Which Small Car?

dave13 · 08-07-2013 9:34pm #1

My 1.3 98 Ford Fiesta failed the NCT badly so is not worth fixing.

Not really that into cars so looking on advise on what to get.
Main priorities reliability, efficiency. Mainly city driving, budget 2k max,needs to be NCT'd for most of a year anyway

Kinda narrowed it down to another Fiesta, a Clio, or a 206. Is there anything else I should be looking at?
Couple of examples of what i'm thinking

http://www.carzone.ie/search/Ford/Fiesta/FLIGHT-1/36613708796150050/advert?channel=CARS
http://www.carzone.ie/search/Renault/Clio/CLIO1.2-/36813731434293130/advert?channel=CARS
http://www.carzone.ie/search/Peugeot/206/1.1-5DR/31413595608258150/advert?channel=CARS

Matthewjohn · 08-07-2013 9:41pm

I'd also look at a Yaris

bazz26 · 08-07-2013 9:51pm

I wouldn't even look at dealers in this price range. The warranty will not be worth much and there will be better value from a private purchase.

Renegade Mechanic · 08-07-2013 10:03pm

206s tend to hit people with rather expensive rear axle repairs. But the 1.1 cars are otherwise not a bad little car.

Clios are ok. They can sometimes leak a little around the ariel (water drops from the cabin light) or the rear lights (water in the boot) both of which are easy fixes.

Fiestas are bullet proof but they're "a victim of their own sucess". Their reputation for reliability led many to skimp on maintenance meaning there are a few right buckets in the otherwise perfect mix. Look out for rust too.

As mentioned already The yaris is pretty hard to fault. The water pumps do give out but are a very quick and easy job to replace. Little to panic about there.

Id leave the 3 cylinder polo... They like to burn up the exhaust valve on cylinder 3 meaning an engine rebuild is necessary..

dave13 · 09-07-2013 11:53am

Was looking at a Yaris but any one's I can afford tend to have massive mileage, 120000M+.
Was mainly looking at dealsers as private sellers never seem to have the car's NCT'd and dont want to buy one and then have it fail shortly after