Definitely a good idea to have a look at the Swift and SX4.
My wife bought her 1.5 Swift 10 years ago, has put 80k on it and all it has needed other than servicing was a clutch last year at £300.
I like it so much I bought a 2011 SX4 which is just a little bit bigger. My SX4 cost less than £3.5k with service history and 53k on the clock, I bought it last year so the prices are probably similar.
Very small. Toyota Aygo Kian picanto. Hyundai i10.
Small. Toyota Yaris. honda Jazz. Suzuki Swift. Mazda 2.
Warm Hatch - Suzuki Swift Sport.
Hot hatch, a knackered civic type R or a ragged Fiesta ST.
Electric Nissan Leaf. Renault Zoe.
I had a Mazda 2 for years.
You could argue it's underpowered but that's not an issue for most drivers.
Comfortable up front, v.realiable, great economy, entry level trim is relatively high.
I currently have a 73 plate mazda 2 as a courtesy car. Perfectly good economical car, as the other commenter said its a little underpowered, but otherwise good.
I've got a first gen Mazda 2. Currently having the gearbox replaced as a lower milage second hand one was £60 on eBay. I haven't found a reason to bin the poor dying thing yet 😂
Aygos/107/C1 is like having a car but with motorcycle running costs. Cousin had one for nearly 10 years and while they are small they are pretty comfy and honestly not awful to drive.
I second this suggestion.
Cheap to insure and maintain as well. Go for the 1.0 petrol.
Just watch out for corrosion around the rear of the sills that's what kills these.
4k sees you in a decent new shape one of any of these variants, I have a knackered 08 plate one, bought it for next to nothing and it’s going above 150,000 miles as of yesterday. Great fun to drive if you want to give it some down a B road, newer ones are a lot less toy like inside. Rust is probably the only thing to get these cars.
Lots to pick from with that budget. Boring but reliable would be a Toyota Yaris, Honda Jazz, Kia Picanto, Skoda Fabia. If you want something a bit more fun then a Mini Cooper is a good choice but don’t get the ‘one’ engine
Mini might fall down a bit in the reliability area but they're great cars. My mum had a Cooper D for years and it never gave her any trouble, but they aren't the most reliable in their class and they're relatively expensive to fix.
My first car was a 2001 Mini Cooper which was constantly broken, but it was cheap and had lived a rough life so I can't complain too much.
Daughter has a Swift 1.0 Boosterjet 2017, bought at 11 months old. Has done 75,000 hard miles & is faultless. 55mpg & a decent turn of speed. With a 7K budget I can't see much else coming close.
Toyota Aygo, or Yaris if she needs a bit more room or has to transport 4 people in comfort. Aygo and MINIs are cramped in the back but will carry 4 people.
Sensible advice is a Toyota Aygo/Yaris/Auris, as long as you avoid the horrendous AMT transmissions (Multimode/Multidrive/X-Shift) they should typically give you no trouble (so stick with manual, or go for a CVT if you need auto - though this might stretch your budget a bit). I used to own an Auris - it wasn't great at motorway speeds, but was punchy enough for town driving and reasonably economical over long journeys. One of my friends drives an Aygo and he says going on the motorway "feels like someone's shooting a cowboy film under the bonnet" - make of that what you will.
Could also look into a Honda Jazz, awful looking cars and a fairly high-risk target for catalytic converter theft but otherwise very reliable and more fun to drive than a Toyota - plus they're surprisingly spacious inside (I'm 6ft2-3 and can almost sit up straight in the back seats).
However, personally I'd probably go with a Mazda 2 or 3 - still extremely reliable vehicles, but they look better and will be the most fun to drive of the aforementioned. Plus they're pretty anonymous vehicles, so the theft risk will be low. Just avoid the diesel Skyactive engines.
If you want a left-field suggestion: Volvo V40. If you get a D3 engine or up and avoid the Powershift transmission it'll be about as reliable as cars get, plus has tons of safety tech for peace of mind and the insurance costs are surprisingly low. And, of course, it will be by far the nicest for long journeys. Manual models should definitely be within budget here, might be a stretch for the Geartronic box though!
It’s the perfect car imo, relatively cheap insurance, engine is a piss take to work on; only thing simpler is a likkle tikes car. 1.6L bp engine or even 1.8L bp engine means you’re always having fun at top revs without having to break the law and the handling is great. They even have a racing series for them. Loads of mods out there for them, perfect for getting in to wrenching. Only shitty thing is ulez, which has killed any chance of being a true car enthusiast near or around London.
