Help requested re Hyundai i20 v Fiesta v Starlet

minimax14

Hi all. Am in the market to replace my 10 year old Seat Ibiza with something new. Was looking at the Hyundai i20. Seems like a nice machine. There are a lot of similar cars in this class e.g. Fiesta, Fabia, Rio etc. Am busy trying to catch up on the different specs etc. Would anybody have any suggestions as to which is best? Haven't bought for 10 years so a bit out of touch!

duffman3833

few things to think about first.
What is your budget?
What mileage would you do yearly?
petrol or diesel?
What do you use it for etc

minimax14

Thanks. Budget Max 16000. I do about 9000 km per year. Its mostly 20 minute type runs around North Dublin to work, collect kids etc with the very occasional trip down the country. So I think petrol makes most sense?

duffman3833

yea petrol definitely the way to go for you. Are you going to be trading in?

minimax14

Definitely. The Ibiza is on its last legs. Hyundai say they will allow e3500 for it under a scrappage scheme. Not sure but I think Toyota may do something similar.

Henry Ford III

I'm a bit biased but genuinely the Fiesta is the best car in that class.

duffman3833

i myself like the fiesta, but it is a bit outdated (looks wise) Hyundai is a nice looking car but it all really depends on your taste and how you feel driving it. Take your time and test drive all those cars you listed, also try a few garages and see if they can give any better deals.

colm_mcm

I think the new i20 is a cracking car and has some great colours. there's a nice gold-orange colour and a really unusual retro looking grey-blue one. think its called baby elephant or something.
The rio is basically the same thing but a little less fresh.
Fiesta is a nice car but basic enine isn't as smooth as the Kia or hyundai. it's also a bit old as a model now. still a good car though.
I don't think the current yaris is that attractive a proposition these days and the engine is very unrefined

minimax14

Thanks for all the input guys

JohnBoy26

Henry Ford III wrote: »

I'm a bit biased but genuinely the Fiesta is the best car in that class.

It's massively overrated by the press and old hat now.

colm_mcm

Apart from it being around a while, it's not really outclassed by brand new models. It's just the fact that it's out a while that goes against it IMO

bazz26

Interior looks a bit dated now imo.

colm_mcm

I dunno if it would be dated if it were launched today if you know what I mean.
Everybody's used to it, but is it less modern than the competition?
What even is modern!

vistaphotos

- Funny how tastes differ when it comes to colours Saw a 151 i20 at a dealers that is the grey-blue colour and he's having a hard time shifting it, he says due to the colour. There is a great choice of colours overall from Hyundai (another fail for Toyota in that regard)

- I drove the i20 at the dealers suggestion (before deciding on an i30) and it's surprisingly spacious and well finished, also has the 5 year warranty & great spec as standard, boot is a good size too. I got the full €4k allowance for my 15 yr old Corolla against the i30 but I think he was offering less for the i20 alright, less expensive car I suppose. While the i20 was nice, the i30 is a better drive for me. One unusual thing is that the rear pillar is always black on the i20, regardless of the colour of the car, which didn't appeal to me.

- For the Yaris my brother had one back when they came out first and the boot was tiny, not sure if that's improved. I think they have a 3 cylinder engine now (as does a VW Polo) and they don't run as smooth as 4 cylinder in my opinion, may not bother you at all.

- No experience of Fiests.

vistaphotos

minimax14 wrote: »

Not sure but I think Toyota may do something similar.

Toyota have "Trade in/Trade Up" of €3k www.toyota.ie/Scrappage_Deals but my impression is that the Yaris is a much smaller car compared to the Hyundai i20 and Corolla/Auris are out of budget

Zurbaran

The Mazda 2 is the best in class and is the best looking in my opinion.

bazz26

Yet they sell so poorly.

Duke O Smiley

bazz26 wrote: »

Yet they sell so poorly.

Mazda always has though

Zurbaran

bazz26 wrote: »

Yet they sell so poorly.

I don't have an opinion on the sales.

JohnBoy26

Zurbaran wrote: »

I don't have an opinion on the sales.

The side profile of the Mazda 2 is very Micra-esque imo. It would look much better if they went with black door frames.

Gael23

If you plan to keep it as long as you have your current car, then I would go with the i20. Hyundai not bad cars, but they have shocking depreciation. However if you keep it for 10 years thats irrelevant to you.

colm_mcm

Gael23 wrote: »

If you plan to keep it as long as you have your current car, then I would go with the i20. Hyundai not bad cars, but they have shocking depreciation. However if you keep it for 10 years thats irrelevant to you.

Where are these shockingly cheap 2/3 year old hyundais?