More recent version of a 2005 Toyota Yaris Verso mini MPV

Grandad99

This car has been perfect for our limited lifestyle - purely local trips and easy upright loading for my
wife's folded rollator.

We are now taking a semi invalid friend out several times a week and her folded rollator also fits in the boot. 

 Having to now use one of the rear seats we have found a major problem. A feature of the car is the ability to fold the rear seats right down to give an extended flat boot space.  This is achieved by making the seats very lightweight, skimpy and uncomfortable. Not ideal for someone with constant back pain on our current roads. Time for a replacement.

With a budget of £5000 I need to identify  something similar.  Only consideration is that it fits in the garage - at 3860x1690 the Yaris is a tight fit, Can take another 100cm on the length but nothing more on the width.

Suggestions for a suitable replacement will be very welcome

fatbelly

I think we're going to struggle. My first thought was a Skoda Roomster, but just checked and it's 4200 x 1900

1690 is very narrow for modern cars.

Fiat Panda old model? Not sure it will be more comfortable though.

Mildly_Miffed

fatbelly said:

Fiat Panda old model? Not sure it will be more comfortable though.

We had a "modern" Panda, the 2005-11 model. The subsequent one is just a facelift.

The rear seats are absolute bare minimum. With a tall driver, rear legroom is non-existent.

Again, I very much doubt there's anything that fits that bill and garage. Is it REALLY only suitable for such an unusually narrow car?

daveyjp

A mid 2010s Honda Jazz is 1694mm wide. 

fatbelly

daveyjp said:

A mid 2010s Honda Jazz is 1694mm wide. 

Can you get one with powerfold mirrors?

fatbelly

Rare as hen's teeth but fits the size

Daihatsu Materia

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202504291837735

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Mildly_Miffed said:

Again, I very much doubt there's anything that fits that bill and garage. Is it REALLY only suitable for such an unusually narrow car?

Garages built in the 1960s would have been designed for typical cars of the time, like the Austin 1100, which was 1534mm wide.

The biggest car we ever drove into ours (we've got larger, but they have to be pushed in and out) was a Rover P6 at 1680mm wide, and getting out involved forcing the door against a foam pad fixed to the wall and squeezing out.

Modern cars are simply huge compared to the cars back then, which is the OPs problem.

I used to have an e11 Nissan Note, which was a very popular motability car and 1690mm wide, it's replacement, a Citroen C4 is 2032mm wide! (and if you can squeeze it into a parking space you can't open the doors.)

Have a look at an e11 Note, they were made up until 2013. (very reliable, but do suffer from water leaks, make sure the interior doesn't smell damp)

The replacement e12 isn't as good.

fatbelly

If the only problem is the rear seat comfort, it might be cheaper and easier to talk to a car upholsterer and see what they can do

They can do some amazing creations. Might make an interesting job for them

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fatbelly said:

If the only problem is the rear seat comfort, it might be cheaper and easier to talk to a car upholsterer and see what they can do

You might be able to get some supplementary cushions, Putnams produce a range of cushions to alleviate various condititions. (very expensive for what they are, but if you consider how long they last, and the relief that they provide, I suppose they are worth it- I'm down to less than 1p a mile with mine now)

 

I sit on one of their eggshell foam cushions in the Suzuki- it makes the rock hard seat more comfortable, and also takes the worst of the shock out of driving on the rutted, pot-holed cart tracks that  pass as "roads" nowadays.

https://putnams.co.uk/collections/backcare  no doubt there are other suppliers.

Okell

Grandad99 said:

... Only consideration is that it fits in the garage - at 3860x1690 the Yaris is a tight fit, Can take another 100cm on the length but nothing more on the width...

Does it really have to fit into the garage?  Can't it be parked elsewhere?

Arunmor

How far are you driving?  I'm thinking more of the devil you know than anything else.