Quick question about second hand Kia Picanto

twopenny

Would be grateful for anyone who has a comment.

I really need a newer car, my Ford Fiesta is 24yrs old and although a goer insurance is getting iffy about it.

There's a Kia Picanto EcoDynamics for sale at a price I can afford. 33,000 miles, clean MOT.

You can switch the ED on or off I understand. Driving is rarely towns, never motorways, but steepest hills in England which I use weekly and small windy roads, slow and freequent pull overs, following cyclists and horses. I will be on major roads but rarely.

I've only had Ford Fiestas for the past 40yrs. Easy and cheap to fix.

Is there anything I ought to know or ask? Any major weaknesses? Parts more expensive or they are difficult to get?

Mildly_Miffed

There's absolutely no reason insurance would get "iffy" about a car just on the grounds of being 24 years old.

It might not fit the profile for EVERY insurer, but no car/driver/location ever will.

fatbelly

The Picanto is a pretty good buy, generally speaking. Long warranty from new, loved by older folk. It is smaller than your Fiesta but well packaged so in practice you might not notice less space.

Should save money on tax, insurance and fuel.

Could also consider Hyundai i10 and citigo/Mii/Up

twopenny

Thank you Fatbelly, it's 10yrs old so feels chunkier than my ancient but loved Fiesta. Doesn't have the boot room but I think I have to live with that for small cars these days.

I have been looking for  Hyundai i10 but hasn't cropped up, I think people hang on to them.

I live rurally and so many places have closed you have to persever to find stuff and this is the first I've seen.

Just a bit concerned that there's more to go wrong with all the gismos but that's life these days.

Goudy

Picanto's of this era 2011 to 2017 are generally pretty reliable.
Like all cars though they have the faults and foibles.

Listen out at start up and idle for engines scraping/rattling noises, timing chains have been know to wear.

Erratic idle is usually a fuel pump or fuel pressure regulator problem.
If you test drive it, when you get back from the drive and the engine is nice and warm,  sit there with your foot off the pedal and let it run on it's own (idle) for a minute or two.
Turn it off and restart it again and let it idle some more.  
The revs should be even and smooth and it should start easily when the engine is hot.

Make sure the handbrake holds on a hill and that they aren't noisy when driving, they can hum.
On certain models the rear brakes can gum up with grit, rust and brake dust and seize.
They don't weigh a lot and the brakes don't work as hard, so tend to get crusty by under use.

Check the steering doesn't creak and rattle.
Listen for creaks when pulling away when cold, the anti roll bar bushes can groan when worn.
If the steering wheel rattles over bumps in your hand, it could be the coupler on the steering column is worn (or the anti roll bar again).

Check under the front.
The engines sump gasket is prone to leaking.

fatbelly

Have a good look at the tyres. With low mileage, they may still have tread but be cracking with age.

The gizmos should all work! Spend a bit of time running through them.

twopenny

Wow brilliant thanks

yes the tyres are marked as cracking on the MOT. Just depends on how much.

I've sat in and had a rummage, brakes will get a good clear out around here - and I've asked for the brake pads to be checked and fixed if bought.

fatbelly

If that's a dealer they can get tyres at a lower price than you can. Worth a conversation.

CliveOfIndia

twopenny said:

my Ford Fiesta is 24yrs old and although a goer insurance is getting iffy about it.

In what way is the insurance company getting "iffy" ?  I've never heard of any insurance issues purely on the basis of age (unless you're wanting a specialist classic car or agreed value policy, though I'm guessing that's not the case here).

twopenny said:

I've only had Ford Fiestas for the past 40yrs. Easy and cheap to fix.

Potentially a good argument for keeping the car you've got.

Sure, 24 years is getting on a bit for a car, but if you've had it for quite a long time you presumably have a reasonable idea of whether it's on its last legs or not.  If it's still reliable and runs OK, with no major mechanical issues, there's an argument to say keeping hold of it is the most financially sensible option.

Yes, a newer car might give you slightly better fuel economy, and an older car might fall foul of the various Low Emission Zones that are springing up around the place.  But it's worth weighing up the costs of a new(er) car against the benefits of keeping yours on the road.

And particularly if you're looking at second-hand cars, rather than brand new - better the devil you know.

Just a thought.

twopenny

Aw tell me about it! This I bought at £300 with 40k miles to look for another car

It's got new battery, starter, alternator, fuel pump and part gear box. But the rear window heater doesn't work, the mirror doesn't adjust (but fine for me) and 3 times someone has knocked the wing mirrors so one is now glued on   And it squeeks in dry weather.

Nothing major and I love the way it nips round, brilliant viewing all round, can make room for others large vehicles and plenty of boot for garden waste etc. Doesn't matter if I scratch it doing the moors and lanes.

I just feel I'd like to have something where everything works and I don't have to worry about the next MOT or insurance. One of many things I'm dealing with at the mo. Major companies and they don't insure anything that old - despite, so far, no claims relating to it. And of course there's the 'street cred'

Would be happier if I knew how to sell the old dear. They are going for a bit at the mo.

Guess it will be all right either way.