[ianl]

Another vote for the Aygo.

Bought a high spec '57 plate car to share with my 17 year old son just over a year ago. It had covered 21k miles and cost £3500. Decent enough to drive, ~50mpg, has been 100% reliable and it is as cheap to insure as cars come for teenagers.

[Hedropsforglory]

jml, on 20 February 2012 - 06:07 AM, said:

Daughter has a Jazz. We like it.

Much as I naturally feel compelled to publicly denounce it as a Jizz, privately I have to confess that it's a cracker - problem is everyone else thinks so and the premium that tidy ones command is daunting.

But if one turns up at a decent price, Daughter-of-Phil won't go wrong

[S2K-Phil]

Polemicist, on 20 February 2012 - 05:10 AM, said:

Do you want to go mainstream or left-field...

I'm just about to offer this to the great -unwashed for £4,250:



'58 plate, 19K miles, FMSH, £30 year road tax, climate control, etc., etc., etc.. And the all important Alpine hi-fi upgrade with iPod interface...

which model is it?

[jellyfishfield]

If you're looking at an Aygo it might be worth looking at the Citroen and Peugeot equivalents.

Drive the Deal are doing nearly £3K off the Citroen at the moment, makes it around the £6.5K mark, no idea about the difference in spec though.

[Trailerparktrev]

jellyfishfield, on 20 February 2012 - 02:01 PM, said:

If you're looking at an Aygo it might be worth looking at the Citroen and Peugeot equivalents.

Drive the Deal are doing nearly £3K off the Citroen at the moment, makes it around the £6.5K mark, no idea about the difference in spec though.

Thing is with the Citroen (don't know about the Pug as we went straight back to Toyota after looking at a C1,) is that the interior is horrific.

[gbduo]

Another vote for the Aygo...great cars. And good fun to drive as well! Like a go kart...with less power.

[Polemicist]

S2K-Phil, on 20 February 2012 - 01:58 PM, said:

Polemicist, on 20 February 2012 - 05:10 AM, said:

Do you want to go mainstream or left-field...

I'm just about to offer this to the great -unwashed for £4,250:



'58 plate, 19K miles, FMSH, £30 year road tax, climate control, etc., etc., etc.. And the all important Alpine hi-fi upgrade with iPod interface...

which model is it?

It's not the electric version!

This one has the mid-mounted, 660 cc twelve valve, turbocharged three cylinder engine. It also has a four speed automatic gearbox. Not many around; IIRC there were only 240 - 250 imported by Mitsubishi and they were all the same specification.

[jellyfishfield]

Trailerparktrev, on 21 February 2012 - 04:31 AM, said:

jellyfishfield, on 20 February 2012 - 02:01 PM, said:

If you're looking at an Aygo it might be worth looking at the Citroen and Peugeot equivalents.

Drive the Deal are doing nearly £3K off the Citroen at the moment, makes it around the £6.5K mark, no idea about the difference in spec though.

Thing is with the Citroen (don't know about the Pug as we went straight back to Toyota after looking at a C1,) is that the interior is horrific.

Never actually been to look but from what I can see on the website they look almost identical apart from the sat nav, maybe different fabric on the seats.

[Nick Graves]

jellyfishfield, on 21 February 2012 - 01:27 PM, said:

Trailerparktrev, on 21 February 2012 - 04:31 AM, said:

jellyfishfield, on 20 February 2012 - 02:01 PM, said:

If you're looking at an Aygo it might be worth looking at the Citroen and Peugeot equivalents.

Drive the Deal are doing nearly £3K off the Citroen at the moment, makes it around the £6.5K mark, no idea about the difference in spec though.

Thing is with the Citroen (don't know about the Pug as we went straight back to Toyota after looking at a C1,) is that the interior is horrific.

Never actually been to look but from what I can see on the website they look almost identical apart from the sat nav, maybe different fabric on the seats.

Now that the European Soviet Socialist Republic has ended subsidising small cars, the Czech plant which makes the Aygo clones is in deep shit. You ought to be able to beat any dealer up on price. I don't know which version is the most identical though.