I’m selling a little low mileage (only 66k) 5 door fiesta 2015 if she’s looking. Under her budget too. Cheap to tax and insure and drives great. 1.25 Zetec
My dad has a Yaris diesel (2015 ish). £0 tax, he drives it like a cunt and still gets 50-60mpg. The thing runs on fresh air. The little turbo makes it feel fast as fuck. Handles motorway driving really well for a small car, surprisingly stable especially compared to the older Yaris and in that respect drives like a big car. Think he’s had it 5 years or so now and as far as I can remember it’s not had a single mechanical fault.
Gets serviced every year which is really important for a modern diesel and that’s about it. I’m not 100% sure but I think he’s replaced the front pads once and that’s it. Car is currently on 110k miles ish and everything is still tight and feels new. Great little motor.
Renault Clio 0.9 Tce
Corsa the 2016-2019 model is ok inside compared to other cars at the same level. Also has CarPlay/Android Auto. The 1.4 n/a engine is pretty robust albeit gutless.
Suzuki Swift, as mentioned by others.
Avoid the 1.0 Ford EcoBoom engine.
A Suzuki swift would be good, BUT, they seem to cost a lot to tax (I’m guessing due to the high-revving engine, but idk). A Yaris would be a good one in my opinion.
An F56 Mini Cooper (that’s 2014- onwards) the 3rd Gens with the B38/48 engines are bulletproof and you could get a decent one with alright spec for that price.
Bought my Skoda Octavia five years ago for £1200 at 197K miles. Still going at 223K. Maybe spent around £400/yr on avg. Honestly, she's a road legal skip, but my best car yet.
If your budget is 7k I would try to get a car that’s around £5-6k as you have a buffer for+ insurance + any emergency work needed ifs something faulty in the next year
As someone said the c1 / 107 / aygo are cheap cars and uses the same parts so any fixes will be relatively cheap for them.
Some older Clio's (2002 etc) are a very low insurance and tax group, and parts are all over the place new and second hand. You also won't be short of enthusiasts.
VW Polo 1.2tsi from around 2015.
£30 a year tax, cheap insurance, nice and easy to drive around town, and nice on the motorway too for long journeys. Also pretty fuel efficient with over 50+mpg on the motorway easily achievable.
As an added bonus you can also fit a fairly reasonable amount in the back, especially with the seats down and there are loads of VAG specialists everywhere you can take it to for any work needed.
You can have my Hyundai Veloster Turbo, can't say it's the most reliable bit of engineering but it's loaded with features. The non-turbo option might fit the bill though.
Just some important advice. Do not get a car under 80hp. They are dangerous to drive. Roundabouts and slip roads onto motorways are a nightmare and there is no power to escape from dangerous situations. All this leads to slow reactions and huge risks.
Nobody will tell you this. But it is especially true for some women as they are nervous/hesitant drivers in the first place. Stay away from the tinny 1.0 litres. They are a road hazard.
The problem starts when people don't use the power of their small engines properly. On the average slip road you need to floor it in 1st gear then floor it in 2nd, jump to 4/5th and you're at about 65, similar gearing for roundabout entry. Too many drivers try to be too gentle on their engine and that's actually what causes the dangerous situation.
I drive something that is 8tonne and 59BHP, I don’t have many issues with slip roads (for a roads not motorways) and pulling out on islands is fine, I think dangerous is a slight over reaction. 27mph top speed is a killer though.
I previously had an Aygo 68hp, Citroen C1 68hp and a Yaris 68hp.
The Aygo you had to take a big risk going out of busy roundabouts. You had to wait ages for a big gap because it does not move. On slip roads, if didn't have enough power to safely get in front if there was a driver not letting you in freely. In fact, I also see the same scenario happen to other low powered cars on the motorway when I'm driving. On motorways, it's very difficult to overtake and they start shaking at 70mph. Not to mention if you're behind a tractor or cyclist on an A-road. As you cannot overtake, prepare to stay behind for the next 10 minutes.
Having a car with 90/100 horsepower, the difference is night and day. There is zero reason for giving yourself a handicap on the road especially when these 1.0 litre trolleys have no necessarily better fuel or reliability.
The only reason they are good is for specific new drivers who live in high-risk areas that can't get insurance otherwise. 68hp does not belong on modern day roads.
Did you have manual or automatic? I never had any issues on my manual Aygo that you describe. As in my other comment, flooring it in 1st/2nd gear will get you onto the roundabout in even the smallest gaps. Same with overtaking and the likes, drop down 2/3 gears, never had issues. The engine has a top speed of 95mph or so iirc.
