Small car for little old lady!

quenching

I need to replace an ageing relative's car. They currently have a 17-year-old Toyota Yaris that needs more work than is sensible to do (brakes, suspension, rear axle, welding). The budget is about 4k, and priorities are as follows:

• Reliable
• Cheap to run
• Small
• Comfortable
• Power steering
• 5 doors
• Petrol or hybrid (Not diesel or electric)
• Automatic would be nice but not an "automated manual"

A newer Yaris is the obvious choice but they're still expensive and there may be a better value option available, Hyundai i10, Ford Fiesta etc.

Total cost of ownership is important, I'm happy to pay a bit more for something that is reliable and parts are cheap to buy.

They have no interest at all in it being fast, handling well, or a "good drive". It'll be used for pottering around town etc.

I'm open to suggestions and would welcome advice.

listermint

Nissan note.

Upright seating position. Short throw bonnet. Reliable. Easy to drive and plenty of space.

It would be my number one for the given driver.

quenching

listermint wrote: »

Nissan note.

Upright seating position. Short throw bonnet. Reliable. Easy to drive and plenty of space.

It would be my number one for the given driver.

Excellent suggestion, thanks for that!

saabsaab

Honda Jazz?

Bikerman2019

I swear by the Suzuki Alto. I got one for an 80 year old. 141 reg. It now has 16k km on it. Ideal for her. Only issue issue is I have to bring my car to woodies as her boot is to small for bags of peat moss!

Tabnabs

I know an 81 year old that will not drive anything other than a Corsa. She hated the Yaris, despite it being the right car, on paper. Worth adding to the list, especially with that budget.

CharlieCroker

If she's used to the Yaris, have a look at the Aygo/Peugeot 108/Citroen C1

https://www.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/toyota-aygo-2011-aura/22754450

https://www.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/2013-peugeot-107-1-0-taxd-amp-nctd/22619880

https://www.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/citroen-c1-1-0i-splash-special-edition/22354372

La.m

Definitely go automatic. My granny (84) burnt out a few clutches before finally switching to an automatic Nissan Micra 3 years ago and loves it. She says driving is so much easier for her now, especially after the knee replacement.

On a similar note, if people saw the toll my granny took on her manual cars they'd think twice about that old dealer claim that that the car only had one elderly lady driver who only took the car to mass. If any of those drivers are like my granny, they drove the entire way to mass in first gear!

quenching

Thanks folks, all excellent suggestions, I'll have a look and see what falls within budget, I'm keen on an automatic as a knee replacement is on the horizon!

bazz26

Most small automatic cars are either CVT or those horrid automated manual gearboxes. It's hard to find a small car with a proper torque converter automatic because those gearboxes tend to be more expensive to offer in small cars build to a certain price point. For a Yaris with a traditional automatic gearbox you would need to look towards a Japanese import.

quenching

bazz26 wrote: »

Most small automatic cars are either CVT or those horrid automated manual gearboxes. It's hard to find a small car with a proper torque converter automatic because those gearboxes tend to be more expensive to offer in small cars build to a certain price point. For a Yaris with a traditional automatic gearbox you would need to look towards a Japanese import.

A CVT gearbox is fine, I think a Honda Jazz from 2011 onwards has one, might have to increase the budget though as they seem to be asking around €6k upwards.

kennethsmyth

saabsaab wrote: »

Honda Jazz?

This, can also be got in auto, great car.

Gael23

Nissan Note or Micra. Look at getting a new Yaris either.
If going automatic I would be looking at a Mixra

colm_mcm

bazz26 wrote: »

Most small automatic cars are either CVT or those horrid automated manual gearboxes. It's hard to find a small car with a proper torque converter automatic because those gearboxes tend to be more expensive to offer in small cars build to a certain price point. For a Yaris with a traditional automatic gearbox you would need to look towards a Japanese import.

Hyundai’s and Kias tends to either have DSG type or torque converter auto box.

Picabto or i10 would do her grand.

road_high

Tabnabs wrote: »

I know an 81 year old that will not drive anything other than a Corsa. She hated the Yaris, despite it being the right car, on paper. Worth adding to the list, especially with that budget.

The Toyota Yaris is too bloody tinny vs the competition and especially what they charge for it. Least the Corsa has a bit to it

MEGA BRO WOLF 5000

Suzuki Swift would also be a great option.

Sexual Chocolate

If you want to avoid the semi autos you can exclude the pre 08 1.4 fiestas.

User1998

2013 onwards Volkswagen Up! Seat Mii and Skoda Citigo are all essentially the same car, slightly out of budget starting at about €4,500.

colm_mcm

User1998 wrote: »

2013 onwards Volkswagen Up! Seat Mii and Skoda Citigo are all essentially the same car, slightly out of budget starting at about €4,500.

