New sub compact

pointer28

Considering the Hyundai i20, Suzuki Baleno, Seat Ibiza, Skoda Fabia and Kia Rio all in medium spec rather than basic, 1 - 1.2 petrol.

Has anybody got any opinions or alternatives?

Absolutely under €20k and preferably less.

Yakuza

Is a Volkswagen Up! too small? They're about 15k at the upper end (no pun intended!)

pointer28

Yakuza wrote:

Is a Volkswagen Up! too small? They're about 15k at the upper end (no pun intended!)

Too small, looked at a Polo but expensive in comparison to the others.

grogi

pointer28 wrote: »

Considering the Hyundai i20, Suzuki Baleno, Seat Ibiza, Skoda Fabia and Kia Rio all in medium spec rather than basic, 1 - 1.2 petrol.

Ibiza and Polo mechanically share a lot, but Polo (in more expensive versions) is a much more polished car inside. Automatic A/C is actually pretty affordable in the Ibiza.

i20 and Rio comes with a simple N/A 1.2 engine. It won't win races, but is nippy enough. Ibiza and Polo have either 1.0 MPI - simple, reliable, economical yet sluggish - or 1.0 TSI - turbocharged petrol that is actually very punchy and marginally less economical.

I would go with an Eclipse Orange Ibiza SE 1.0 TSI and topped the config with:
- Rear Park Distance Control
- 6.5 Media Screen
- SEAT Full Link Technology
- Climatronic Air Conditioning

The price would be €19.5k, but should easily negotiate it further down.



I don't talk about Fabia at all because it is old design and much smaller car. I haven't been impressed with Fabia's quality at all too.

pointer28

@Grogi

Your spec is pretty identical to what I had in mind, even the colour. Love the orange but SWMBO likes the red so we'll have to see.

Is there anything else I'm missing? Citroen C3 anybody?

bazz26

New Nissan Micra or Ford Fiesta?

Does it need to be brand new? Maybe have a look at a pre reg with tiny miles.

grogi

pointer28 wrote: »

@Grogi

Your spec is pretty identical to what I had in mind, even the colour. Love the orange but SWMBO likes the red so we'll have to see.

Is there anything else I'm missing? Citroen C3 anybody?

Consider Clio 0.9 the as well.

Henry Ford III

New Fiesta is the class leader. 1.0 ecoboost is a great engine.

colm_mcm

Says Henry Ford.......

Zubeneschamali

Mini is too expensive for you, starting at €22K.

Philb76

Class leader in wot certainly not build quality or space and i wud argue the tsi engines are better for economy and refinement

Henry Ford III

Philb76 wrote: »

Class leader in wot certainly not build quality or space and i wud argue the tsi engines are better for economy and refinement

Pardon?

i57dwun4yb1pt8

dont get the skoda , its sh1te

Lantus

The ibiza, fabia and fiesta are probably the top 3 contenders in their class. Ibiza is slightly ahead of the fabia in the vw product cycle so benefits from latest infotainment etc. Nice styling as well and good size for its class.

grogi

Lantus wrote: »

The ibiza, fabia and fiesta are probably the top 3 contenders in their class. Ibiza is slightly ahead of the fabia in the vw product cycle so benefits from latest infotainment etc. Nice styling as well and good size for its class.

I find the i20 and Rio better than Fabia... And Fiesta, while it is actually enjoyable to drive, is not very keenly priced - 1.0 Ecoboost starts from €20150...

Philb76

Is importing an option low mileage se ibizas can be got for under 10000 sterling now

colm_mcm

Philb76 wrote: »

Is importing an option low mileage se ibizas can be got for under 10000 sterling now

Are they the old model?

ba_barabus

I really like the Baleno and the new Ignis. They'll cost feck all. Sticking more mainstream though I'd look at the Picanto.

