Best small engine car 1.0-1.4

Crann na Beatha

This post has been deleted.

delthedriver

Aquila wrote: »

Heres a question whats the best small engine car that is cheap to tax and insure,easy to maintain,delivers a decent MPG for small to average commute roughly 40 km per day and also a run around.
Answers on a postcard please:pac:

Ford Focus 1.4 Petrol

Eoin

Is there much motorway type driving involved with that commute? A 1.0 might not be the best choice for that.

Off the top of my head, I'd say a FIAT Panda might be a good option.

delthedriver wrote: »

Ford Focus 1.4 Petrol

Has it improved since the earlier days? Because the earlier ones were a bit like the 1.4 Golf - overpriced for what you get, and a pretty sluggish engine.

166man

Toyota Aygo or Skoda Fabia 1.2(TSI)?

I wouldn't go for a Focus 1.4 anyway...

Outkast_IRE

Eoin wrote: »

Is there much motorway type driving involved with that commute? A 1.0 might not be the best choice for that.

Off the top of my head, I'd say a FIAT Panda might be a good option.



Has it improved since the earlier days? Because the earlier ones were a bit like the 1.4 Golf - overpriced for what you get, and a pretty sluggish engine.

The new focus with the 1.4 engine is a car which is too heavy for that size engine you will find yourself pressing the accelerator a lot more and burning more petrol, the old mk1 focus was light enough to have a 1.4 engine.

If considering the focus i would be looking at 1.6

Eoin

Outkast_IRE wrote: »

The new focus with the 1.4 engine is a car which is too heavy for that size engine you will find yourself pressing the accelerator a lot more and burning more petrol, the old mk1 focus was light enough to have a 1.4 engine.

The original one wasn't great as it was!

Diar

ford Fiesta 1.4
its too small for a Focus

goz83

Octavia (motorway reliable)

Astra (as above, but very plastic)

Brava (light, cheap, will not have to fix it again tomorrow until 1st nct is gone)

ltdslipdiff

I'd go with a 1.33 Civic

Outkast_IRE

Eoin wrote: »

The original one wasn't great as it was!

Ah i own a 2001 1.4 focus for the last 4 1/2 years , never put a foot wrong besides from needing to get a coil pack.

Dont get me wrong a small bit more power would be nice, but i have never been caught out overtaking or anything etc. And shes light enough on the petrol as long as you dont have a heavy foot

Crann na Beatha

This post has been deleted.

Eoin

Outkast_IRE wrote: »

Ah i own a 2001 1.4 focus for the last 4 1/2 years , never put a foot wrong besides from needing to get a coil pack.

Dont get me wrong a small bit more power would be nice, but i have never been caught out overtaking or anything etc. And shes light enough on the petrol as long as you dont have a heavy foot

Sorry, I didn't mean it was a bad car - just that it's a little sluggish. And as the focus tends to have quite strong residuals, it might not offer the best value for money.

delthedriver

Eoin wrote: »

Sorry, I didn't mean it was a bad car - just that it's a little sluggish. And as the focus tends to have quite strong residuals, it might not offer the best value for money.

Very few car have strong residual values. Worth having a look on the websites and see what fits your budget, draw up a short list of cars you like and revert.

Crann na Beatha

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colm_mcm

Panda 100hp

Hyundai i30 1.4

scamalert

colm_mcm wrote: »

Panda 100hp

Hyundai i30 1.4

agree if can afford,but why waste 7k on a car with a blender motor in it specially the likes of aygo or mazda2 where you would get killed instantly in a car crash and stuck in plastic box?Theres plenty of corollas or hondas going for half the cash or less and plenty of life in them, or add few grand and buy brand new clio if you're after the number plates

kirving

scamalert wrote: »

agree if can afford,but why waste 7k on a car with a blender motor in it specially the likes of aygo or mazda2 where you would get killed instantly in a car crash and stuck in plastic box?Theres plenty of corollas or hondas going for half the cash or less and plenty of life in them, or add few grand and buy brand new clio if you're after the number plates