Start shaking at 70mph? Think there's been problems with your aygo. Mine was perfectly capable on a motorway, just a little loud.
As others have said, with slip roads and overtaking etc... You just need to know how to use them, keep the revs above 3k and they don't accelerate any slower than most people on the road.
I don't disagree but having been a passenger in these situations most of the problems are people driving their cars like they would on the street while on a slip road, changing to 3rd gear at 30mph etc. If you floor it in the lower gears you can get up to speed in time. You're completely right about HP though and more is always better if you can afford it, i've got out of sticky situations merging many times when i can just fly up the slip road and join ahead of lorries etc.
As far as I am aware it was a diesel and it was a problem with the engine. I didn’t really understand, a mutual friend was supporting her with this and he is far more knowledgeable and assertive than me but he couldn’t resolve the problem. It cost her a lot of money she couldn’t really afford.
Well what about a suzuki swift? They are pretty bulletproof. A relative has put 100k on theirs and it's cost them nothing aside servicing.
Yep good shout thanks
Definitely a good idea to have a look at the Swift and SX4. My wife bought her 1.5 Swift 10 years ago, has put 80k on it and all it has needed other than servicing was a clutch last year at £300. I like it so much I bought a 2011 SX4 which is just a little bit bigger. My SX4 cost less than £3.5k with service history and 53k on the clock, I bought it last year so the prices are probably similar.
Very small. Toyota Aygo Kian picanto. Hyundai i10. Small. Toyota Yaris. honda Jazz. Suzuki Swift. Mazda 2. Warm Hatch - Suzuki Swift Sport. Hot hatch, a knackered civic type R or a ragged Fiesta ST. Electric Nissan Leaf. Renault Zoe.
Regular spec petrol Civics are fun too. Not hot hatch territory by any means but you can swing them around roads without hassle.
I had a Mazda 2 for years. You could argue it's underpowered but that's not an issue for most drivers. Comfortable up front, v.realiable, great economy, entry level trim is relatively high.
Thanks, great feedback.
I currently have a 73 plate mazda 2 as a courtesy car. Perfectly good economical car, as the other commenter said its a little underpowered, but otherwise good.
I've got a first gen Mazda 2. Currently having the gearbox replaced as a lower milage second hand one was £60 on eBay. I haven't found a reason to bin the poor dying thing yet 😂
Aygos/107/C1 is like having a car but with motorcycle running costs. Cousin had one for nearly 10 years and while they are small they are pretty comfy and honestly not awful to drive.
Good one thanks
I second this suggestion. Cheap to insure and maintain as well. Go for the 1.0 petrol. Just watch out for corrosion around the rear of the sills that's what kills these.
4k sees you in a decent new shape one of any of these variants, I have a knackered 08 plate one, bought it for next to nothing and it’s going above 150,000 miles as of yesterday. Great fun to drive if you want to give it some down a B road, newer ones are a lot less toy like inside. Rust is probably the only thing to get these cars.
Lots to pick from with that budget. Boring but reliable would be a Toyota Yaris, Honda Jazz, Kia Picanto, Skoda Fabia. If you want something a bit more fun then a Mini Cooper is a good choice but don’t get the ‘one’ engine
Mini might fall down a bit in the reliability area but they're great cars. My mum had a Cooper D for years and it never gave her any trouble, but they aren't the most reliable in their class and they're relatively expensive to fix. My first car was a 2001 Mini Cooper which was constantly broken, but it was cheap and had lived a rough life so I can't complain too much.
7k should get you into a third gen or F56 with the more reliable BMW 1.5 engine, so it’s a good option
Great advice, thank you.
Daughter has a Swift 1.0 Boosterjet 2017, bought at 11 months old. Has done 75,000 hard miles & is faultless. 55mpg & a decent turn of speed. With a 7K budget I can't see much else coming close.
These seem a popular and great choice from the feedback. Thank you.
If you're going for the new spec get the 1.0l engine not the 1.2l. The 1l is far more spritely and offers plenty of poke for a car that size.
Toyota Aygo, or Yaris if she needs a bit more room or has to transport 4 people in comfort. Aygo and MINIs are cramped in the back but will carry 4 people.
A Suzuki Swift?
Fabia , Leon , Rio , i30 , Yaris , Mazda 2, Jazz.