Autobox is nasty on them though

Bannasidhe

Last Dec had to find a "new" car for my 84 year old Mother after her from new less than 8k on the clock 00 Micra failed the NCT for rust - and on the way home the electrics on the indicators went.
She wanted a 1ltr to drive to the local shop and down to the hairdresser once a week. Her problem with the new Micra's was they are just too big. She also didn't want new new as she'd be nervous she'd get a scratch on it.

Long story short, we got her a 161 Suzuki Celeron for under €10k with just 18km on the clock. She loves it... now that she knows what all the 'lights' on the dash are ("That's saying you don't have your seatbelt on Mam", "Door open.. yes, the door is open. I'm standing in the open doorway telling you that light means there is a door open", "don't worry about it... Really... ignore it... it's the outside effing temperature Mam")

Audioslaven

There are some questionable suggestions when you have mentioned reliability. Anyway I would not look any further than the Honda Jazz.

https://www.whatcar.com/news/2019-what-car-reliability-survey/n20042

Gael23

Bannasidhe wrote: »

Last Dec had to find a "new" car for my 84 year old Mother after her from new less than 8k on the clock 00 Micra failed the NCT for rust - and on the way home the electrics on the indicators went.
She wanted a 1ltr to drive to the local shop and down to the hairdresser once a week. Her problem with the new Micra's was they are just too big. She also didn't want new new as she'd be nervous she'd get a scratch on it.

Long story short, we got her a 161 Suzuki Celeron for under €10k with just 18km on the clock. She loves it... now that she knows what all the 'lights' on the dash are ("That's saying you don't have your seatbelt on Mam", "Door open.. yes, the door is open. I'm standing in the open doorway telling you that light means there is a door open", "don't worry about it... Really... ignore it... it's the outside effing temperature Mam")

Would she not keep her money and get taxis doing a few hundred miles a year?

bazz26

Remember driving can be about maintaining some sort of independence/freedom for many people in late life. It can be the difference between keeping an active life pottering around shopping, visiting and keeping in touch with family/friends over retreating into not leaving the house that often because you have to get a taxi. A taxi could save them some money but might cost them more in social interaction. We will all be there someday.

flazio

Thoughts on a Ford Ka?

bazz26

I don't think they even sold the Ka in automatic, at least not in Ireland anyway.

Bannasidhe

Gael23 wrote: »

Would she not keep her money and get taxis doing a few hundred miles a year?

That day might come but for now she enjoys her independence. She can get in her car and go (or not) when she decides, not wait around for a taxi.
I'm in my 50s and don't do much mileage a year - don't drive to work - but my car is there when I want it. Why should my mother be any different?

saabsaab

Honda Jazz front runner but Suzuki ignis maybe.

Bikerman2019

Bannasidhe wrote: »

That day might come but for now she enjoys her independence. She can get in her car and go (or not) when she decides, not wait around for a taxi.
I'm in my 50s and don't do much mileage a year - don't drive to work - but my car is there when I want it. Why should my mother be any different?

I agree completely. It is important the lady keeps her independence. We arrange for granny to do school runs even when not needed. It helps sturcture the day, increases social interaction and gives her family time.


Make sure you keep her mobile.

ba_barabus

Suzuki, any of them.

biko

Toyota iQ, most reliable car in UK
https://www.reliabilityindex.com/top-100

The Toyota iQ looks funky, fits in tight parking spots and is nimble in town. It's well equipped, cheap to run, and emissions are low

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZpGxh1N3TkE

Never mind, I see now you wanted 5 doors.

colm_mcm

The iq avoided the horrible Multimode box in favour of a CVT Multidrive.

road_high

Cant remember when I last saw an IQ. Great little cars but too expensive for what they were

road_high

bazz26 wrote: »

Remember driving can be about maintaining some sort of independence/freedom for many people in late life. It can be the difference between keeping an active life pottering around shopping, visiting and keeping in touch with family/friends over retreating into not leaving the house that often because you have to get a taxi. A taxi could save them some money but might cost them more in social interaction. We will all be there someday.

Hear hear. Very important older motorists keep driving as long as they can as independence is everything.
In my experience older drivers aren’t really a menace at all, just need to be patient with them sometimes and they usually avoid stress like hogging overtaking lanes- for me young girls, mothers, and also middle aged/50s men tend to be the worst drivers I encounter.

colm_mcm

road_high wrote: »

Cant remember when I last saw an IQ. Great little cars but too expensive for what they were

I had one for a while from work. Mental expensive and Irish spec so horrid 3 cylinder
Completely impractical for most people but more practical than a Smart car.

road_high

colm_mcm wrote: »

I had one for a while from work. Mental expensive and Irish spec so horrid 3 cylinder
Completely impractical for most people but more practical than a Smart car.

