Fiat 500 v's Kia Picanto

fallen_angel_69

I'm thinking of buying a new car as I now have to drive to a couple places for work a week .I normally walk . The journeys I'd make would be one at 45 miles and one at 22 miles both on A roads .
I've seen a Fiat 500 that I like also a Kia Picanto I'm wondering which is best
They are both a 1.2 auto engine . I drive auto's due to knee problems so I don't have to use my bad leg so much .
They are similar money have similar mileage on them . The picante is 4 doors and the 5oo has only 2 doors . Most of the time there's only me in the car or just me and my daughter I do occasionally carry another passenger that seems to be every 6 weeks or so . The picante costs £110 year tax the fiat £30 a year They are with £30 of each other to insure
I'd like some advice on which is the best to drive what's the most ecomical to run and which is likely to give me the least amount of problems . I've only been driving a while and this will be my 2nd car to buy . The only help my dad has come up with is which one do you like best . To that it's I like the 500 for retro look and the picanto for having 4 doors .

Strider590

Well the Fiat is quite "trendy", people say it's reliable, but then people lie about iPhone/iPad as well (because they're trendy), it's amazing the lengths people go to when defending fashionable consumer goods.

The Picanto seems to be well rated, but it's boring and your going to be treated like an elderly driver, with people overtaking in silly places just in case you are one.

fallen_angel_69

That's the thing with the Fiat it's trendy but even though I like the look I wouldn't want it if it's no good . I'd never have a I-phone just because every one else has one . I need inexpensive to run practical reliable . A good all round getting A to B
I've been overtaken going uphill by a car towing a great big caravan when I had some crappy hire car so I think I've done the embarrassing driving situation . I do try to stick to speed limits but will admit to driving at 80 on the A46 back from Warwick . So I don't want it to sound like I'm running the !!!! out of my car which is what my corsa is starting to sound like

daveyjp

Picanto has a proper reliable automatic gearbox, hence the higher tax. It also has a 7 year warranty as long as you service it correctly.

The Fiat has an automated manual which will cost far more than the tax you save to fix when it fails so should be avoided.

worried_jim

I believe the Kia will have a nicer and more reliable auto box so this would win it for me.

Alice_Holt

Some reviews here:
http://www.whatcar.com/fiat/500/hatchback/used-review/
http://www.whatcar.com/kia/picanto/hatchback/used-review/ or (post 2012) http://www.whatcar.com/kia/picanto/hatchback/review/
http://www.honestjohn.co.uk/carbycar/fiat/500-2007/
http://www.honestjohn.co.uk/carbycar/kia/picanto-2011/
http://www.carbuyer.co.uk/reviews/fiat/500/hatchback/review?quick_review_selector%5Bmake%5D=0&op=find
http://www.carbuyer.co.uk/reviews/kia/picanto/hatchback/review

As others have said the auto box in the Kia is preferable to the auto box in the 500.
This is an article on the best small autos:
http://www.honestjohn.co.uk/topten/top-10-automatic-city-cars/?image=2

david_a

Similar price and mileage but are they similar age. I would expect the Kia to be newer

iolanthe07

My wife has an automatic 2014 Picanto and it is very reliable with a 7 year warranty that she's not needed so far. It also has extras you would not normally expect on such a low price car, such as power folding mirrors and bluetooth. The Fiat auto box is an electro/mechanical semi auto that is jerky and unpleasant to drive, imho. The Picanto has a traditional torque converter which is smooth and trouble free, but does use a bit more fuel and thus emit more CO2, hence the higher VED. Having said that, the Fiat is definitely more trendy. It depends what is important to you.

facade

Did they ever fix the problem with fiat 500s not going up hills?
It was a "major problem" on Watchdog a while ago, then nothing, same as Vauxhalls setting on fire was a "major problem" last year, but nothing now.

The fiat 500 is "trendy" and people want one, so they sell for more than they are really worth as a vehicle, like MINIs, so you will get a lot more car for your money with a Kia.

peter_the_piper

facade wrote: »

Did they ever fix the problem with fiat 500s not going up hills?
.

I think they must have done as I've never seen queues at the bottom of hills.:rotfl:

Herzlos

peter_the_piper wrote: »

I think they must have done as I've never seen queues at the bottom of hills.:rotfl:

The owners probablly learned pretty quickly to avoid hills.

I'd go with the Kia.