First car help! Kia picanto or Hyundai i20

devils_vixen

Looking for my first car.


I have narrowed it down to two that I like.


I test drove a 2012 1.2 Hyundai i20 and it was a nice drive although I seem to be focussing on the negatives;


no front fog lights
no electric mirrors
only 3 doors


I am due to test drive a 2011 1.0 kia picanto tomorrow.


It has all of the above but is smaller.


I am looking for owners who have the above and their opinions of the cars? Both have just over 40k on the clock and 1 year warranty left.


Both cars are of similar price - one is from a big dealership, the other is a small independent dealer and I'm rubbish at negotiating!

interstellaflyer

Why are you so bothered about the lack of front fogs, they serve very little purpose and are generally used illegally because the driver thinks it makes their car look cool and sporty.

daveyjp

Drive the i20 more, you may learn to hate it as quickly as we did. We found the seats very uncomfortable, providing very little lumbar support.

Check all the paperwork is in place for the warranty to be intact. This includes all invoices for the work done, not just a stamped book or a dealer print out.

devils_vixen

interstellaflyer wrote: »

Why are you so bothered about the lack of front fogs, they serve very little purpose and are generally used illegally because the driver thinks it makes their car look cool and sporty.

I don't have a clue about cars and always thought you need fog lights for fog?


Didn't realise the were not on all cars

devils_vixen

daveyjp wrote: »

Drive the i20 more, you may learn to hate it as quickly as we did. We found the seats very uncomfortable, providing very little lumbar support.

Check all the paperwork is in place for the warranty to be intact. This includes all invoices for the work done, not just a stamped book or a dealer print out.

Thanks.


It's the classic version that I've been looking at (all I can afford) I won't be able to drive it unless I purchase it?

interstellaflyer

devils_vixen wrote: »

I don't have a clue about cars and always thought you need fog lights for fog?


Didn't realise the were not on all cars

Front fogs are not essential and are generally used to pose. Why are you restricting yourself to two particular cars? I'd be looking at insurance premiums rather than toys and extra doors.

Rolandtheroadie

The Kia Picanto is basically an i10, with the i20 being a Kia Rio.
If you look at the Rio, it'll be the same size as the i20.

ian103

I recently purchased an i20 1.0t, my shortlist was an i20 or a yaris, the i20 felt bigger, better equiped and cheaper, probably not as well built but brought as a budget runabout. There loads out there have a wider search.

JenRoo82

I bought my first car in may this year. I learned to drive in a 65 plate hyundai i20 and really liked it. My choices were between a kia rio and a Toyota yaris. In the end I went for the kia as it still had 5 years warranty left.

The Picanto boot is very small and if I had to pick I'd have gone for the i20.

searchlight123

my OH has a 2010 1.0 picanto owned from new so just coming towards the end of its 7 year warranty (march 2017). admittedly the car has only done 17,000 miles!! but it really hasn't missed a beat. lovely little about town run around and still looks great (her's is white).

only complaint is no central locking. doesn't sound a big deal but OH hasn't stopped moaning about that since we got the car!
bought it under the scrappage scheme handing over a knackered fiat scicento whose clutch had given up the ghost 3 weeks earlier so had to be towed to the garage on collection day. with the £2k scrappage allowance the brand new picanto cost us £4.4k.

best car business we've ever done. doesn't owe us anything back after 7 years and hopefully will get another 7 out of it.

MoneySavingMole

As others have said;
- Front Fogs are irrelevant, unless you live in the Highlands.
- Electric mirrors aren't important, it takes seconds to fold them in.

I'd focus on how the vehicle drives, which you enjoy driving/feels nicest to drive, as this is what you'll essentially be doing 90% of the time.

I'd also consider insurance groups if this is to be your first vehicle.
- You may find having a 'sportier' model can increase your insurance premiums.

If it's within your budget, some manufacturer's offer 'Just add fuel' style packages on new/nearly new where insurance/tax/service/MOT is included and some of the deals are quite attractive.