test drive it though, nor did I look at the Mazda 2 either. See enclosed sheet with comparisons. Hope it helps.

Also looked at the Seat Ibiza ST, which I almost went for, however a leadtime of 10 weeks for the Style model was too long.

Idleater

Alfa Mito... cloverleaf

If you can bear the cost to buy.

bazz26

stephencaul wrote: »

Literally just ordered a Skoda Fabia Combi Elegance 1.2 TSI/63KW/85bhp - got the dealer to throw in an alarm + USB Connectivity (which are standard on Hyundai i30) for 15.5K.

Decision based on the larger boot volume + 3 kids booster seats fitted comfortably in the passenger area. The Skoda is a bit of a dour looking candidate, however is a nice drive, packed with kit + if you believe the websites it retains its value better than the Hyundai i30 & is more reliable.

Personal opinion (and my wife is French and agrees) would not trust a Renault based for reliability. Ford Fiesta very small in comparison to Skoda or Hyundai.

Opel is the same + the spec can be mean as well as the engines being underpowered (at least those being offered as scrappage deals).

The KIA Rio looked too bland, did not test drive it though, nor did I look at the Mazda 2 either. See enclosed sheet with comparisons. Hope it helps.

Also looked at the Seat Ibiza ST, which I almost went for, however a leadtime of 10 weeks for the Style model was too long.

The i30 is a competitor to the Octavia not the Fabia so how is it possible to compare resale values of both, also Hyundai give a 5 year warranty with the i30 compared to Skoda's miserable 2 years. It would seem Hyundai have more confidence in the reliabilty of their car than Skoda do in theirs.

ottostreet

Where are the hot hatches?

omb0wyn5ehpij9

ottostreet wrote: »

Where are the hot hatches?

I was wondering the same thing............

Big Nelly

ifconfig wrote: »

My choices at the moment seem to be (in no particular order)

1. Hyundai i30 (petrol or diesel models).
2. Renault Clio Diesel
3 Mazda 2 (Mazda 3 is out of my price range).
4. Kia Rio .. Ceed might just about fit in my price range.
5. Ford Fiesta.
6. Opel Corsa
7. Skoda Fabia. (the combi has nice space but I'm hearing mixed reports on the refinement of the Skoda engines in the Fabias.)

No surprise if people see me posting here, was in same position a few weeks ago. Out of all of them I would buy the Hyundai and get the diesel model. Good price, 7 year warranty and nice to drive.

I ended up getting a 08 BMW 1 series. Its the wife's car. Reason we went for BMW was we got a great deal for her old Clio which only had 48k miles on it so garage said they could resell no problem and gave good trade in so we left the scrappage deal.

It really depends on what type of driving you are doing. If all city driving then a petrol is grand, but if doing a lot of motor way driving then a diesel is best as MPG is a lot better.

Do they do a diesel in the Clio? when we test drove they said they only done Petrol?

One of last cars to test drive was the Fiesta, nice car to drive and was nippy. Good price as well.

I would still go for Hyundai, it looks like the 1 series as well. Lots of extra's in the base models which is always a plus.

Also garages wont throw in extra's if scrappage!!

The Nissan Juke Petrol is in around the same price as you are looking at, wife liked it but I thought was a bit too rolly in corners.

Atomic Pineapple

Thread title is extremely misleading......

ifconfig

draffodx wrote: »

Thread title is extremely misleading......

Sorry about that.
My previous car was a Renault Megane hatchback and I was told that the equivalent nowadays are known colloquially as hot-hatches,

The i30 is the closest to a hot-hatch in my list.
I agree the others I've looked at are more like super-minis.

The Peugeot 207 diesel is another car I may consider.
Again, not a hot-hatch.. but might tick a good few of the boxes.

--ifc

ottostreet

the i30 in 2 litre form is warm-ish...

apart from that, they're just hatchbacks! who told you that the modern equivalent was called a hot hatch? hot hatches aren't a modern thing!

colm_mcm

The old model fabia estate was worth very little second hand, neither was the cordoba vario or the polo estate. the idea that a gawky looking skoda with a 3 cylinder engine will be worth more or hold its value better than a well specced long warrantied car like the i30 is nonsense.

Guy:Incognito

Big Nelly wrote: »

Do they do a diesel in the Clio? when we test drove they said they only done Petrol?
.

Yeah, theres always been a diesel option in the Clio, but the current model was the first to be properly advertised here afaik. I was surprised when I was leafing through the current issue of CBG and they listed a negative on the Clio as bwing no Diesel available. their research must be very poor.

http://www.renault.ie/media/transversal/price-list-cars/att00239781/RenaultCarsPricelist2011.03.01.pdf

stephencaul

bazz26 wrote: »

The i30 is a competitor to the Octavia not the Fabia so how is it possible to compare resale values of both, also Hyundai give a 5 year warranty with the i30 compared to Skoda's miserable 2 years. It would seem Hyundai have more confidence in the reliabilty of their car than Skoda do in theirs.

Fair comment, however appearances may be deceiving, or even website opinions perhaps should not be believed. When I looked into it initially, I was would have agreed with you. Strangely, though, WhatCar + CarBuyer + Parkers is also a good site (from memory) mentioned that the Skoda was actually more reliable. The Hyundai less so, 'however with a 5 year warranty that should not bother you'.
I have also asked around and consensus was that the Skoda has a very good rep, more so that the Hyundai.
True too that the Hyundai i30 is challenging the Octavia and similar rivals, however a Fabia Combi also comes crammed with kit + has that additional boot volume, definitely worth a look if you want it.

To be fair - I have enclosed a comparison I did from the Carzone website. At the end of the day your own needs & preferences will dictate your decision. Best of luck with what you decide.
Stephen

Patsy fyre

Well if you had actually test driven both Im sure you would have gone with the i30, cracking car.