What small car for €8,000 could replace my MINI?
Hi, I am driving an 08 MINI Cooper 1.6D that is a work lease car. I want to buy a small car for less than €8,000 - ideally a 1.1 or so that I don't feel the drop too much! I do very low mileage - 5,000km per year - but want something that could manage a motorway journey or two a year ok. What would you recommend? I have been looking at something 08 or newer: Hyundai i10, Toyota Yaris; old model Fiesta/Polo - any other ideas?
Suzie Perry (Dublin)May 2012 Filed under: choosing used car
Expert answer
Hi Suzie,
Others to consider include the Citroen C3 and Fiat 500, Mazda2, Nissan Micra, Opel Corsa, Peugeot 207, SEAT Ibiza, Skoda Fabia and Suzuki Swift. They're all good small cars. Given your low mileage you're definitely better off with a petrol model.
I assume you know that you could afford slightly larger cars in the Ford Focus class as well with that budget, but that you don't want one that big? They'd be far more comfortable on the motorway.
With all that in mind, and sticking to your small car demand, we reckon one of the three Volkswagen Group cars makes the most sense - that's the Skoda Fabia, SEAT Ibiza or the Polo. If you'd like help narrowing down your search further come back to us.
Which diesel for €10,000 or less?
I am changing my car. I fancy a diesel 1.3 or 1.4-litre and I have €10,000 to spend, maybe a little more. Any ideas? I am scrapping a car under the scheme.
Yvonne Hogan (Dublin)
May 2010 Filed under: scrappage
Expert answer
Hi there,
There are very few small diesel cars available under the scrappage scheme that match your budget, but there are quite a few small petrol models that run the diesels close in terms of fuel economy.
You could have the Fiat 500 for €9,995 under the scheme, which although it is petrol, is Band A, with just €102 per year road tax.
You could have a Fiat Grande Punto, a much larger car, for €9,995 or, if you really wanted a diesel one you could have that for €12,495.
The Ford Ka, a similar car to the 500, would cost just €7,995 under the scheme, with the even better Fiesta costing €11,700, but again these are petrol models.
Similarly, the Renault Clio is a smashing little car and a petrol one will cost you just €8,990 under the scheme, but a diesel one will cost you €12,200.
The Hyundai i10, a five-door model, is also worth a look. The 1.2-litre, 78bhp petrol i10 is a good little car and comes with a choice of manual or automatic transmissions. Hyundai will add a further €2,000 to the Government's €1,500 discount, so the i10 effectively starts at €8,495.
Our advice is that you forget about a diesel under scrappage unless you are prepared to up your budget.
Out of that lot, I'd take a strong look at the Fiesta, or if you must stick to €10,000, perhaps the Ford Ka or the Fiat 500.