Indeed- more expensive than a Yaris with more space so most buyers figured what’s the point?

road_high

Would have thought the performance would be ok given the small size? Anyhow very much a niche here in Ireland. Smarts were a flop here completely

ba_barabus

road_high wrote: »

Would have thought the performance would be ok given the small size?

If it's good enough for Aston Martin, it'll be good enough for me.

colm_mcm

road_high wrote: »

Would have thought the performance would be ok given the small size? Anyhow very much a niche here in Ireland. Smarts were a flop here completely

In the uk they sold them with the lovely 1.33 Dual VVT-i engine and 6 speed box. We got lumped with the 1.0 setup from the Aygo.

road_high

colm_mcm wrote: »

In the uk they sold them with the lovely 1.33 Dual VVT-i engine and 6 speed box. We got lumped with the 1.0 setup from the Aygo.

Did they sell the 1.33 here at all? Surely with emissions based VRT the price difference was hardly that much
I’d imagine Aston Martin used the 1.33 too!

bazz26

Aston Martin only used the IQ so that it could comply with EU fleet average emission regulations. Producing the IQ/Cygnet reduced Aston Martin's emission footprint as a car manufacturer. In reality they didn't sell many of them, I think they cost over 30k in the UK so not surprising really.

road_high

bazz26 wrote: »

Aston Martin only used the IQ so that it could comply with EU fleet average emission regulations. Producing the IQ/Cygnet reduced Aston Martin's emission footprint as a car manufacturer. In reality they didn't sell many of them, I think they cost over 30k in the UK so not surprising really.

Did that rule change or drop as they didn’t continue long with the Cygnet?

allthedoyles

We have a Nissan Note and its a great run-around-town car . Plus maintenance is minimal .
We throw a €5 bottle of redex into it every few months and it really helps on fuel economy.

colm_mcm

road_high wrote: »

Did they sell the 1.33 here at all? Surely with emissions based VRT the price difference was hardly that much
I’d imagine Aston Martin used the 1.33 too!

I think it was offered, but none were allocated to dealers. The problem with the Urban Cruiser and the iQ was that they were built in Japan, and the exchange rates were all wrong. Add in the usual Toyota Ireland greed, and both models were doomed from the start. FYI the Urban Cruiser was the same price as a Qashqai at the time like for like but was smaller than a Kia Venga

road_high

colm_mcm wrote: »

I think it was offered, but none were allocated to dealers. The problem with the Urban Cruiser and the iQ was that they were built in Japan, and the exchange rates were all wrong. Add in the usual Toyota Ireland greed, and both models were doomed from the start. FYI the Urban Cruiser was the same price as a Qashqai at the time like for like but was smaller than a Kia Venga

Lol no wonder they have to have keep rebadging Peugeot’s!!

colm_mcm

I think they just wanted to spice up the lineup in Europe a bit. I don’t think they were after volume sales with those two models.
To be fair, the Aygo/107/C1 was a joint venture from the start, and they’re more than rebadged Peugeot’s.

road_high

colm_mcm wrote: »

I think they just wanted to spice up the lineup in Europe a bit. I don’t think they were after volume sales with those two models.
To be fair, the Aygo/107/C1 was a joint venture from the start, and they’re more than rebadged Peugeot’s.

I jest I know the Aygo et al were a joint venture development. Read somewhere Toyota are thinking of leaving this partnership and there won’t be a new generation

road_high

road_high wrote: »

I jest I know the Aygo et al were a joint venture development. Read somewhere Toyota are thinking of leaving this partnership and there won’t be a new generation

https://www.autoexpress.co.uk/toyota/105390/toyota-and-psa-to-end-joint-production-of-city-cars-from-2021

But the Berlingo van is to be badged as a Toyota

The outgoing Auris van was quite popular with business. Presume they might be dropped now with the concentration petrol and hybrids. Hence the gap for a smaller van

Brian Scan

Seems like a reasonable offer.

ba_barabus

bazz26 wrote: »

Aston Martin only used the IQ so that it could comply with EU fleet average emission regulations. Producing the IQ/Cygnet reduced Aston Martin's emission footprint as a car manufacturer. In reality they didn't sell many of them, I think they cost over 30k in the UK so not surprising really.

Believe it or not but they've already increased in value and are highly sought after.

road_high

ba_barabus wrote: »

Believe it or not but they've already increased in value and are highly sought after.

Rarity value and decent quality both in terms of the Aston Martin luxury input and Toyota underpinnings. I always liked them and thought they were lovely idea but at £30k or so very few buyers willing