A 100hp Panda is hardly a blender motor. A Mazda 2 is a 5 star car too. Results will be skewed somewhat depending on what you hit, but not bad for a small car.

geneyuss

delthedriver wrote: »

Ford Focus 1.4 Petrol

a complete ball of dirt, probably the most troublesome car of its class out there, my sister had one and it would be easier for me to list what didnt go wrong with it
stick with the Yaris or the Micra op if its a cheap, reliable runabout you're after, no need to go as high as 1.4 for what you need either, 20-30 km per day on a motorway ( would it be even 20 minutes ?? ) is nothing to any of these cars, and contrary to popular belief , if you do crash at 75mph, it wont matter what you are driving tbh

Leonard Hofstadter

Fiesta 1.25 or Mazda 2 1.25, almost as powerful as the 1.4 (which only has 5 bhp more), lively for the engine size, great to drive, comfortable, economical and reliable. What more do you want:)?

Try and get one with ABS though - not all are fitted with it (the Mazda didn't get it until 2005).

haribos

Toyota Auris without a doubt, you could pick a 1.4 petrol for your budget and desired year no problem, spend either a little more or go for a year older and you could get the 1.4 D4D Auris, this is diesel, extremely economical to run, miser on juice, long service intervals, decreased revs of a diesel engine also make them more reliable, plus they come nicely fitted out and don't look too bad either!

Toyota Auris 1.4D4D all the Way:D

colm_mcm

haribos wrote: »

Toyota Auris without a doubt

:eek:

Leonard Hofstadter

haribos wrote: »

Toyota Auris without a doubt, you could pick a 1.4 petrol for your budget and desired year no problem, spend either a little more or go for a year older and you could get the 1.4 D4D Auris, this is diesel, extremely economical to run, miser on juice, long service intervals, decreased revs of a diesel engine also make them more reliable, plus they come nicely fitted out and don't look too bad either!

Toyota Auris 1.4D4D all the Way:D

There is so much wrong with this post it's hard to know where to start.

Chuck Stone

Some thing like this Mazda 2

€156 Road Tax

Over 50 MPG

"The Mazda 2 holds onto its value better than most other small cars." (Parkers.co.uk)

JJJJNR

SEAT Ibiza is a very nice car for the money, 1.4 100bhp here.

haribos

captainspeed wrote: »

There is so much wrong with this post it's hard to know where to start.

I stand by it:D

Most people only want reliability, and a cheap car to run, both of which you get with the auris, any fault that can be found is only by overly critical motoring journalist who will try to convince people is has poor ride or handling. In reality most of the public hop in a car, check the interior size, size of boot, tax and insurance cost, and check up on the perceived reliability and servicing costs and intervals. Auris is a good big solid reliably, economical car.
I don't even drive one I swear

geneyuss

captainspeed wrote: »

There is so much wrong with this post it's hard to know where to start.

i cant see what either, care to elaborate ??

haribos

geneyuss wrote: »

i cant see what either, care to elaborate ??

Waiting for a complaint about Diesel engines I suspect

colm_mcm

The auris is below par in a number of areas, hence the disbelief

The_Honeybadger

I put 100,000 km on a 2005 lancer 1.3 which I bought with 90,000km the clock. Apart from the standard service and a timing belt it never saw the garage, fuel economy is okish 35 mpg plus, and they can be picked up for peanuts. It's certainly not an exciting car to drive and is underpowered especially for overtaking but i found it to be a decent a to b car with great reliability. Only sold it because I needed something bigger.

