Please recommend a small car

**parkejm** · 22-02-2012, 11:16pm

There is a chance we will need to get a 2nd car for a 20 minute each way commute (15 mins on a good day, 30 on a really bad day). I have absolutely no idea what is out there and what is good.

Economy is the main thing for us - in terms of fuel efficiency/insurance/parking etc, inital costs and servicing costs.

In an ideal world we'd be able to fit 2 car seats in the back but as we will still have our current car that's not such a big deal.

As DH will be the main driver, he would like it be not too girly, perhaps even manly

So can any of you recommend a small, cheap to run, cheap to buy car that fits 2 car seats and is very manly?

We are very much

here for DH, a 40 min round trip is SO different to his current 5 1/2 hr daily commute.

**donna-j** · 22-02-2012, 11:22pm

We have a Polo and a CMax. The Polo is 9 years old and has been great, really great. However the CMax, while far bigger, is more fuel efficient and costs less to tax.

**parkejm** · 22-02-2012, 11:25pm

That's interesting DJ, I wonder how much of that is down to the age of the Polo

I meant to say that if we do get anything it will be a used car, definitely not new.

**Mrs B** · 22-02-2012, 11:26pm

Ooo, how exciting! We would look at a Japanese car, not the cheapest to buy but certainly cheap and reliable to run. Maybe a Honda Civic, Mazda 3, Nissan Almera, Ford Focus or Fiesta - all of these you could fit the child seats in the back. MrB has chosen a Skoda Fabia or a Seat Ibiza for you!

**donna-j** · 22-02-2012, 11:29pm

I think cars have just got more economical. But as OH does about 120 miles a day we looked for the most economical but bigger car we could afford. I think it gets about 65mpg. It was a real bargain at the time, 1.5 years old and about 8k. They seems to have got more expensive.

**WoollyNewty** · 22-02-2012, 11:29pm

I have this and I LOVE LOVE LOVE it!!

http://www.toyota.co.uk/cgi-bin/toyo...FaQmtAodqUm_Og

Mine isn't a brand new one - it's about 2 or 3 years old (don't even know the reg

).

I did the whole 'need a bigger car as have a family thing' and it did my head in! I had a Ford C-Max - good reliable car with loads of space but it ATE petrol and was a lot to Tax etc etc.

So I let ex have it when we split with the deal that he bought me a new car (because I owned the other one) and we got the Toyota. I wanted a Polo (I LOVED my Polo) but VWs are so much more expensive. I mean Polo do the Blue Motion one which does about a million miles to the gallon and I'd love a new Polo but that's just not in the budget!! They are lovely though.

Anyway onto my 'not quite a Polo'......

There is plenty of room for both boys in the back - it's not like a Smart car or the really really 'mini' Toyoto (Icoo or something like that?) where the back seats are almost not there.

My petrol bill has MORE than halved and it's only £20 a year to tax.

We got it with 0% finance so he pays £100 a month on it - and that just pays it off.

The safety rating is very good.

Servicing is cheaper.

It came with a full service just done, year's MOT, years breakdown etc etc.

It's really nippy - I worried it wouldn't do well on the motorway and stuff but it's been great! It's really fun to drive - like having my teenage years car back!

The boot is very small (obviously!) but why would I drive round with a huge great boot when I no longer have prams, don't have a dog and don't play golf!? You can still get a supermarket shop in it.

Basically - I'm happy

**donna-j** · 22-02-2012, 11:36pm

Originally Posted by WoollyNewty

I had a Ford C-Max - good reliable car with loads of space but it ATE petrol and was a lot to Tax etc etc.

Ours is dead efficient and only £90 to tax.

I do like your Toyota though. I have always fancied a Yaris but they have got really expensive.

**parkejm** · 22-02-2012, 11:59pm

Woolly I think you mean a Toyota IQ, the Icoo is a pram! I don't think he'd be very impressed if I suggested one of those!

I think I need to work out all the tax bands etc but I like the sound of more than halving the fuel bills

ANd it does sound like you really love yours.

Thank you for these, I shall keep investigating casually so that if the time comes I can be all knowledgeable!

I like that Mr B has chosen a couple for us

Now if he could just buy it and deliver it that would be great

**WoollyNewty** · 23-02-2012, 12:02am

Yeah Donna the Yaris was too dear.

Your CMax must be newer - mine never did more than 35 mph and it was crucifying me! And that was doing all the things you're meant to do to save fuel. My tax was over a hundred quid too - which means the engine wasn't as efficient.

**Teresa** · 23-02-2012, 07:21am

I have a Toyota Yaris and its lovely. We bought it new two years ago. Its really cheap to insure and tax is £30 a year. DH is driving it to work now and I've got his Vectra as there is more room in that for the pram. The Yaris has a decent size boot and you can easily get two car seats in the back.