Suggestions for 2013/14 small car: cheap running costs, tax, insurance, fuel

colink2

Looking for a small to mid sized car with cheap running costs, tax, insurance, fuel
Something Golf sized, maybe small crossover (c3 Picasso, EcoSport size).

Consider 1L petrol or diesel up to 1.5L

Any recommendations?

Any comments on what characteristics offers low tax and insurance.

Thanks

colm_mcm

What’s the budget?

Where did you come up with the 1.0 petrol maximum and 1.5 diesel maximum?

colink2

Thanks for the question.

I believe that henerally smaller petrol and diesel engines tend to be more economical than larger engines, but my opinion is not important.

I am looking for recommendations for cars that offer the cheapest total running costs, so if someone wants to suggest cars with smaller or larger engines, that's fine.

colm_mcm

With taxation being based on emissions these days, not just in Ireland, the mainstream cars you’ll be looking at will largely all be economical, whether they’re 1.0, 1,3 or whatever. Generally speaking diesel is more economical than the equivalent petrol, but your driving may not actually be suited to a Diesel engine. There is also electric cars to consider too.

To get a better idea of what would suit, maybe answer these questions

How many km per year do you plan on driving?

Is there any pattern with the driving, city centre, motorway, back roads, urban commuting?

What’s the budget for buying the car?

What have you driven before and what size of car are you comfortable with?

Do you need a high roof for loading kids into the back etc? What will the car actually be used for?

colink2

colm_mcm
Sorry, missed your previous question about budget. This car is for a relative in Donegal, I am in NI so budget figures do not easily translate. Assume we can afford a non premium small to medium 2013 or 14 car.
Other questions:
How many km per year do you plan on driving?
   Probably 15km/year

What have you driven before and what size of car are you comfortable with?
   Last 2 cars were Peugeot 307 1.6 HDI, generally very good, but Donegal roads a bit hard on front suspension.
Is there any pattern with the driving, city centre, motorway, back roads, urban commuting?
Mostly short distances, under 10km, occasional journeys of 150km - I am aware, that small 3 cylinder cars tend to heat up much more quickly, hence more suited to short journeys and the reason to consider a change to petrol

Do you need a high roof for loading kids into the back etc? 
High roof not needed, but a little bit more practical for entry / exit.
What will the car actually be used for?
Single retired person doing one or more journeys most days.
I am aware a very small car like a Ka, 106 can be very economical but prefer the comfort of 307 sized car, as I said would consider small crossover / mpv or possibly Fiesta / 207 size.
[font=Open Sans, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]In addition to considering fuel consumption I am interested in comments of specific vehicles that have low tax and insurance, and if anyone has experience anything that might have very low or high VRT. I know VRT is based on the expected value in Ireland but assume VRT should be proportional for each model based on it's UK value, however some people might have experience with some vehicles that have an unexpectedly high or low VRT charge.[/font]
Thanks ColinK2

colm_mcm

I’d probably look at a Honda Jazz in that case. There is a hybrid version too.

VRT is based on the value of a similar car in Ireland so there’s no direct link between U.K. price and Irish price. Of course the price to import a car has a bearing on the overall market price here.
The VRT rate is based on the emissions figure, so the lower the emissions the lower the VET would be. This also means lower road tax, but to be fair the lowest few bands which represent the huge majority of cars being imported are all very cheap to tax.

It would be wise to find out how much they want to spend in total.

Del2005

colink2 wrote: »

colm_mcm
Sorry, missed your previous question about budget. This car is for a relative in Donegal, I am in NI so budget figures do not easily translate. Assume we can afford a non premium small to medium 2013 or 14 car.
Other questions:
How many km per year do you plan on driving?
   Probably 15km/year

What have you driven before and what size of car are you comfortable with?
   Last 2 cars were Peugeot 307 1.6 HDI, generally very good, but Donegal roads a bit hard on front suspension.
Is there any pattern with the driving, city centre, motorway, back roads, urban commuting?
Mostly short distances, under 10km, occasional journeys of 150km - I am aware, that small 3 cylinder cars tend to heat up much more quickly, hence more suited to short journeys and the reason to consider a change to petrol

Do you need a high roof for loading kids into the back etc? 
High roof not needed, but a little bit more practical for entry / exit.
What will the car actually be used for?
Single retired person doing one or more journeys most days.
I am aware a very small car like a Ka, 106 can be very economical but prefer the comfort of 307 sized car, as I said would consider small crossover / mpv or possibly Fiesta / 207 size.
[font=Open Sans, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]In addition to considering fuel consumption I am interested in comments of specific vehicles that have low tax and insurance, and if anyone has experience anything that might have very low or high VRT. I know VRT is based on the expected value in Ireland but assume VRT should be proportional for each model based on it's UK value, however some people might have experience with some vehicles that have an unexpectedly high or low VRT charge.[/font]
Thanks ColinK2

They sound ideal for an EV, assuming they have a driveway. Charge on night rate, low tax, near zero maintenance and unless they go for a Tesla S or X insurance will be low.

colink2

I will do some research into EV, and what is available around same budget as 13/14 petrol or diesel.

Keen to read comments from anyone on specific models; what people like and dislike about each.

What cars have resilient suspension that will not wear out too quickly on rural roads?

Thanks Colin