Sensible advice is a Toyota Aygo/Yaris/Auris, as long as you avoid the horrendous AMT transmissions (Multimode/Multidrive/X-Shift) they should typically give you no trouble (so stick with manual, or go for a CVT if you need auto - though this might stretch your budget a bit). I used to own an Auris - it wasn't great at motorway speeds, but was punchy enough for town driving and reasonably economical over long journeys. One of my friends drives an Aygo and he says going on the motorway "feels like someone's shooting a cowboy film under the bonnet" - make of that what you will. Could also look into a Honda Jazz, awful looking cars and a fairly high-risk target for catalytic converter theft but otherwise very reliable and more fun to drive than a Toyota - plus they're surprisingly spacious inside (I'm 6ft2-3 and can almost sit up straight in the back seats). However, personally I'd probably go with a Mazda 2 or 3 - still extremely reliable vehicles, but they look better and will be the most fun to drive of the aforementioned. Plus they're pretty anonymous vehicles, so the theft risk will be low. Just avoid the diesel Skyactive engines. If you want a left-field suggestion: Volvo V40. If you get a D3 engine or up and avoid the Powershift transmission it'll be about as reliable as cars get, plus has tons of safety tech for peace of mind and the insurance costs are surprisingly low. And, of course, it will be by far the nicest for long journeys. Manual models should definitely be within budget here, might be a stretch for the Geartronic box though!
Don't have to mention the sound system that no other manufacturers make as good (unless you upgrade).
Not gonna lie, I'm not enough of an audiophile to be able to tell the difference. But the sound system in my V60 is stock and it slaps.
Same in my old S40, not even equipped with the premium sound option and it slaps.
Thank you
Great advice, thank you.
Prius TSpirit. I hear it's bulletproof and can go over 300k miles and not give any issues.
Thank you
Hooooooooonda
I will always recommend a MINI One or a VW Polo as they are usually in that range at a decent age.
2nd gen mx5
Rust rust rust rust rust, oh yeah and then a little more rust too. But I love the MK1 and 2
It’s the perfect car imo, relatively cheap insurance, engine is a piss take to work on; only thing simpler is a likkle tikes car. 1.6L bp engine or even 1.8L bp engine means you’re always having fun at top revs without having to break the law and the handling is great. They even have a racing series for them. Loads of mods out there for them, perfect for getting in to wrenching. Only shitty thing is ulez, which has killed any chance of being a true car enthusiast near or around London.
I know they're a perfect car, I've only had 3 Mk1s and 4 Mk2s (and a Mk4, but we'll pretend that never happened)
I’m selling a little low mileage (only 66k) 5 door fiesta 2015 if she’s looking. Under her budget too. Cheap to tax and insure and drives great. 1.25 Zetec
My dad has a Yaris diesel (2015 ish). £0 tax, he drives it like a cunt and still gets 50-60mpg. The thing runs on fresh air. The little turbo makes it feel fast as fuck. Handles motorway driving really well for a small car, surprisingly stable especially compared to the older Yaris and in that respect drives like a big car. Think he’s had it 5 years or so now and as far as I can remember it’s not had a single mechanical fault. Gets serviced every year which is really important for a modern diesel and that’s about it. I’m not 100% sure but I think he’s replaced the front pads once and that’s it. Car is currently on 110k miles ish and everything is still tight and feels new. Great little motor.
Renault Clio 0.9 Tce Corsa the 2016-2019 model is ok inside compared to other cars at the same level. Also has CarPlay/Android Auto. The 1.4 n/a engine is pretty robust albeit gutless. Suzuki Swift, as mentioned by others. Avoid the 1.0 Ford EcoBoom engine.
A Suzuki swift would be good, BUT, they seem to cost a lot to tax (I’m guessing due to the high-revving engine, but idk). A Yaris would be a good one in my opinion.
Check out the Ignis as well as the Swift, right little charmer.
Can definitely recommend the Up!/Citigo/Mii, especially if you get a 74hp version
An F56 Mini Cooper (that’s 2014- onwards) the 3rd Gens with the B38/48 engines are bulletproof and you could get a decent one with alright spec for that price.
Jazz, yaris or a swift. Can't go wrong with any of them.
Bought my Skoda Octavia five years ago for £1200 at 197K miles. Still going at 223K. Maybe spent around £400/yr on avg. Honestly, she's a road legal skip, but my best car yet.
If your budget is 7k I would try to get a car that’s around £5-6k as you have a buffer for+ insurance + any emergency work needed ifs something faulty in the next year As someone said the c1 / 107 / aygo are cheap cars and uses the same parts so any fixes will be relatively cheap for them.
Some older Clio's (2002 etc) are a very low insurance and tax group, and parts are all over the place new and second hand. You also won't be short of enthusiasts.