[jellyfishfield]

Nick Graves, on 22 February 2012 - 10:07 AM, said:

jellyfishfield, on 21 February 2012 - 01:27 PM, said:

Trailerparktrev, on 21 February 2012 - 04:31 AM, said:

jellyfishfield, on 20 February 2012 - 02:01 PM, said:

If you're looking at an Aygo it might be worth looking at the Citroen and Peugeot equivalents.

Drive the Deal are doing nearly £3K off the Citroen at the moment, makes it around the £6.5K mark, no idea about the difference in spec though.

Thing is with the Citroen (don't know about the Pug as we went straight back to Toyota after looking at a C1,) is that the interior is horrific.

Never actually been to look but from what I can see on the website they look almost identical apart from the sat nav, maybe different fabric on the seats.

Now that the European Soviet Socialist Republic has ended subsidising small cars, the Czech plant which makes the Aygo clones is in deep shit. You ought to be able to beat any dealer up on price. I don't know which version is the most identical though.

My daughter just passed her test a couple of weeks ago so we're going through the same kind of thought process.

Was going to get something older and cheap but with the price you can buy these things for I can't help wonder if it might be the cheaper option in the long run.

[ianl]

When looking for a car my 17 year old son could learn in / drive once he passed his test, I was struck by just how few cars sit in the very lowest insurance group and how even going up to cars in the 2nd lowest group had a dramatic impact on premiums. Insurance for girls used to be a fair bit cheaper than boys, but I believe someone has put paid to this on the grounds of sex discrimination. Never mind that 17 year old boys are on average more bonkers than girls!

As for differences between the AygoC101.....really just interior/exterior trim. Drivetrain, chassis, even dash are identical from model to model.

[s2konroids]

Yaris

[Hedropsforglory]

Anyone looked at the VW Up yet?

[S2K-Phil]

I am off to look at a Hyundi i10 this morning.

For £7,420 you get air-con, 4 doors, metallic paint, 5 year warranty and breakdown cover though you have to pay for the services (£299 for 3 years).

[Trailerparktrev]

S2K-Phil, on 25 February 2012 - 05:15 AM, said:

I am off to look at a Hyundi i10 this morning.

For £7,420 you get air-con, 4 doors, metallic paint, 5 year warranty and breakdown cover though you have to pay for the services (£299 for 3 years).

So did you like the Hyundai?

[S2K-Phil]

Trailerparktrev, on 28 February 2012 - 04:04 AM, said:

S2K-Phil, on 25 February 2012 - 05:15 AM, said:

I am off to look at a Hyundi i10 this morning.

For £7,420 you get air-con, 4 doors, metallic paint, 5 year warranty and breakdown cover though you have to pay for the services (£299 for 3 years).

So did you like the Hyundai?

Yes. Couldn't fault it for the price. In fact, I saw a second hand 2 year old model for sale that cost more? There was a £700 optional pack that we could have that included:

• door handles in matching trim
• mats
• remote locking as opposed to central locking
• alloys
• adjustable seat height.

checked these features with my daughter who responded:

• matching door handles looked like they couldn't be bothered to paint around them
• why do I need mats that won't see for rubbish anyway
• I won't remember if I have pressed the button and probably wouldn't trust it anyway so best to make sure by using the key in the hole.
• if the alloys get scuffed you would have to buy new alloys. Much cheaper to buy new wheel trims surely
• The ordinary seats fit my legs and anyway the steering wheel is adjustable

Saved £700 - good girl.

Have handed over the money and will be picking it up next Tuesday so will report back in more detail then.


TBH, cars at this price level appear to all be very similar and this car had more for less. Handling was fine; performance was fine with 4 up; 4 doors and space in the boot; looks are okay; reliability is OK according to internet searches and I reckon if she is sensible with it then in a couple of years she should be able to get most of the initial cost back if using it towards the next model up. By then she will be earning and have some NCB and will have left the nest.

[Nick Graves]

The trouble is, these crappy little cars are actually so good, they make practically everything else looks silly.

It's the sort of James May argument - Panda & Porsche (sounds a bit like a right-on London baaaaar) rather than some tossy old C-or D-segment poshmobile. It's very hard to see where all the extra money goes on a car that's more boring to drive.

The FIAT Uno (briefly) performed a similar trick back in the 80s.