Philb76

No colm new model up the North late 2017 which is funny cos thers old models that are priced the same or dearer

Philb76

https://www.usedcarsni.com/2017-Seat-Ibiza-SE-1-0-75-2105163

Well almost ther was a few that wer under 10sterling

colm_mcm

Philb76 wrote: »

https://www.usedcarsni.com/2017-Seat-Ibiza-SE-1-0-75-2105163

Well almost ther was a few that wer under 10sterling

That’s €14k with VRT though for a 2017, a new SE here is €15500 including the €2000 off Seat are doing.

Philb76

Is ther no saving at that money so

colm_mcm

Not enough to justify going used, abroad, and a year older, no.

Might be better value in mainland uk.

Philb76

Just looking ther an fr model is over 13sterling they do look the part maybe a good used in a couple of years

Lantus

grogi wrote:

I find the i20 and Rio better than Fabia... And Fiesta, while it is actually enjoyable to drive, is not very keenly priced - 1.0 Ecoboost starts from €20150...

Can't disagree. Fiesta has a price problem and both those cars you mention are contenders.

There isn't much between these cars as they all fairly well spec'd.

Op needs to read up, prioritise requirements and test drive as many as feasible.

pointer28

Thanks everyone, tbh I'm looking more at the "afforable" brands than the more established brands purely for financial reasons.

Even considered the Dacia Sandero for a short while but didn't think much of it and fearful of resale values after 5 years.

Fiesta, Mini etc are too expensive, what I want is something reliable and comfortable, for maybe 20k kms a year and only the odd motorway trip.

At the moment, I like the Ibiza myself and am test driving on Saturday although the i20 is also good and the main dealer is very local and well regarded.

Philb76

The i20 is very good the i10 is also very good very refined and good spec and not bad space for the class of car and obviously will cost bit less

Lantus

pointer28 wrote:

At the moment, I like the Ibiza myself and am test driving on Saturday although the i20 is also good and the main dealer is very local and well regarded.

Both class leaders and good cars. You can't make a bad decision from here. Just think about what suits you best, price, spec etc.

grogi

Another three pennies from @grogi: Ibiza comes with autonomous city breaking as standard in all trims. I know it would have saved my ass one day...

Henry Ford III

grogi wrote: »

I find the i20 and Rio better than Fabia... And Fiesta, while it is actually enjoyable to drive, is not very keenly priced - 1.0 Ecoboost starts from €20150...

Rejected.

Fiesta starts at €16650 list for a 1.1l 70ps Zetec. You can get a 1.0T Ecoboost with powershift auto from €19600 list.

In addition they are being dealer discounted now also. Ford are showing €1750 on Zetec models when you include an upgrade pack.

Philb76

Fiesta is an excellent car owned two in the past in the uk they seem dear enough thers some posh version thats 20sterling

grogi

Henry Ford III wrote: »

Rejected.

Fiesta starts at €16650 list for a 1.1l 70ps Zetec. You can get a 1.0T Ecoboost with powershift auto from €19600 list.

True. Missed the auto...

In addition they are being dealer discounted now also. Ford are showing €1750 on Zetec models when you include an upgrade pack.

Everyone is discounting, especially before September... (WHTC)

colm_mcm

Yaris hybrid worth a look if auto is a requirement.

JohnBoy26

Henry Ford III wrote: »

New Fiesta is the class leader. 1.0 ecoboost is a great engine.

Lets be honest here, the polo is the class leader. The new fiesta is dreadful looking in 5 door form and the interior, while a lot better than the old, still lags in quality.

grogi

JohnBoy26 wrote: »

Lets be honest here, the polo is the class leader. The new fiesta is dreadful looking in 5 door form and the interior, while a lot better than the old, still lags in quality.

But it comes without engines... tsi only with dsg...

Philb76

Wud agree the polo has moved up a level from the rest of them can even see it pinching sales from the golf interior is superb

Henry Ford III

JohnBoy26 wrote: »

Lets be honest here, the polo is the class leader. The new fiesta is dreadful looking in 5 door form and the interior, while a lot better than the old, still lags in quality.

