Need a small engine car (preferably <1Litre)

FionnK86

Does anyone know Makes/Models that would suit description below:

Engine Size: Less than 1 litre
Passenger Capacity: 4-5 seats
Good fuel economy
Reliable
Price: Up to €700, (obviously an older car)

Looking at a Daewoo Matiz, but heard they're not very reliable

Asmooh

question, why do you need 4-5 seats in < 1 liter, the car won't be going forward with 4-5 people in it.

FionnK86

Asmooh wrote: »

question, why do you need 4-5 seats in < 1 liter, the car won't be going forward with 4-5 people in it.

answer,Need space for a guitar and possibly a drumkit.

biko

Micra has pretty good space when you fold the rear seats.
With a budget of 700 you're not going to have very much to choose from.

eagerv

I'd be looking for a 99 Toyota Yaris.

Our one now has 120,000 miles and nothing serious ever gone wrong.
Can take big loads when back seat down, great height in boot for such a small car. Not bad to drive either for its age.

Might be hard to get a good one for your budget though.

FionnK86

Thanks for replies so far, I'm handy enough when it comes to repairs and don't mind dints/scratches, will start looking at Micras, and Yaris.

mullingar

With a budget of €700, get a K10 micra.

You will not find a drivable Yaris in that price bracket

Sleepy

If there are any still around, I used my mam's Peugeot 106 for similar stuff in college and it's amazing how much gear you can fit into one with the rear seats folded down.

Don't know how they rate in terms of reliability but my Mum's one never missed a beat.

eagerv

mullingar wrote: »

With a budget of €700, get a K10 micra.

You will not find a drivable Yaris in that price bracket

Yep, didn't read the OP, you wont get a fair Yaris with a bit of life left in it for €700.

eagerv

Have a look at the Citroen Saxo as well. Similar to Pugeot 106.

bazz26

The majority of €700 Micras at this stage will either be battered or rotting I'd say.

biko

OP, you can sift through the bangernomics thread. Maybe something in there for you.

Thargor

bazz26 wrote: »

The majority of €700 Micras at this stage will either be battered or rotting I'd say.

What will replace them over the next couple of years do you think?

Toyotafanboi

Thargor wrote: »

What will replace them over the next couple of years do you think?

Slightly newer micras. All model micras are pretty good at doing small car stuff.

FionnK86

Does anyone know makes & models that are less than 1 litre?

FionnK86

FionnK86 wrote: »

Does anyone know makes & models that are less than 1 litre?

Smart are the only ones I know of.

Sleepy

IIRC, the 1l in the 106 was 900 something CC so technically under 1l ?

JamBur

Why the insistence on being sub 1L? That just limits your options, and won't deliver savings.

Thargor

Not even insurance savings?

duffman3833

FionnK86 wrote: »

Does anyone know makes & models that are less than 1 litre?

Opel Corsa is 973 cc i think
vw lupo/polo
micra
suzuki alto
there just a few other 1l cars

tuxy

Just about every car that people consider 1 litre will actually be 999cc or slightly less.

Fairly big jump in tax for going over 999cc so I imagine that's why the OP wants it to be under 1000cc

duffman3833

Thargor wrote: »

Not even insurance savings?

engine size is not the main factor
last year i went from a vw golf 1.9tdi (105bhp) to a bmw 118d (120bhp) and i got a refund of €50
i asked why and they told me because the car is less common and hasnt had any claims with that model
I was surprised myself at the time lol

FionnK86

Anyone with experience with Cinquecentos?

duffman3833

FionnK86 wrote: »

Anyone with experience with Cinquecentos?

I don't go near Fiats
F - Fix
I - It
A - Again
T - Tomorrow

Sleepy

My sister used to drive one and I was always nervous about it. They're not at all suited to being on motorways and offer next to no protection in the event of a crash.

Grand for pottering about town but if you're doing any out-of-town driving I'd be looking for something a little sturdier.

macplaxton

Sleepy wrote: »

IIRC, the 1l in the 106 was 900 something CC so technically under 1l ?

954cc TU9. Got a 2000 plate in the back yard which is tax-busting Irish spec compared to the majority of UK cars with the 1124cc TU11.

With the difference being €199 vs €330. I'd slum it.:o

I'd give the Cheekychento a miss. I'd rather suffer an old Panda!

Nekarsulm

Even the smallest Polo is over 1100 cc. Tough little cars though. Bought a 1998 model last weekend for 150 euro! New tyres , new brakes etc. Body dent free. If you get one like that, you would be a few years paying the extra tax and still be quids in.

tuxy

Nekarsulm wrote: »

Even the smallest Polo is over 1100 cc. Tough little cars though. Bought a 1998 model last weekend for 150 euro! New tyres , new brakes etc. Body dent free. If you get one like that, you would be a few years paying the extra tax and still be quids in.

The smallest engine polo is 999 cc
http://cars.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/volkswagen-polo-1-l-nct-1-16/9917179?offset=21

http://www.parkers.co.uk/cars/reviews/facts-and-figures/volkswagen/polo/hatchback-2000/18415/

bazz26

FionnK86 wrote: »

Anyone with experience with Cinquecentos?

They are pretty small and 3 door only. It may not suit your needs.

The problem with trying to find a cheap to tax, insure and run car is that they are in demand by lots of people which in turn means they are expensive to buy.

Nekarsulm

tuxy wrote: »

The smallest engine polo is 999 cc
http://cars.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/volkswagen-polo-1-l-nct-1-16/9917179?offset=21

http://www.parkers.co.uk/cars/reviews/facts-and-figures/volkswagen/polo/hatchback-2000/18415/

Quite right, but only from 2000 onwards. The older ones were larger capacity. The one I bought is 1.4 and a real flyer

tuxy

Nekarsulm wrote: »

Quite right, but only from 2000 onwards. The older ones were larger capacity. The one I bought is 1.4 and a real flyer

You could get the 999 cc in the 94 - 00 models too.

http://cars.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/vw-polo-1-0-petrol-350/9918505?offset=11

http://www.parkers.co.uk/cars/reviews/facts-and-figures/volkswagen/polo/hatchback-1994/9711/

Nekarsulm

I stand corrected!
Have never came across one, but you live and learn .
If the OP should look at an older Polo, don't get one without power steering.

tuxy

I think the 1.2 was the most common engine sold here.

Nekarsulm wrote: »

If the OP should look at an older Polo, don't get one without power steering.

Good point, what's the deal with this? I have a starlet with no power steering and it's easy even if you want to parallel park.
However I've driven both a polo and corsa with out power steering and it's so unbelievably heavy

Mervyn Skidmore

I had a 99 polo 1 litre years ago. Very basic car but it was very reliable and the engine was nippy enough for the size of the car. No power steering but that wasn't a major problem either. Overall it was a very solid car for me for about 3 years and never let me down. I'd drive it again if I had to.