to want someone to just pick a car for me?

[PyongyangKipperbang]

I am getting a new (well, new to me) car in the next few weeks and it is frankly pissing me off. I have to get rid of the shed on wheels I am driving before it falls apart, it is costing a fortune to repair/run so I have no choice. However I have no fucking clue what I am replacing it with!

At one point I had 6 kids plus me and (then) DH so needed a big car, there was much less choice so the decision was easier. Now there is me and DC6 in the main, plus occasionally DC's 4&5 so I am looking at a small ish hatchback..But there are so fucking many!! And the extras.....FFS! I dont know what half of them even are....I mean what the actual fuck is "Anti Submarining Ramps on Seats"?! That is something I saw on an ad for Corsa iirc on Auto Trader! A/C and rear parking sensors are a must but after that.....no fucking idea!

I quite like the Fiat Punto but they are cheap.....suspiciously cheap iykwim, so I am wondering if there is something about them that other people know that I dont!

Any advice, recommendations, warnings etc would be gladly received!

A lot of love for the Jazz too.......are they not a super mini? I had it in my head that they were so discounted them.....off the research!

Go to the Honest John website, put in your choices and it will recommend a car for you! www.honestjohn.co.uk/chooser/?

Dacia.

Cheap and reliable.

Basically a Renault

To narrow down the autotrader results, filter by cash payment, local to you and dealer not private. That way you'll get at least 3 months warranty and peace of mind the car's been checked over and mot and service done recently.

Anything Honda/other Japanese. I've driven various, 'cooler' cars over the years....BMW, sporty mini, freelander, Audi. We had to change our car during lockdown 1 as our car properly broke. Bought a 6 year old Honda Civic estate, thinking it would do until things were normal again and we could go shopping for something 'cooler'. I bloody love it. It's so well made, solid, comfy, drives well. Never even hints at ever going wrong. We have no intention of changing it for a very long time. And when it does have to go, it will be replaced by another Honda, or anything else Japanese. It's the least problematic car we have ever owned, every other car we owned before had issues.

How about something like this Toyota Aygo.

www.cinch.co.uk/used-cars/toyota/aygo/details/e5f3bbe1-2c30-4dc2-ba25-19c6d2d386b6

The least problematic car I have ever had was the Toyota Previa so there may be something in the Japanese thing.......Maybe the Aygo? Although I always think of a Sean Bean responding to his wife saying she is leaving when I see the name as a friend of mine once said that to me and now I cant unsee/hear it!

Oooh X Post! Thank you!

I’m not a car person. They’re just a tool to me. so I understand your annoyance with choosing.

the only reason I reply is that you say Fiat’s a “suspiciously cheap”.

we were lucky enough to buy new punto through the scrappage scheme a few years ago. It was cheap, but fantastic. We had to trade it in the end (it was 10 Years old by then). But it was a sad day.

nothing seemed to go wrong with it and it was safe (which are the only things I care about really).

now have a Vauxhall- nothing but problems since we took it.

I know someone who knows about cars and they say Honda are the most reliable but quite boring. But, personally, I would love a boring car.

Have hired a Mercedes in past and would recommend them if comfort is your thing. But only had it for a fortnight so can’t say if it’s good or not.

sorry for the waffling reply. Just thinking of cars as I type.

Others had:

ford - nice, but need repairing often

daewoo - fantastic reliability, but interior shoddily made

another Vauxhall - blew up.

nissan - weak, but alright - bit of a tank really and took everything.

mazda - best by far. Nothing went wrong with it apart from windows and that was seen as special oddity and dealt with quickly.

I would still probably recommend fiat or mayb Mazda

I had a fiesta and loved it. Never had any problems and was a great, cheap run around for someone who knows nothing about cars. Now driving my husband's focus. Thought a ford focus was the epitome of a standard reliable family car. It's shit. Costs us a fortune in stuff breaking. It leaks so the inside is constantly wet and mouldy. The windows had a thick layer of ice on the inside this week. It's just rubbish. Do not recommend.