Fiesta is a much better car to drive. The reviews all say so.

Lantus

Polo is out of ops price range but its one hell of a car all right. A lot of pressure on a golf update as there is very little to justify the massive uplift in price for the existing golf over the similar sized polo.

bazz26

Henry Ford III wrote: »

Fiesta is a much better car to drive. The reviews all say so.

Wouldn't the Polo be adequate though?

JohnBoy26

Henry Ford III wrote: »

Fiesta is a much better car to drive. The reviews all say so.

The reviews always say so. They have a horn for ford. In reality it isn't really that far ahead in driving dynamics and is behind the polo in most respects.

Even if it is better dynamically that doesn't make it the class leader and anyway that aspect wouldn't be on top of most peoples lists, especially the target audience for these cars.

The polo is just more grown up and far nicer than the fiesta in almost everyway.

Henry Ford III

JohnBoy26 wrote: »

The reviews always say so. They have a horn for ford. In reality it isn't really that far ahead in driving dynamics and is behind the polo in most respects.

Even if it is better dynamically that doesn't make it the class leader and anyway that aspect wouldn't be on top of most peoples lists, especially the target audience for these cars.

The polo is just more grown up and far nicer than the fiesta in almost everyway.

So the reviews are all biased, and you've driven a new model Fiesta.

Very good.

Henry Ford III

OSI wrote: »

Very few people in this segment care about the feedback through the wheel, and the availability of lift off oversteer though.

I'd counter by suggesting everyone wants a car that's good to drive.

JohnBoy26

Henry Ford III wrote: »

So the reviews are all biased, and you've driven a new model Fiesta.

Very good.

I've driven both.

JohnBoy26

Henry Ford III wrote: »

I'd counter by suggesting everyone wants a car that's good to drive.

Most people don't care about how fun a car is to drive. In the real world scenarios that these cars will be driven in it's not going to matter a jot.

Henry Ford III

JohnBoy26 wrote: »

I've driven both.

Yes of course you have.

Parkers - A superior knowledgebase to yourself I'd suggest rates the Seat Ibiza as marginal winner in the class, with the Fiesta 2nd but with the same overall review score.

I think that'd be a better benchmark of credible comparison than someone anonymous on the internet.

Henry Ford III

JohnBoy26 wrote: »

Most people don't care about how fun a car is to drive. In the real world scenarios that these cars will be driven in it's not going to matter a jot.

A matter of opinion.

JohnBoy26

Henry Ford III wrote: »

Yes of course you have.

Parkers - A superior knowledgebase to yourself I'd suggest rates the Seat Ibiza as marginal winner in the class, with the Fiesta 2nd but with the same overall review score.

I think that'd be a better benchmark of credible comparison than someone anonymous on the internet.

So according to parkers(a superior knowledge base than yourself also) the fiesta isn't the class leader?

JohnBoy26

Henry Ford III wrote: »

A matter of opinion.

Honestly who is buys a run of the mill b segment supermini with twisty roads or track days in mind?

Henry Ford III

JohnBoy26 wrote:

Honestly who is buys a run of the mill b segment supermini with twisty roads or track days in mind?

No idea. I said "good to drive". How you ended there only you can explain.

JohnBoy26

Henry Ford III wrote: »

No idea. I said "good to drive". How you ended there only you can explain.

By good to drive I take it you meant fun? If you meant pleasant to drive lots of cars can do that and the polo certainly does it better than the fiesta.

Nobody going to the shops and back will care about how good(fun) these cars are to drive. They will not be driving the @rse out of them on a track or on a twisty back road to find out.

Also the fiestas steering is not as good as on the old car. It has a springy feel to it which isn't great.

Henry Ford III

Good to drive means good to drive. Everyday and in all conditions. There's no need to be interpreting a simple comment that doesn't require interpreting.

You've clearly some sort of agenda here so I'll leave you at it.