Small nippy hatchback for <€6k

fletch

My cousin is looking for a new car....she has €6k max to spend.
Criteria

• Cheap to tax/insure (max 1.6ltr)
• Relatively nippy
• Decent enough economy
• Preferably newer than '06/'07

Sorry, I know it's pretty vague.
So far we have considered, Renault Twingo GT (1.2 100bhp), Suzuki Swift Sport (although she's not keen on the 1.6 tax), Fiat Panda 100bhp (hard to find), Mitsubishi Colt CZT (impossible to find), Citroen C2 VTR (not very keen on looks), Mazda2 (no performance variants on offer)

Any other junior warm hatches that we've neglected? Appreciate any responses

smash

clio 172

fletch

smash wrote: »

clio 172

Thanks although that would fail on the cheap to insure/tax condition and newer than 06

MuppetCheck

A 1.5 Mazda 3 might be worth trying to source. But the Swift Sport looks like a good option.

smash

fletch wrote: »

Thanks although that would fail on the cheap to insure/tax condition and newer than 06

Ah reg snobbery. Might as well get her a nice focus so she can blend in with the crowd.

tossy

If i was on the hunt for a hot hatch matching the above criteria then i would push the boat out a little and go for something like this http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/3139013

Darwin

Mini One 1.4 which might not be easy to find or Seat Ibiza Sport 1.4, both around 100hp.

meoklmrk91

This has been on DD for the last few weeks, I have been looking at it most days, if I had the money it would mine in a flash.

Well under budget, it's an 08 and well it's just savage.
http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/3263836

fletch

Darwin wrote: »

Mini One 1.4 which might not be easy to find or Seat Ibiza Sport 1.4, both around 100hp.

Thanks...the Ibiza 1.4 would be a definite contender.

meoklmrk91 wrote: »

This has been on DD for the last few weeks, I have been looking at it most days, if I had the money it would mine in a flash.

Well under budget, it's an 08 and well it's just savage.
http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/3263836

Have you driven one yet...my sister has one and yes it is a lot of fun but tbh the suspension is very difficult to live with as a daily driver imo

meoklmrk91

fletch wrote: »

Darwin wrote: »

Mini One 1.4 which might not be easy to find or Seat Ibiza Sport 1.4, both around 100hp.

Thanks...the Ibiza 1.4 would be a definite contender.

meoklmrk91 wrote: »

This has been on DD for the last few weeks, I have been looking at it most days, if I had the money it would mine in a flash.

Well under budget, it's an 08 and well it's just savage.
http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/3263836

Have you driven one yet...my sister has one and yes it is a lot of fun but tbh the suspension is very difficult to live with as a daily driver imo

I haven't driven one, they are very rare, so I haven't had the chance, I've never in seen one in person. Just coveting from afar really.

Jimdagym

meoklmrk91 wrote: »

This has been on DD for the last few weeks, I have been looking at it most days, if I had the money it would mine in a flash.

Well under budget, it's an 08 and well it's just savage.
http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/3263836

That's down as sold in the description.

fletch

tossy wrote: »

If i was on the hunt for a hot hatch matching the above criteria then i would push the boat out a little and go for something like this http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/3139013

Thanks for the suggestion...I had considered one but they are out of budget and too expensive to insure for her age.

blindside88

http://www.autotrader.ie/search/SEAT/Ibiza/SPORT-10/201215207696699/advert?channel=CARS

Have a look at this, I know the guy selling it and it's in perfect nick. Seems to tick all the boxes

L-M

Jeeze that Panda was awful cheap at 4,500!

That ibiza looks like a good buy, last of the old shape but still not a bad looking car.

mp22

If you can get your hand's on a twingo GT,Front tires last 16k no matter how easy you take it, standard 185/55/15 heading for 100 a corner(use 195/50/15).Plugs €100 per set,oil needs to be changed every 10k never mind what the book says.MPG up to 50 on a long run keeping revs at or below 3.000.If you keep the boot in 35 to 40mpg.The back seats come out in 2 minutes each.you end up with a small van.

All round I've had one for the last 4 years still keeps me happy.

skyhighflyer

This would be nipper than all the others you've posted, although it's an '05:

http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/3416778

Zubeneschamali

Also an 05, and a few bob over budget, but better than most so far, a Mini Cooper.

fletch

mp22 wrote: »

If you can get your hand's on a twingo GT,Front tires last 16k no matter how easy you take it, standard 185/55/15 heading for 100 a corner(use 195/50/15).Plugs €100 per set,oil needs to be changed every 10k never mind what the book says.MPG up to 50 on a long run keeping revs at or below 3.000.If you keep the boot in 35 to 40mpg.The back seats come out in 2 minutes each.you end up with a small van.

All round I've had one for the last 4 years still keeps me happy.

All seems pretty positive and to be expected. Any reliability/electrical issues? What's the performance like?

Yakuza

I bought an '06 Nissan Micra Sport+ for the missus a few months ago. I thought it would be a drab runaround, but it's a little rocket (when I'm at the wheel, at any rate )
It has a 1246cc petrol engine in a small body, decent power-to-weight ratio (€333 tax, ~€300 insurance for two fortysomethings), alloys, nice sporty white dials, trip computer, A/C etc. We got it for sub 6k cash (and that included a year's tax). It gets 6.8 l/100km (~40mpg) around town. I've not taken it for any long motorway runs, but something tells me the MPG wouldn't get much better than the city driving as it's doing north of 3k revs at motorway speeds in 5th)

Henry Ford III

A little outside of budget but 09, 120bhp 1.6 and low tax....

http://www.carzone.ie/search/Ford/Fiesta/ZETEC-S-/6013345909038320/advert?channel=CARS

fletch

Yakuza wrote: »

I bought an '06 Nissan Micra Sport+ for the missus a few months ago.

I can't see it being a runner simply based on looks tbh

Henry Ford III wrote: »

A little outside of budget but 09, 120bhp 1.6 and low tax....

http://www.carzone.ie/search/Ford/Fiesta/ZETEC-S-/6013345909038320/advert?channel=CARS

Appreciate the suggestion but it's just that bit too far out of budget.

Yakuza

fletch wrote: »

I can't see it being a runner simply based on looks tbh

Admittedly, it's not the nicest looking car around, but she is a goer
Good luck with your search.

fletch

Yakuza wrote: »

Admittedly, it's not the nicest looking car around, but she is a goer

What bhp is it out of interest?

Yakuza

fletch wrote: »

What bhp is it out of interest?

I think it's 80, I'll check the VLC when I get home tonight.

mp22

fletch wrote: »

All seems pretty positive and to be expected. Any reliability/electrical issues? What's the performance like?

Everything working ok no problems so far,65k on the clock.Performance,acceleration 100kph in 10 or so seconds,(3rd gear)it will go on to 160 or so but gets noisy,cornering good,the suspension is very hard.dose not like cross winds.They come with rain sensing wipers,lights,electric mirrors,windows,2 airbags in the dash,2 more in the front seats.

bazz26

Alfa Romeo 147:

http://www.driving.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=6413376062898410

Magown3

Her finding a car "nippy" really all depends on what car she's coming from. If she is coming from a 1.0l car then most 1.3's will feel nippy to her, etc etc.

Has she considered a small capacity diesel?

08 Corsa 1.3 CDTI


Falls within budget with some bargaining no doubt and I'm sure will feel nippy enough (I haven't driven one). Big plus tho is €160 tax!