Despite the full knowledge the car's gonna get damaged (it's not always the inexperienced driver's fault they do - they just end up getting blamed by received wisdom) I can see why a new one might make sense.

[phil121081]

Suzuki Swift Sport

http://www.pistonhea...les/3629115.htm

or Fiat Panda 100hp

http://www.pistonhea...les/3655332.htm

Both raved about at little warm hatches.... she might as well have a bit of fun!

I'd go for the swift personally, as think it looks great too!

Otherwise, go for the (yawn) mini... probably the best on the market in class in my opinion. mini one or cooper cheap to run / insure and very frugal.

[Trailerparktrev]

S2K-Phil, on 28 February 2012 - 03:00 PM, said:

Trailerparktrev, on 28 February 2012 - 04:04 AM, said:

S2K-Phil, on 25 February 2012 - 05:15 AM, said:

I am off to look at a Hyundi i10 this morning.

For £7,420 you get air-con, 4 doors, metallic paint, 5 year warranty and breakdown cover though you have to pay for the services (£299 for 3 years).

So did you like the Hyundai?

Yes. Couldn't fault it for the price. In fact, I saw a second hand 2 year old model for sale that cost more? There was a £700 optional pack that we could have that included:

• door handles in matching trim
• mats
• remote locking as opposed to central locking
• alloys
• adjustable seat height.

checked these features with my daughter who responded:

• matching door handles looked like they couldn't be bothered to paint around them
• why do I need mats that won't see for rubbish anyway
• I won't remember if I have pressed the button and probably wouldn't trust it anyway so best to make sure by using the key in the hole.
• if the alloys get scuffed you would have to buy new alloys. Much cheaper to buy new wheel trims surely
• The ordinary seats fit my legs and anyway the steering wheel is adjustable

Saved £700 - good girl.

Have handed over the money and will be picking it up next Tuesday so will report back in more detail then.


TBH, cars at this price level appear to all be very similar and this car had more for less. Handling was fine; performance was fine with 4 up; 4 doors and space in the boot; looks are okay; reliability is OK according to internet searches and I reckon if she is sensible with it then in a couple of years she should be able to get most of the initial cost back if using it towards the next model up. By then she will be earning and have some NCB and will have left the nest.

Can't say I blame you in going for the i10. A colleague of mine's wife has the i20, he was really happy with the deal he got and his wife was happy with the car she got. The car it replaced, Honda jizz, was definitely a Friday afternoon car, whereas the Hyundai has been faultless.
European manufacturers really do have to start upping their game, as the Koreans are starting to make good cars.

[Kiteland]

Another vote for the Mitsubishi Colt. We have three scattered round the family as town/shopping cars.

[ianl]

phil121081, on 29 February 2012 - 03:54 AM, said:

Both raved about at little warm hatches....

When did you last get an insurance quote for a 17 year old?!

[S2K-Phil]

Can't say I blame you in going for the i10. A colleague of mine's wife has the i20, he was really happy with the deal he got and his wife was happy with the car she got. The car it replaced, Honda jizz, was definitely a Friday afternoon car, whereas the Hyundai has been faultless.
European manufacturers really do have to start upping their game, as the Koreans are starting to make good cars.
[/quote]



It's strange. Honda was, for me in my day me at least, a car manufacturer that cost more than the the rust buckets of Europe but worth the extra for the relaibility etc. Honda has lost this advantage (again for me at least) bit still charge a premium over other manufacturers. Will I buy another Honda? I have had 4 Honda's but my S2000, which I still love, is probably the last one.

[Trailerparktrev]

It's not only Honda putting up the prices, Phil. Before getting my S2000, three consecutive Renaultsport Clios, two of which I bought brand new.
The first one's (182 Cup) list price was £13,500 - I got £11,900. The second one's (197 R27) list price was £17,850, which I also got brand new with a cracking deal at £13850. But by the time I got round to a Clio 200 the list price for the spec (equal to my previous) was over £21k! Crazy! 21 grand for a bloody Clio!
So I bought a year old one for £13000.

[Bassoctopus]

Did you see Evo this month. The new BMW 320d they reviewed was £39k's worth YOu could have the 1M for £2k more. Ridiculous.

More than happy with my 8 year old 318i for £6k