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First car: Yaris, Picanto, or Peugeot 208
Hello all,
I'm looking to buy my first petrol manual car under £4K and have been doing some comparisons among Toyota Yaris 2011-2014, Kia Picanto 2011-2015, and Peugeot 208 2012-2015.
I've always been told that Yaris is a no-brainer go-to option, with cheap road tax and good mpg. I totally agree with that having driven it when I was practising for my practical test. It's to me a perfect little car and I felt safe in it.
However, I've also been told to branch out to look at Kia Picanto and Peugeot 208 as well.
My online research so far suggests that Kia Picanto is more or less similar to Toyota Yaris, though Yaris might have a bigger boot; whereas Peugeot 208 seems to be the most comfortable choice among the three, if I'm talking about using the 5-door car to run errands and perhaps go on the motorway only a couple of times max a month to visit family and friends.
The thing that bothers me now is that a number of online sources suggest that Peugeot is notorious for their "flaky quality and poor reliability" (does this mean not safe?!) and some forumites have also raised concerns regarding their infotainment system so I'm a bit hesitant and am thinking of just keep searching for a used Yaris or Picanto instead.
Am I making any sense, please? I'm hopeless when it comes to getting to know a car inside out but I'm trying my best to do as much as research as I can before I buy my first car. Any opinions/suggestions are welcomed. Thanks in advance and stay warm!
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Comments
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There are a lot of Yaris fans on these boards.
It's about finding a sound example of whatever you decide on.
The Yaris got an update in 2011. If you're mostly doing short journeys I'd avoid the diesel engine.1 -
Picanto is smaller than a Yaris, 208 slightly larger. 208 probably better for motorway, Picanto not so. For reliability Yaris every time, wouldn't touch a Peugeot at that age (we had aToyota Aygo with a lot of Peugeot parts as it was joint project with Pug and Citroen, it was the Pug parts - electrics mainly - which failed).
We now have a 6 year old Yaris 1.5 about 36k miles, 2nd car, school runs etc and it drives the same today as when we picked it up at 12 months old. Its had new brake pads and a set of four tyres. No other problems whatsoever. Daughter is currently learning to drive in it and she prefers it to her instructors Fiesta.Just avoid the 1.0 engine in the Yaris, go for the 1.33 (possibly 1.5 as it did change in about 2014, hybrid was always 1.5). More power, no worse mpg,1 -
fatbelly said:There are a lot of Yaris fans on these boards.
It's about finding a sound example of whatever you decide on.
The Yaris got an update in 2011. If you're mostly doing short journeys I'd avoid the diesel engine.
Hi fatbelly: Yes, Yaris does have a big fan base. I'll definitely go for petrol. Thanks a lot!
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daveyjp said:Picanto is smaller than a Yaris, 208 slightly larger. 208 probably better for motorway, Picanto not so. For reliability Yaris every time, wouldn't touch a Peugeot at that age (we had aToyota Aygo with a lot of Peugeot parts as it was joint project with Pug and Citroen, it was the Pug parts - electrics mainly - which failed).
We now have a 6 year old Yaris 1.5 about 36k miles, 2nd car, school runs etc and it drives the same today as when we picked it up at 12 months old. Its had new brake pads and a set of four tyres. No other problems whatsoever. Daughter is currently learning to drive in it and she prefers it to her instructors Fiesta.Just avoid the 1.0 engine in the Yaris, go for the 1.33 (possibly 1.5 as it did change in about 2014, hybrid was always 1.5). More power, no worse mpg,
Hi daveyjp: Thanks a lot! Yaris does seem to be a dream car. It's good to know they indeed are very reliable. Thanks also for your engine suggestion – I'll certainly pay attention to that.
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If it's only you and a front seat passenger don't rule out the Toyota Aygo, however avoid the MMT gearbox, go for a manual.1
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We've got a 2012 Yaris 1.33 as a second car owned from 2 yrs old. Its been brilliant and extremely cost effective. I've kept it well maintained but it's needed very little else.
They have a big enough boot for most things which a lot of smaller cars don't.
Our other car is large but when we won't need that in a few years I'll be looking to get a new Yaris as our main car1 -
tamworthy said:Hello all,I'm looking to buy my first petrol manual car under £4K and have been doing some comparisons among Toyota Yaris 2011-2014, Kia Picanto 2011-2015, and Peugeot 208 2012-2015.I've always been told that Yaris is a no-brainer go-to option, with cheap road tax and good mpg. I totally agree with that having driven it when I was practising for my practical test. It's to me a perfect little car and I felt safe in it.However, I've also been told to branch out to look at Kia Picanto and Peugeot 208 as well.My online research so far suggests that Kia Picanto is more or less similar to Toyota Yaris, though Yaris might have a bigger boot; whereas Peugeot 208 seems to be the most comfortable choice among the three, if I'm talking about using the 5-door car to run errands and perhaps go on the motorway only a couple of times max a month to visit family and friends.The thing that bothers me now is that a number of online sources suggest that Peugeot is notorious for their "flaky quality and poor reliability" (does this mean not safe?!) and some forumites have also raised concerns regarding their infotainment system so I'm a bit hesitant and am thinking of just keep searching for a used Yaris or Picanto instead.Am I making any sense, please? I'm hopeless when it comes to getting to know a car inside out but I'm trying my best to do as much as research as I can before I buy my first car. Any opinions/suggestions are welcomed. Thanks in advance and stay warm!
However the fuel efficiency is terrible, especially if you are making short journeys.
Mine is a very thirsty car!1 -
..Yaris all the way....
.."It's everybody's fault but mine...."1 -
Ayr_Rage said:If it's only you and a front seat passenger don't rule out the Toyota Aygo,
The 1L 3 cylinder engine's a bit lumpy at tickover, but that disappears once you're in and moving.
No cambelt to change. Economical. £0 road tax. Servicing and parts are cheap as chips.
I'm a big fan.2 -
I can tell Yaris is indeed really popularAygo is a bit too small for me but that's good to know! I'm pretty sure I'll abondon the Peugeot 208 idea, especially when it's not that fuel efficient.Thanks, Ayr_Rage, bluelad1927, Bazzalona13295, Stubod & Barkin!1
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