The much nicer 1.5 model from 2008 on should be within your budget

haribos

colm_mcm wrote: »

The auris is below par in a number of areas, hence the disbelief

Would you consider elaborating? Perhaps state the main area it is below power:)
In no way am i trying to bait an all out car fight here !!

geneyuss

colm_mcm wrote: »

The auris is below par in a number of areas, hence the disbelief

its an ideal car for the ops requirements, care to explain to us why you think it is not, in any area? :cool:

Its quiet a nice looking car, has a range of engines to choose from,roomy, has all mod cons , reliable, cheap tax and insurance (depending on the driver) , and best of all,, Its a Toyota. What more could you ask for ?,,,for E7500

veetwin

http://www.carzone.ie/search/Fiat/500/1.2-LOUN/23113418343826640/advert?channel=CARS&featuredListingClickThru=true


If you're considering a Panda how bout the 500? Much nicer than a Focus if you don't need any space. And definitely superior to an Auris or indeed any other poxy Toyota!

haribos

veetwin wrote: »

http://www.carzone.ie/search/Fiat/500/1.2-LOUN/23113418343826640/advert?channel=CARS&featuredListingClickThru=true


If you're considering a Panda how bout the 500? Much nicer than a Focus if you don't need any space. And definitely superior to an Auris or indeed any other poxy Toyota!

Amazing how the time change, People these day actually recommending FIAT's and putting down TOYOTA's !!! :rolleyes:

colm_mcm

haribos wrote: »

Would you consider elaborating? Perhaps state the main area it is below power:)
In no way am i trying to bait an all out car fight here !!

You're grand!

I know these cars better than most, my main gripes would be:

Engine, nothing particularly wrong with the 1.4 petrol, it was great in the older corolla, but the auris is too heavy for it, the exhaust is very very noisy on these, 1.4 diesel 5 speed is dead as a dodo

Gearbox; gear change is very vague and obstructive, it's clunky, you can hear the gearbox linkages moving from 20 feet away,

Interior; dreadful finish, rattly and cheapo seat fabrics

Equipment; there are better equipped little tikes cars than an auris terra, even the Luna models are relatively sparse considering the competition

Styling; meh

Driving; bleh

haribos

Just go out and buy a 2003 -2004 Alfa Romeo 147 for 1500euro, sure there Italian and mad reliable:)

geneyuss

veetwin wrote: »

http://www.carzone.ie/search/Fiat/500/1.2-LOUN/23113418343826640/advert?channel=CARS&featuredListingClickThru=true


If you're considering a Panda how bout the 500? Much nicer than a Focus if you don't need any space. And definitely superior to an Auris or indeed any other poxy Toyota!

a fiats superior to a Toyota ?

I think sales figures between the two for the last 20 years could tell a different story
http://http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/3215775

i'd buy this anyday before THAT !

haribos

Colm, My point is everything you have mentioned the common motorist does not care
about. Gearbox, exhaust, driving.........Meh
Size, Reliability, Running cost's...........Yeah

colm_mcm

So you reckon the auris is reliable and economical? More so than its piers?

For example I reckon a Hyundai i30 would beat an auris on almost any metric

geneyuss

colm_mcm wrote: »

You're grand!

I know these cars better than most, my main gripes would be:

Engine, nothing particularly wrong with the 1.4 petrol, it was great in the older corolla, but the auris is too heavy for it, the exhaust is very very noisy on these, 1.4 diesel 5 speed is dead as a dodo

Gearbox; gear change is very vague and obstructive, it's clunky, you can hear the gearbox linkages moving from 20 feet away,

Interior; dreadful finish, rattly and cheapo seat fabrics

Equipment; there are better equipped little tikes cars than an auris terra, even the Luna models are relatively sparse considering the competition

Styling; meh

Driving; bleh

well,, the cons on your Fiat are to long to list if these are your grips on buying a used car.
you watch way to much Top Gear

colm_mcm

Yes. I go purely on Top Gear.

I've never actually bought or sold fiats or toyotas or Hyundai's, never opened the bonnet of a car actually.

geneyuss

colm_mcm wrote: »

So you reckon the auris is reliable and economical? More so than its piers?

For example I reckon a Hyundai i30 would beat an auris on almost any metric

more reliable than the fiat im saying, probably not as economical, for the obvious reason, its a bigger car

yes the Hyundai i30 is a nice looking car,, but not really around long enough to judge yet,,,unless i compare them to past Hyundai's,(as im judging the Auris) in that instance, my opinion on them wouldn't be favourable .

haribos

colm_mcm wrote: »

So you reckon the auris is reliable and economical? More so than its piers?

