Upgrade from Yaris to something more interesting!

space2ground1

Hi all. We've a 2007 yaris and although its a great reliable car, we're looking to trade up to something thats a bit more enjoyable to be in. Its a second car so will only be doing city driving and shorter 10-20km spins generally. My main thing is that the driving area/dash is really nice with a few modern facilities I wouldn't normally be used to. I don't need cameras etc but bluetooth for the phone and listening to music would be essential.. steering controls etc. A bit of a nippier experience than the yaris would also be ideal. 4 door with isofix would also be a must. We'd have around 5-6k to add to the Yaris as trade in so I guess something around the 11k mark including trade in would be the ball park.

So far I've had a look at the new Toyota Aygo which is nice and has things like bluetooth and speed control. I haven't had a test drive yet. The one I'd really like to try is the Fiat 500 as it seems to have a lot of character and a very nice interior and look if we get the right alloy wheels.

Any thoughts or alternatives would be great!

bazz26

Suzuki Swift:
http://www.driving.ie/used-cars/Suzuki/Swift/1.3-GLX/141314235791650360/

colm_mcm

500 is 3 door through unless you get the rotten 500l.

space2ground1

See I'm learning ready. I didn't think the 500 was 2 door only unless I went for the longer one. I hadn't thought about the Suzuki either. Cheers!

What's the general opinion on the 500?

colm_mcm

They're a cool little car!


Quite small though.

How about a mini clubman?
Or a Kia Soul?

crazy_kenny

How much you selling the yaris for?

space2ground1

I didn't think a clubman would come in under the budget! I'd be hoping to trade in the Yaris for 5k at least. There's only 60k on it. Im not mad on the Kia Soul as lots of them are 1.6 Diesel and its a bit chunky!

I could do well if I switch to a 131/132 Aygo which would be the last of the older model. They had bluetooth and were a lovely car to drive.

bazz26

Kia Rio and Hyundai i20 are worth a look at too:

http://www.driving.ie/used-cars/KIA/Rio/1.25-LX/147214249004583670/
http://www.driving.ie/used-cars/Hyundai/i20/DELUXE,-ALLOYS,/143214237400144110/

colm_mcm

space2ground1 wrote: »

I didn't think a clubman would come in under the budget! I'd be hoping to trade in the Yaris for 5k at least. There's only 60k on it. Im not mad on the Kia Soul as lots of them are 1.6 Diesel and its a bit chunky!

I could do well if I switch to a 131/132 Aygo which would be the last of the older model. They had bluetooth and were a lovely car to drive.

They aren't that great. They're novel how they're so much fun to chuck about. In reality they're built to a cost, and inferior to your current Yaris. They're noisy, they're out longer than your own car, he boot is tiny, and they're not as safe.

You could fit Bluetooth to your own or any car, if that's the main concern.


Size-wise, I'm guessing you don't want anything much bigger than your Yaris?

space2ground1

colm_mcm wrote: »

They aren't that great. They're novel how they're so much fun to chuck about. In reality they're built to a cost, and inferior to your current Yaris. They're noisy, they're out longer than your own car, he boot is tiny, and they're not as safe.

You could fit Bluetooth to your own or any car, if that's the main concern.


Size-wise, I'm guessing you don't want anything much bigger than your Yaris?

No I want something as close to the 1ltr - 1.2ltr max. Knowing that I'm not going to be doing the Nurburgring in whatever I get, I'm more focussed on enjoying the spin with up to date phone, music and nice interior design. Generally I want a cheaper but very nice place to sit in traffic or scoot to work in.

Some day I'll get myself a solid motorway crossover to replace the bigger car but for now I just want a little bit of trendy enjoyment.

Everywhere I look though I keep going back to the new design Aygo or the 500 with the extra accessories like steering controls. I think I can do either for less than 12k total.

colm_mcm

Have a look at the new Nissan note. Nissan are doing €4k off them. That would leave an XE model (which has the gizmos you want) at about 13k

Mightn't be stylish enough, but it's all relative

If you're looking at the aygo, then the VW up! Is worth a look too. It's engine is much quieter than the Yaris/aygo

space2ground1

Just to finish off the thread, I went for an i10 premium! Loads of gadgets and a lovely little thing to drive!