About 2 months ago, I bought a 2005 Focus ST-2 as a family car and a 2003 Brabus Smart ForTwo as a commuting car.

With a baby on the way, the purchase of the Smart made financial sense. On paper, at least: Laughably-high mpg,

 

Dare i sugesst the Getz? My mum loves hers, not sure if its up to much driving wise but think you'd need the 1.5 as the 1.3 is a bit gutless. They have 5 year warranties and reliability is fanastic, as is a reasonable amount of standard equipment. Clio is definitely a girls car.. unless its a 172/182 etc ! I would have a VW, mys Passat is poor quality compared with the S (and its a brand new one). Stick to Japanese etc you cant go wrong!

 

We run a Mk2 Clio 1.4 as the family runaround. It's knocking on for 10 years old but has been pretty reliable in the couple of years we've had it - the only problems have been a corroded exhaust backbox (which chose the most inopportune time to drop off on the M56!) and a need for a couple of replacement wheel bearings. Looking through the service history, it has had a few other odds and sods over the year but the costs are nothing to write home about.

My mother in law has a new Mk3 Clio 1.2. My father in law, who has driven our own Clio by way of comparison, reckons that it feels short on power compared to the 1.4, especially on the motorway. I suppose it doesn't help that the Mk3 is also heavier than the Mk2.

 

Agree about the Cliotoris.

Acutally, tha Daewoo Matiz is pretty indestructible, by all accounts too.

 

Interestingly - for me, at least - my friend's wife is selling her '02 Clio 172 with 60k on the clock for

 

You need an FD2

 

What about a Toyota Aigo?

I had one as a courtesy car and it was absolutely hilarious.
Much better than the same engined Yaris.

60mph in 2nd, need I say more.

 

When the need to commute to London by train arose last year, I was reluctant to leave the NSX in a station car park every day.

So, I bought a 2002 Matiz on ebay......14,000 miles,

 

At times, I'm strangely drawn to the Suzuki Wagon R+. It's a triumph of function over form, but somehow manages to avoid looking odd or stupid ...

 

Give yerself a slap; it's a Vauxhall Arthrita.

You're forty years too young, for a finish.