VW Polo 1.2tsi from around 2015. £30 a year tax, cheap insurance, nice and easy to drive around town, and nice on the motorway too for long journeys. Also pretty fuel efficient with over 50+mpg on the motorway easily achievable. As an added bonus you can also fit a fairly reasonable amount in the back, especially with the seats down and there are loads of VAG specialists everywhere you can take it to for any work needed.
Can you stretch to a Nissan leaf. If you can charge at home the savings can be significant
Peugeot 208
I bought a Seat Toledo in Jan this year for £7k. Love it.
You can have my Hyundai Veloster Turbo, can't say it's the most reliable bit of engineering but it's loaded with features. The non-turbo option might fit the bill though.
Get a SEAT Ibiza or VW polo or Skoda fabia.they are basically same car underneath.very reliable and service are cheap.great to drive.
Try Toyota IQ
Toyota Aygo MK2 I've got one for sale 2019 with 17k miles FSH 7k !
Mazda 2 is a great car, bit bigger than the swift. Mines been great 14 years now, just about to hit 100k and no issues
Just some important advice. Do not get a car under 80hp. They are dangerous to drive. Roundabouts and slip roads onto motorways are a nightmare and there is no power to escape from dangerous situations. All this leads to slow reactions and huge risks. Nobody will tell you this. But it is especially true for some women as they are nervous/hesitant drivers in the first place. Stay away from the tinny 1.0 litres. They are a road hazard.
Saying they're dangerous to drive is an exaggeration. I've driven a 68HP Aygo, never had issues on entering roundabouts or slip roads.
Exactly, the power to weight ratio of an Aygo is plenty. A heavy car might need 80, but most people don’t need such a car.
The problem starts when people don't use the power of their small engines properly. On the average slip road you need to floor it in 1st gear then floor it in 2nd, jump to 4/5th and you're at about 65, similar gearing for roundabout entry. Too many drivers try to be too gentle on their engine and that's actually what causes the dangerous situation.
I drive something that is 8tonne and 59BHP, I don’t have many issues with slip roads (for a roads not motorways) and pulling out on islands is fine, I think dangerous is a slight over reaction. 27mph top speed is a killer though.
I previously had an Aygo 68hp, Citroen C1 68hp and a Yaris 68hp. The Aygo you had to take a big risk going out of busy roundabouts. You had to wait ages for a big gap because it does not move. On slip roads, if didn't have enough power to safely get in front if there was a driver not letting you in freely. In fact, I also see the same scenario happen to other low powered cars on the motorway when I'm driving. On motorways, it's very difficult to overtake and they start shaking at 70mph. Not to mention if you're behind a tractor or cyclist on an A-road. As you cannot overtake, prepare to stay behind for the next 10 minutes. Having a car with 90/100 horsepower, the difference is night and day. There is zero reason for giving yourself a handicap on the road especially when these 1.0 litre trolleys have no necessarily better fuel or reliability. The only reason they are good is for specific new drivers who live in high-risk areas that can't get insurance otherwise. 68hp does not belong on modern day roads.
Did you have manual or automatic? I never had any issues on my manual Aygo that you describe. As in my other comment, flooring it in 1st/2nd gear will get you onto the roundabout in even the smallest gaps. Same with overtaking and the likes, drop down 2/3 gears, never had issues. The engine has a top speed of 95mph or so iirc.
Start shaking at 70mph? Think there's been problems with your aygo. Mine was perfectly capable on a motorway, just a little loud. As others have said, with slip roads and overtaking etc... You just need to know how to use them, keep the revs above 3k and they don't accelerate any slower than most people on the road.
I don't disagree but having been a passenger in these situations most of the problems are people driving their cars like they would on the street while on a slip road, changing to 3rd gear at 30mph etc. If you floor it in the lower gears you can get up to speed in time. You're completely right about HP though and more is always better if you can afford it, i've got out of sticky situations merging many times when i can just fly up the slip road and join ahead of lorries etc.
Wouldn’t touch a Suzuki Swift with a barge pole. A friend had one after taking this advice and it ended up unrepairable.
Exceptions to the rule exist, it's still a top choice for a reliable if boring car. I'd take a Yaris/Jazz first but it's a good option.
That sounds like bad news, can you elaborate on what the issue was? Thanks.
As far as I am aware it was a diesel and it was a problem with the engine. I didn’t really understand, a mutual friend was supporting her with this and he is far more knowledgeable and assertive than me but he couldn’t resolve the problem. It cost her a lot of money she couldn’t really afford.
Thank you, stay away from the diesel then.
She may have just been very unlucky. However, I would never buy a diesel anyway.