Which one of these cars?

Horizon81

Fellow moneysavers, I’m trying to narrow down the search for a 5 door runabout for the missus and have come up with the following list. I’m looking at superminis as the car will do occasional motorway work so a ‘city’ car like the Aygo/Fox/Pixo etc is a no go. In your experience, which of these cars would you recommend/avoid and why. Please don’t suggest any other alternatives as I don’t want the usual Fiesta/Corsa/Polo.

1. Honda Jazz 1.2 preferably
2. Nissan Micra 1.2 or Note 1.4
3. Mitsubishi Colt 1.1 or poss 1.3 (not the Clear Tec)
4. Skoda Fabia 1.2 12v (70)

Looking at spending £4K max and 2007 or newer. All of these are pretty well rated and have timing chain engines. Tax is no more than £135 a year (Note) and insurance groups are relatively low. I’m not keen on the Skoda due to cylinder head problems with the 1.2 but sometimes you wonder how widespread problems are that you find reported on the internet. Like I read somewhere else recently, if you scour the internet looking for car problems you’d never buy any car!

Would be great to hear from actual owners of these cars rather than subjective comments like the ones I’d come out with.

avantra

I will go for the Note as the space is slightly more than the Jazz, The Jazz is a tempting offer never the less and they hold their value somehow, even tho Honda parts are fairly dear .

The colt is not nice to drive and the Micra is not in the same league for space and versatility.

The Skoda will be probably the cheapest to buy if you want to spend less than the top of your budget.

Idiophreak

I've only just got rid of my Jazz and I loved it - incredibly practical inside, loads of space, clever folding seats, nice wide opening doors, fun to drive, tiny turning circle...really great little car. Didn't miss a beat in the three years I had it.

I've switched it out for a Nissan Juke - a bigger car with *much less* space inside...:)

Hoof_Hearted

The Jazz is very well thought out inside and is large for the shell size. It has an OAP image but they are very nice to drive and very reliable. However, they hold their price second hand and you would probably pay more compared with other models. Prefer the 1.4.

The Micra is also pleasant to drive and has a comfortable driving position and feels quite nippy. However, it also feels much smaller inside (which it is). Quite reliable, too.

Haven't driven the Skoda and wouldn't choose the Colt.

Horizon81

Whoops - apologies for the dodgy spacing, now corrected. I'd copied and pasted and lost some formatting.

Not a lot of love for the Colt I see. It's relatively unknown I think - a friend of a friend has one and raves about it. The 3 door looks small but the 5 is a different bodyshell. We've no problem with the image of any of these cars, and if it we're me I'd have it down to the Jazz or the Note, but these are also the ones that seem to hold their value more.

Spending 4 grand on a 7 year old Jazz with just below average miles isn't very appealing.

Idiophreak

Hoof_Hearted wrote: »

It has an OAP image but they are very nice to drive and very reliable.

Yeah, I've never really understood that - I'm a young guy and I've always found it spot on - great for chucking the bike in the back, lugging PCs from place to place, trips to ikea etc - and it's very safe and easy to get child seats etc in to. All the space you want, but easy to park too

For the life of me, I don't know why they don't do a sportier model in this country....if they did a 1.6 engine that shifted a bit, I think they'd sell them in spades...

forgotmyname

I am always puzzled why people assume the small cars are no good for motorways?

Avoiding the silly GWizz and anything else that runs on 2 AA batteries. Almost everything else it easily capable of doing illegal speeds on the motorway, Enough to give you a day in court.

They may need a slight down stretch, But ive seen a little 2 seater Smart blasting up and down the M1 many times. Way over 70mph.

Low insurance groups do not always give the same cheap premium. I can do quotes on cars that are 8 or 9 groups apart and the higher rated ones are cheaper to insure.

Richard53

forgotmyname wrote: »

I am always puzzled why people assume the small cars are no good for motorways?

Motorway comfort/suitability is not just top speed, though. I have done 500-mile motorway stretches in my 2-litre Mondeo estate and got out at the other end feeling fresh and relaxed. Not sure I would be able to say the same about a supermini, even though the speeds might be identical.

306chris

Horizon81 wrote: »

Fellow moneysavers, I’m trying to narrow down the search for a 5 door runabout for the missus and have come up with the following list. I’m looking at superminis as the car will do occasional motorway work so a ‘city’ car like the Aygo/Fox/Pixo etc is a no go. In your experience, which of these cars would you recommend/avoid and why. Please don’t suggest any other alternatives as I don’t want the usual Fiesta/Corsa/Polo.

1. Honda Jazz 1.2 preferably - Nice car to dirve, would be my choice if you dont mind the "older persons" image
2. Nissan Micra 1.2 or Note 1.4 - Both not as economical as you think and just dire in auto mode
3. Mitsubishi Colt 1.1 or poss 1.3 (not the Clear Tec) - I've only driven the small TD and it was a while back but I remeber it being a good drive.
4. Skoda Fabia 1.2 12v (70) - These are Ok just feel a little underpowered and the 3 cyl sounds noisy to me on the motorway

Looking at spending £4K max and 2007 or newer. All of these are pretty well rated and have timing chain engines. Tax is no more than £135 a year (Note) and insurance groups are relatively low. I’m not keen on the Skoda due to cylinder head problems with the 1.2 but sometimes you wonder how widespread problems are that you find reported on the internet. Like I read somewhere else recently, if you scour the internet looking for car problems you’d never buy any car!

Would be great to hear from actual owners of these cars rather than subjective comments like the ones I’d come out with.

I've had the pleasure of driving all four and the Jazz would be my choice. I have also done many miles in Aygo/C1/107 size car and wouldn't dismiss one of those. They are quite fun to drive and good on the fuel. I would try and get one try it on a NSL road if you can. They have small engines but they will do 100mph not thay i would condone that sort of thing:whistle:

peter_the_piper

Don't knock the Aygo etc, DD used it back and forth on motorways and went up to York a week or two ago, she loved passing BMW's.

MX5huggy

Sorry OP but from your list I would go for the Suzuiki Swift (I know it's not on there but should be), all reports say its a bundle of fun to drive and not a corsa etc.