From Big Car to Little Car...

prospero_3

I bought 1997 Audi 2.6 A4 Avant 7 years ago for about £4500. I had never driven an Audi before but once I took it for a spin I had to have it. At the time I thought I had been a bit rash and that petrol costs and insurance would be ridiculous but in fact its served me really well and I've loved driving it.

However, it's had a few too many visits to the garage this year and it's finally time to say goodbye. What we really need now is a small car. I have an 18 year old whose keen to learn so something that she can drive would be useful and I no longer need an estate. I also have grandchildren so giving lifts and getting babies in and out of car seats mean a 5 door is probably more convenient than three. I thought diesel might be the best option but happy to have petrol if its cheap to run. Mostly short trips but some motorway journeys. I'm quite tall so don't want to feel cramped. Simply put I need a small car with good fuel economy that's great to drive.

I don't have any particular brand loyalty but having driven an Audi I would really love to find a car that is smaller but just as good to drive. Also, it's kind of hard to describe but I want something with a quality feel..

I'm very far from being a car expert but I'm sure some of you folks who visit this forum are so I would be very grateful for any advice on what I should be looking for.

I've got about £5000 and whatever I can get for my old estate. Also, I live in Leeds in case location has any effect on value...

tali

Honda Jazz is one of best small cars for space and economy,BUT a bit noisy on motorway , and although it is well built the plastics feel cheap.
Other than that you could downsize to an A3 or A2
Try Autotrder and use the handy filters

madvixen

I switched from a Vectra to a Golf 3 door about 18months ago and I haven't looked back. It's a beautiful drive and I get about 600 miles to a tank of diesel. I test drove a small Audi A3 before I made the final decision and the golf has a similar driving style but feels much more spacious and comfortable.

If you can get one, look for a bluemotion golf as the tax is much less

rodenal

madvixen wrote: »

I switched from a Vectra to a Golf 3 door about 18months ago and I haven't looked back. It's a beautiful drive and I get about 600 miles to a tank of diesel. I test drove a small Audi A3 before I made the final decision and the golf has a similar driving style but feels much more spacious and comfortable.

If you can get one, look for a bluemotion golf as the tax is much less

Just so you know they're the same car - so same space inside, may have been the colour of the trim inside or something daft like one being a 3 door that made it feel different. Don't get hung up on buying something like a bluemotion either as you'll pay more for the car in the first place - usually far more than you would ever save in tax or fuel unless you keep the car for several years.

If I were you OP I would just go out and look round ever focus / golf sized car you can find then draw up a bit of a shortlist and try to find more information on each model. Pretty much every car of that size built in the last 5-8 years is a good motor.

mazza111

Best to go have a sit in them if you're tall. I love my Skoda Fabia. But my fella is a bean pole who finds it a bit cramped

Lum

Best to go for a petrol if you are doing mostly short trips, or if you do go for a diesel, get one that is not fitted with a DPF (Expensive to replace, and generally they get destroyed when used only for short trips, though depending on how often you do motorway runs, you might be ok)

I'd be wary of worrying too much about fuel economy. Everybody and their dog is after small economical diesels these days, and they are priced accordingly. If you can save 3 grand by going for a slightly larger and slightly less economical car, think about how long the smaller car would take to recoup that price difference, in some cases it can be longer than the lifetime of the car in question. Also you get bonus points if the larger car is a more luxurious and pleasant place to be in.

interstellaflyer

madvixen wrote: »

I switched from a Vectra to a Golf 3 door about 18months ago and I haven't looked back. It's a beautiful drive and I get about 600 miles to a tank of diesel.

I don't what Vectra you had or what Golf you have but, I get 55mpg mixed driving out of my 08 plate Vectra 1.9CDTi, cheap as chips to insure and only £165 a year RFL, I'll bet that's pretty close if not better than your average diesel Golf with the added advantage of all that extra room and boot space.

attila_

I borrowed an A2 1.4 petrol. Could not believe what a good car. Its quite a torquy engine and i usually drive diesels.

The quality inside is excellent. If I was searching I'd buy one.