Help me choose a car

[Gymmum82]

I need a new car quite urgently but I have no idea what to get. Any help deciding or reviews on what is good and what to avoid would be helpful.
Options are Clio, fabia, MG3, Rio, Corsa.

Which would you pick?

I'd go for either the kia or skoda for reliability. Are you buying new or used?

I couldn't get a clio without my internal voice narrating "Nicole! Papa!" Every time I got in it.

It’ll be used. Around 4-5 years old

KIA for sure. Very reliable.

Citroen C3 would be a reliable little work horse. We’ve had four in a row and no trouble with any of them, in fact, we kept our first for our son to learn in and gave it him when he passed - it’s 16 years old and still going strong, never cost us anything other than routine servicing and scheduled parts replacement. Just bought a brand new one and love it. Surprisingly spacious for a small car.

I’d stay away from renault and MG for reliability issues

It depends really on what you'll be using it for and what is most important to you.

Kias are the most reliable but imo boring to drive (which isn't an issue for many I know!). Vauxhall has a bad rep but I loved my Corsa, it was super reliable, cheap to run and comfortable to drive- not overly big though so if taking passengers a lot and need boot space maybe one to avoid!

I'd try and make an appointment at a garage and have them show some options, get a feel for them in person.

The Kia or the Skoda are better built cars and more reliable, important if it will be second hand.

I had a MG as a hire car and it was awful. Underpowered and interior felt plasticky and cheap.

I have a Hyundai I10. You need to have a look at them in person and test drive. That decided things for me. Mine was 7 years old but very low mileage.

DS bought himself a Corsa as his first car. It’s ancient and basic but has never let him down. I’ve driven it a few times and it feels pretty solid. He’s had it 4 years and apart from new tyres and a new battery, he’s only paid out for servicing and MOTs.

What makes a car boring to drive?
Do some people prefer a car where the accelerator & brake pedals keep changing positions…. Just to keep you alert?
Sorry…. Ive been drinking!

Fabia all the way - cheap insurance, cheap to run, big boot space for a small car and never let me down. Like pp have said, depends what's important to you for a car.

I’m honestly not fussy when it comes to cars which is probably why I can’t make a decision. I just want something affordable and reliable. Currently have a Vauxhall which hasn’t been the best and have had fords previously but have never had anything else

If you've needed 4 in 16 years that suggests they don't last?

Would you choose a car that had the spec that you wanted over something you thought was more reliable?
DH thinks I should get something with apple CarPlay, electric windows front and back and parking sensors (which is what I have already in my current car) and anything less is settling for a lesser car.

The fabia has wind down back windows and apparently they do not come with electric windows in the budget and year we can afford so he’s saying we should choose the corsa or the Clio because they have everything on the wish list

I think you can buy parking sensors separately. I do like electric windows personally, would it be a deal breaker? Probably not.

Honestly I find when you get down to the finer details you need to go and sit in the car and test drive it, as the feel of it will really determine what you go for, if it's between 2-3 that are all within budget.

Haha, we’re a 3 car family!