Small cars

busiscoming2

Do you have a small car with a small engine and do you regret your decision to buy it?

I've owned a 2001 Matiz, 800cc for the past ten years and I love it. I am thinking of changing it for a slightly more powerful car. I notice the lack of power on steep hills and when I have passengers.

What I don't want to do is buy a car with a 1L or 1.1L engine only to find it isn't really any better.

Personal opinions on your small car please?

jaydeeuk1

Mines a tiny toyota IQ with a 1.33, but its a hoot to drive, more fun than the BMW mini cooper S I've driven and I prefer it to my wifes MR2 (although don't tell her that )

For a car I'd either want something with a deliberately small engine in, like a panda, or go for something with a whacking great v8 petrol engine where you can just stab the pedal and you're blasted down the road. Not keen on turbos and don't like diesels, you wouldn't spot me in a 2.0 TDci mondeo!

gilbert_and_sullivan

Power to weight gives a fair guide of what the car will be like to drive, Matiz is very light, i expect similar power to weight as current 1100cc modern stuff.

Mr_Mink

Got a 75hp 1.0 VW Up. Sometimes it does my head in but it can cope with pretty much every situation I've been in. I find it takes more planning and concentration than a more powerful car which is not necessarily a bad thing.

Tiexen

busiscoming2 wrote: »

What I don't want to do is buy a car with a 1L or 1.1L engine only to find it isn't really any better.

Personal opinions on your small car please?

Small engines are getting more powerful - the new Ford 1.0 has 125bhp - 0-60 in 9.4 seconds (in a Fiesta)

The Fiat TwinAir is supposed to be great fun to drive.

IanMSpencer

gilbert_and_sullivan wrote: »

Power to weight gives a fair guide of what the car will be like to drive, Matiz is very light, i expect similar power to weight as current 1100cc modern stuff.

The issue to be careful of is that on small cars, people in the car represent a massive difference to the weight, hence large cars tend to react fairly consistently when fully loaded whereas small cars struggle.

Of course engine size in small cars is not the simple "look at the size" check it used to be. Some small engines are extremely powerful. Also engine power has increased significantly over the past 15-20 years - we had a Peugeot 205 which was about 55bhp out of a 1.3 engine, the petrol 208 is now about 82bhp from a 1.2 engine (though the car is now heavier).

So, power to weight, you want to see that improved, but also you want to see that the ratio of car weight to passenger weight is also improved or else you are going to find that you still get the disappointment that it feels lethargic under stress.

0-60 is not a bad rule of thumb for overall performance. The Matiz has a 0-60 of about 17 seconds and I'd look for a car which has a 0-60 of more like 13 seconds for it to feel adequate rather than stressed. 0-60 in 10 seconds is starting to get into performance car territory and below 10 seconds is starting to get exciting.

Bantex_2

jaydeeuk1 wrote: »

Mines a tiny toyota IQ with a 1.33, but its a hoot to drive, more fun than the BMW mini cooper S I've driven and I prefer it to my wifes MR2 (although don't tell her that )

For a car I'd either want something with a deliberately small engine in, like a panda, or go for something with a whacking great v8 petrol engine where you can just stab the pedal and you're blasted down the road. Not keen on turbos and don't like diesels, you wouldn't spot me in a 2.0 TDci mondeo!

Got myself one of them for the daily commute. Does the job very well.

Idiophreak

I'm driving a 1l Aygo at the moment. I enjoy driving it, but it definitely struggles at the top of big hills and when you have a few people in it.

jaydeeuk1

Bantex wrote: »

Got myself one of them for the daily commute. Does the job very well.

I'm looking to swap mine for something bigger

The IQ is our practical family car haha, daughter now 2 and a half and I keep smacking her head on the roof getting her in and out the car seat. Had it since new, fantastic little thing.

forgotmyname

The problem is they pack so much into a little car it may have double the HP of your Matiz, But it may weigh twice as much so it evens out.

Depending on the car a 1.4 with over 100bhp is what i would look for.

roonaldo

If you want a car that doesnt struggle on hills get a proper car with 150+ BHP.