Some I would look at then:-

• Ford Kuga or EcoSport
• Skoda Octavia (hatch or estate)
• seat Leon or Ibiza
• Toyota Auris or Yaris hybrid
• VW Golf (but you would get more car for your money for the same car if you go for Seat or Skoda)

I would avoid:-

• diesels (you don't do enough mileage)
• Nissans (now completely shit)
• anything French (always been completely shit)
• fully electric (they're too expensive)

Fiats are cheap cars and not well built. Honda Jazzes are good cars but I wouldn't drive one if I was under 70.

With that budget my personal choice would probably be a seat Leon or ibiza. I work in the motor industry but this is just my personal opinion.

If you are anywhere near the proposed ULEZ extension zone, don’t forget to consider compliance in the car you choose. There will be a glut of cheap cars that can’t comply.

Fiat Punto’s (and most small FIAT’s)have a very poor NCAP rating and are generally shite.

I had the "joy" that is the Zafira B for a while, managed to buy it shortly before the whole debacle about the engines catching fire because the heating system was fucked. That is about my luck with cars.

If there is a car that is the epitome of reliable, safe, cheap to run and fun to drive, I will pick the ONE that is FUCKED. The one that was made at 5 pm on a Friday.

Anyone familiar with Good Omens? I am like Newton Pulsifer when it comes to cars, if the Wasabi existed then I would have bought one.....and now I come to think about it, computers! Currently typing on the second hand one I replaced 2 years ago with what turned out to be an asbolute pile of dog shit

I clearly cant be trusted!

My brand new Kia Sportage is far from uncool!

Ooh thought of another one- Kia Rio, Ceed or Picanto. Good value, reliable and 7 year warranty.

I am well under 70 and love the Honda jazz - it's the most spacious small car I've ever driven. Also had Hyundais and really liked them.
Fords are fairly cheap to fix (IME). Volvos are nice but expensive. I wouldn't touch Citroen, Renault, Vauxhall based on previous experience.

I would avoid:-

anything French (always been completely shit)

I disagree. I had one of these years ago and I wish I still had it.

Ford Kuga or EcoSport - not a fan of crossovers

Skoda Octavia (hatch or estate) - definite possibility

seat Leon or Ibiza - have a friend who bought one new 5 years ago and raves about it, so on the list

Toyota Auris or Yaris hybrid - looking into Toyotas now

VW Golf (but you would get more car for your money for the same car if you go for Seat or Skoda) - yeah, they are popular so less car for the same money

I would avoid:-

diesels (you don't do enough mileage) - agreed, only want petrol

Nissans (now completely shit) - noted

anything French (always been completely shit) - agree. Also have a "bad luck" thing as had a clio for a while and got pushed sideways around the (ironically) Toyota roundabout in S.Derbyshire in it by a lorry driver! Thats was a much fun as it sounds!

fully electric (they're too expensive) - agreed and also I dont think that they are "there" yet in terms of long term use etc.

Have you got one of these? Which engine?
I keep looking at them but because not well known it puts me off.

Ah you see you are narrowing it down already.

So I think you're looking at mid-range quality small to medium sized hatchback, petrol or hybrid. In that case I have a new list:-

Leon
Ibiza
Golf
Fiesta
Skoda Fabia
Octavia
Rio
Ceed
Volvo V40

The production of Ford Fiesta stopped recently - 2019?

Love my Dacia Sandero stepway, you couldn't get a new model for that price though and I don't know much about the older model.

I love my Fiat Punto. Cheap to buy, cheap to run and has sailed through all its Mots so far. It's 15 years old!

The Corsa before the current model, all the pluses of a fiesta with more space or so it seemed. The fiesta we had was claustrophobic for a tall family and the engine was inadequate.

Mine has the heated screens and mirrors, heated seats, air con and full apple play and we can get 5 adult sized people in it.

Kia - had a sportage for 4 years and LOVED IT!!