Yes i would say it is up there, I could never look past a VW Golf if i was looking for a small car but they are very expensive.... Toyota's are boring there is no doubt, but they tick all the important boxes, yeah my Girlfriend has a 1.4 diesel and it gets far better mpg to my car, had it 3 years and its never been to a garage, all it needs is simple things like services and brakes etc, things you could go at yourself.

MuppetCheck

geneyuss wrote: »

well,, the cons on your Fiat are to long to list if these are your grips on buying a used car.
you watch way to much Top Gear

What exactly are the gripes with modern fiats?

MuppetCheck

geneyuss wrote: »

more reliable than the fiat im saying, probably not as economical, for the obvious reason, its a bigger car

yes the Hyundai i30 is a nice looking car,, but not really around long enough to judge yet,,,unless i compare them to past Hyundai's,(as im judging the Auris) in that instance, my opinion on them wouldn't be favourable .

They are around 4 years and there are no horror stories. It's sister car the Kia Ceed is available almost six years and the same applies to that.

colm_mcm

geneyuss wrote: »

yes the Hyundai i30 is a nice looking car,, but not really around long enough to judge yet,,,unless i compare them to past Hyundai's,(as im judging the Auris) in that instance, my opinion on them wouldn't be favourable .

a lot of people judge current models on their predecessors, which in both cases here clouds things.
Doesn't bother me though, let other people pay a premium for humdrum cars.


i30 is out since 07, the ceed since the end of 06. Most are still inside manufacturers warranty.

geneyuss

colm_mcm wrote: »

Yes. I go purely on Top Gear.

I've never actually bought or sold fiats or toyotas or Hyundai's, never opened the bonnet of a car actually.

ha,,, i detect sarcasm :P , well either ways, ive seen many a fiat and hyundais with there bonnets up.
i just dont think the Auris, or any Toyota is "poxy"

haribos

colm_mcm wrote: »

So you reckon the auris is reliable and economical? More so than its piers?

For example I reckon a Hyundai i30 would beat an auris on almost any metric

To be honest i did not think of the i30, yeah its a great car, i drove a 1.6 before, found it extremely jumpy, very loud interior noise, and to be honest a little rattly, but extremely reliable yeah,
I would definitely test drive both.......

haribos

colm_mcm wrote: »

a lot of people judge current models on their predecessors, which in both cases here clouds things.
Doesn't bother me though, let other people pay a premium for humdrum cars.


i30 is out since 07, the ceed since the end of 06. Most are still inside manufacturers warranty.

Never judge on a predecessor, Had a carina E,absolute tank of a thing.....sold it for a 2ltr Avensis.......Oh god pure and utter hassle

colm_mcm

haribos wrote: »

To be honest i did not think of the i30, yeah its a great car, i drove a 1.6 before, found it extremely jumpy, very loud interior noise, and to be honest a little rattly, but extremely reliable yeah,
I would definitely test drive both.......

Dunno much about the 1.6 petrol, drove the 1.4 petrol quite a lot and it's quite quiet, we have a 1.6 crdi in the family, and even on the factory 17 inch wheels it's rattle free even on bad roads. Engine is lovely and quiet when on the move too.

I come from a real Toyota family, we had every generation corolla from the k20 up to the e100 mid 90s model. Then they started to lose their way a bit so we defected to mazdas.
Where I lived, every neighbour bar one (who was through and through ford) had at least one Toyota, now just one Toyota left, replaced by Hyundai, Mazda, skoda, Mitsubishi (ford guy still has ford)

geneyuss

MuppetCheck wrote: »

What exactly are the gripes with modern fiats?

the 500 in particular looks like a childs toy, according to some reviews it feels cheap, clunky and badly made, a mini cooper would be a way better buy if that's your kinda car,

i would suggest the Skoda Fabia as a possibility to the OP also

haribos

To be honest i cant get excited about any of these cars, they're all fairly boring in my opinion.....small family cars or hot hatches whatever they're called these days are all in and around the same... Nothing amazing has come out in years, bought a Vw Scirocco there in 2010, think its still maybe the best looking hatch back, but too expensive