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New, small, fun car - any suggestions

(102 Posts)
kittylester Tue 07-May-19 08:31:36

DH has always enjoyed driving a small, nippy, City-type car and I have the bigger 'family' car. He had a Toyota IQ which he loved and I didn't mind driving at occasionally.

His last car needed replacing at around the time he retired and, as he had started doing volunteer driving, we went for a Yaris. This car is now known as the 'Mistake' and languishes at home while we fight about who drives 'my' car.

Can anyone suggest a smallish car that is fun to drive.

We have looked at Smart cars, vw Up, Peugeot 108 Top and various other cars.

missdeke Tue 07-May-19 10:39:45

I'm on my second Suzuki Alto, I don't think they are making that one any more, mine is 14 years old!! But the new small Suzukis like the Swift or Ignis look great.

Craftycat Tue 07-May-19 10:40:23

I'm on my 3rd Honda Jazz. I Love it!
It has so many 'extras' & you can get so much into it due to the clever seat configuration. Downsize of that is that DH uses it for trips to the dump!
It has reversing cameras which makes parking a doddle & proximity warning lights, built in Satnav on a big screen, hands free phone,& will connect my spotify on phone to loud speakers so I can play my own music if radio is boring & a clever device that warns you if you are going over the white line- which I understand is mainly for motorway driving in case you drop off & start to drift. I cannot see how anyone can 'drop off' on a motor way but maybe if you have driven for hours.
It is a lot bigger inside than it looks from outside so can take 4 passengers easily (or 3 child seats in back & one if in front.
I lease them for 3 years & then switch to a new one which works well for me as they do all the maintenance free.

Havemercy Tue 07-May-19 10:40:44

The UP gets my vote - nippy and good-looking! But get the five door not the three like I did.

goldengirl Tue 07-May-19 10:43:08

I like my Citroen C1. It can park where todays gi-normous wagons can't. It sounds a bit rustic but I can get in and out of it easily and it doesn't drink gallons of petrol.

humptydumpty Tue 07-May-19 10:47:01

Love my Fiat Panda

nightswimmer Tue 07-May-19 10:50:33

Mini Cooper/Cooper S, lots of models to choose from.

Nvella Tue 07-May-19 10:57:08

I recently switched to an automatic and have a Honda Jazz. I like a lot of it but find it very sluggish when coming off roundabouts, overtaking etc. Previously had a manual Hyundai which was very nippy but didn’t have all the fun gadgets of the Honda

nettyandmasey Tue 07-May-19 10:57:17

I had a Peugeot 107 is a great little car . Needed to get an automatic so longer have it but would thoroughly recommend it

NotSpaghetti Tue 07-May-19 11:01:04

Another vote for the Audi A3 (convertible if possible). Big enough without being huge. Nice drive.
The Seat Leon I rented on holiday recently was pretty good too.

NotSpaghetti Tue 07-May-19 11:05:19

Then there's always the TT coupe...
?

Helen2806 Tue 07-May-19 11:09:32

MX5 we have had ours for 11 years. Greta fun and so reliable.

Caro6699 Tue 07-May-19 11:11:04

Mini Cooper. I bought one last year and I love it.
It’s big enough to fit grandchildren in and the boot is deceptively spacious for a food shop and stuff for a day out.
Nippy and fun to drive

annifrance Tue 07-May-19 11:18:37

When I moved here I needed a small car in these narrow roads (the French take no prisoners). I bought a 5 door big engine Renault Clio. It was WONDERFUL.

I love my cars like my horses, small and nippy. It holds the road, gets up to 140kph, amazing in snow and ice, brilliant on fuel. With five doors no problems getting in and out, or big loads and dogs.

It happily replaced my much loved Volvo 480 sports of some years ago. Sadly the Clio died last year and I am in deep mourning.

RedRidingHood Tue 07-May-19 11:23:54

After a lifetime of sensible cars I've just bought a mini. It's fun to drive and looks eye-catching.
My last car was a Suzuki swift which I absolutely loved but I wanted a bit more oomph.

granjan15 Tue 07-May-19 11:32:38

I love my 5 door VW Up! Goes really well on motorway drives and is a doddle to park.

Nonnie Tue 07-May-19 11:50:34

No idea, know nothing about cars and no interest, just a tool for me to get where I need to go. You may wonder why I bothered to comment - it is because I think all the very small cars are cute and better styled than bigger cars. No idea what any of them are like to drive. By the time we get round to buying another car they will all have changed again!

I can understand why you need advice if you are not a 'motor head'

loopyloo Tue 07-May-19 11:50:45

A Nissan leaf? All electric?

dani4 Tue 07-May-19 11:58:18

Honda Jazz here too, love it, but might not be small enough.

Shirls52000 Tue 07-May-19 12:01:42

How about a Mini or a Honda Jazz. My dad who is 87 loves his Honda Jazz. I have a Ford Focus at the minute but will be looking to change it next year for a hybrid of some sort trying to be more environmentally friendly. Why not look at Seat, they have some nice small eco friendly cars ?

HildaW Tue 07-May-19 12:08:29

Word of warning about Minis.....they are great fun but was given a lift in one a few months ago and they really are low to get into and out of after our car (Jazz). It was ok for one trip but if you are a bit tall or have a dodgy back I'd be careful. Can remember when my back went years ago...classic slipped disc .... I was so grateful that our then car was a bit higher than the average....was so much easier to get into when back was fragile.

Framilode Tue 07-May-19 12:09:50

I'm also interested in what you didn't like about the Yaris as I am considering buying one. I had one years ago that I loved.

ClaraB Tue 07-May-19 12:16:03

I am on my fourth Mini, have had two Ones and now two Coopers and I love them. It's nippy and fun to drive and comes in all sizes and variations. My husband who has just given up a company car also loves driving the Mini. Now that the Mini is our main car we are planning a few Mini adventures, it's surprising what you can pack into one! Good luck with your search.

FlexibleFriend Tue 07-May-19 12:16:18

I drive a big 4x4 but when a bus hit me I was loaned a Vauxhall Mokka and loved it. I still had the high driving position and it was extremely nippy. I'd certainly give one serious consideration if I'm ever prised out of mine.

win Tue 07-May-19 12:18:28

I love my Corsa automatic, with heated seats and stirring wheel. Lovely for a bad back. It is very nippy and parks well.

SuzyLou Tue 07-May-19 12:28:44

I’ve never posted before but had to on this topic.
A Honda Jazz is the car you are looking for. I spent time over Christmas looking for my new Motability car. Nothings else was quite right so I ordered my sixth Jazz.

The Jazz has space in the boot for my wheelchair and the magic back seats fold up to create floor space. You’ll always have plenty of room for suitcases. The car isn’t so high that you can’t reach to clear the snow from it. The car isn’t so wide that you can’t reach across your windscreen to scrape the ice off.
My new car has built in satnav which I haven’t really used yet. It has Bluetooth which is only useful for me when I call home to see if I should bring milk in on my way home from work.

Most importantly for me, the Honda Jazz still comes with a CD player.