An economical, reliable second car ?

Parkhall

Our car is going to be in the garage getting fixed for several days and we really need to buy a second car to tide us over on such occasions.

So recommendations please for a small, reliable, second hand car which would be cheapish re. tax and insurance. Fuel consumption not important as it would not be used very much.

Thanks.

DE_612183

Toyota Aygo - https://www.whatcar.com/news/reliability-survey-most-reliable-small-cars/n26142

daveyjp

As above.  Toyota or Suzuki.

Ayr_Rage

I second the Aygo recommendation, manual version.

The MMT (automated manual) can be a right old dog with clutch and calibration issues.

Check the boot/tailgate for water ingress, delve deep into the boot!

Herzlos

It's going to be much, much cheaper, to just rent a car for the few days a year you need it. 

Aretnap

Herzlos said:

It's going to be much, much cheaper, to just rent a car for the few days a year you need it. 

Or use a garage that will provide a courtesy car.

Herzlos

If you can then courtesy car is the way to go. But they tend to be in more expensive franchised garages and there's usually a longer waiting list for them because there's significantly fewer courtesy cars than workshop capacity. 

paul_c123

What is "several days"? 

If you're buying retail and selling privately, there will be a massive "cost to change". If buying and selling privately, then not so much, except for the changing of the insurance, taxing, delivery, collection etc.

Savvy_Sue

When we reduced from two cars to one, we worked out that the costs of running a car over a year would definitely cover taxis when one car needed to be in two places. As it happens we very rarely use a taxi. 

We also down-sized car, on the principle that when we needed to fit three hulking teenage boys and luggage in the car with both of us then it would make more sense to hire one for a week than to run such a beast all year round. We did once fit all three in the Toyota, with sleeping bags, weekend bags, and multiple Easter eggs each on the way home, and it was a 'never again' moment. Hiring a 7 seater for a week+ over Christmas wasn't cheap, but worth it. 

We have a local, independent car hire business which is where we usually go, better prices than the nationals. However, some of the nationals will deliver the car to your home, and pick it up afterwards - that may be sufficiently advantageous to you. 

I have to ask though, if you think there are going to be multiple occasions when your current car will be in the garage, is it not time to change that car? 

Rosa_Damascena

Ayr_Rage said:

I second the Aygo recommendation, manual version.

The MMT (automated manual) can be a right old dog with clutch and calibration issues.

Check the boot/tailgate for water ingress, delve deep into the boot!

Not is sure about this, I have driven lots of different Toyotas (because I love them) but the Aygo - offered a a courtesy vehicle - is like a dodgem. It drives ok but you're not going to fee like the king of the road in it and you might find it hard stuffing the whole family in. But I have to agree that the fuel dial barely budged in the 10 days I had it.

If you do go down this route, just remeber the petrol latch is by the RHS of the driver seat.

mlz1413

I second the rental option.  Even if you buy a car with £20 tax, the insurance is likely to be over £200 and then you either have a 2nd car forever or you need to sell it again.
£220 of car hire could be 2 weeks or more of no hassle motoring