Wee first car - alternatives to Suzuki Ignis?

WIAWSNB

Hi.

Daughter seemingly about to learn to drive. I've suggested mini-SUV style cars, ie high, upright seating, rather than wee, low-slung hatchback. 

I'm familiar with the Suzuki Ignis as I tried to persuade mil to go for one (but she went for a Renault Twingo instead, pfffft) and I think it's a wee cracker. 

What are the alternatives I should be looking at? 

Hyundai i10?

Toyota Aygo?

What's the Skoda option?

Or is the Ignis the best wee car in the wurld? 

noitsnotme

Toyota Aygo, Peugeot 107 and Citroen C1 are all basically the same thing.  All Toyota engines.

fatbelly

The current Ignis is a fine car and there's nothing exactly like it. I guess the Toyota Aygo or Aygo X might be closest

After that you are looking at city cars like the Up/Mii/Citigo or the C1/107 or Fiat 500 or Picanto/i10

facade

Hyundai i10? same as Kia Picanto

Toyota Aygo? same as Peugeot 108 & Citroen C1  DO NOT TOUCH THE 1.2 ENGINE, stick to 1.0 versions 

What's the Skoda option? Citigo or VW UP!

Also look at Fiat Panda or Ford KA (Same as the Fiat 500, but the Panda is much cheaper and the better car but less popular)

To reiterate DO NOT TOUCH A 1.2 Puretech engined car-  various Peugeots, Vauxhalls, Citroens.

Keep away from 1.0 litre Ecoboost Ford Fiestas, unless they have just had a new cam belt and have documented proof (when they fetch good money) 

Woodstok2000

Renault Twizy

badmemory

Is she going to be getting in & out, again & again, if so a reminder than even young backs can ache!

Myci85

My son had a Fiat panda as his first car, that was quite cheap insurance. I like the Suzuki alto too, I've a Suzuki myself and think they're great cars, though never tried the Alto.

WIAWSNB

Cheers.
It's not only for egress, bad memory, but visibility and sense of control. I had a loan Peugeot 208 when my C4 Picasso was being serviced - couldn't believe how low to the ground I was
Good list of alternatives, thanks.
The 1.2 is a wet belt, Facade?

daveyjp

Suzuki Swift.  Daughter has one as her first car, owned almost a year.  Apart from a new battery last week, for ten years old it's in great condition.  

Seeing your other post, whilst she learnt in a manual she wanted an auto for her busy commute so choice was limited.  A basic torque converter auto is ideal.

WIAWSNB

daveyjp said:

Suzuki Swift.  Daughter has one as her first car, owned almost a year.  Apart from a new battery last week, for ten years old it's in great condition.  

Seeing your other post, whilst she learnt in a manual she wanted an auto for her busy commute so choice was limited.  A basic torque converter auto is ideal.

Yes, the Swift is a nice car. Fractionally too big, possibly, as a firstie? 

facade

WIAWSNB said:

The 1.2 is a wet belt, Facade?

Yes, until around 2024, when both the wet belt and a chain version were available, but came in at different times in different models, presumably they had a stock of wet belt engines to use up (they would have been needed as spares though )

Like the 1.0 ecoboost, Stellantis have sold gazillions of them, and the number of failures is "only" in single digit percentages, which is still an enormous number of cars.

Changing the belt on a puretech is straightforward if expensive, but the problem is the belt prematurely sheds material which blocks the oil filter and pickup, and a lot of cars have been run with low oil pressure almost to the point of total seizure, then "fixed" when the oil light came on and "got rid" while they still run (with proof of a brand new belt). So even a new belt is no guarantee that the engine has a decent life expectancy. They are also known as chronic oil burners at relatively low mileage.

If you are a gambler, one could be ok if the price is low enough, if you are risk averse you steer well clear.