Please pick me a car!

[CarsClueless]

I know this isn't AIBU I'm sorry!

I really need help picking a car. I don't have any friends who know much about cars and my dad and uncle who knew their stuff both died a few years ago, I'm getting overwhelmed with internet searching.

I currently drive a Ford Fiesta and it's on its last legs.

I'd like a similar size car (no bigger) that's reliable, economical, good for country lanes and occasional low floods (lane occasionally floods at the bottom, I live on a steep hill).

Enough room for x2 medium dog crates in the back - if I need to fold down back seats that's fine.

Help!!

I know you said not bigger. But we used to have a hyundai Santa fe and really liked it. Would be good with dogs too.

Thank you! Too big a car for me sadly :(

I love my mini. It's fantastic for country roads and copes well with flooding. Mine has been incredibly reliable despite its age and mileage. Not sure if it would be too small for the dog crates though.

https://www.motorpoint.co.uk/best/top-ford-fiesta-alternatives

All the people i have known with a Vauxhall Astra speak highly of it's durability. They are a proper work horse. DH has one, I have a 308- my Peugeot is great for me but I don't know if I would feel confident recommending it to everyone. Although I do love my Peugeots 🚗

HonestJohn is a really good website for help with new and 2nd hand cars.

Look at car wow on YouTube. My dh watches it a lot. Might be helpful?

Ford fiesta are not always the most economical to run/buy/insure. I rated the Hyundai i20 we had as a hire car, and I am big fan of a Toyota Yaris hybrids- economical, reliable

What is your budget. What dealerships are near by.

The truth is that most modern cars a very reliable and many cheap ones come with lots of spec. What car magazine always get read when I'm looking...prices, safety levels, guidance on value retention and a quick one line in every model

Suzuki jimmy is what I fancy just for flooding weeks…

Hyundai i20 or a Kia Ceed. I’ve had the Kia in the pastand loved it, no issues all through the time I owned it.

I have a Suzuki Swift. It's Fiesta sized, quite spacious in the back and would have space for 2 dog crates if you put the seats down. Mines a soft hybrid with a nippy 1.2 turbo engine.

Vauxhall Corsa is a popular and decent little car.
Clio is amazingly spacious for a small car but I don't love french cars.
We've recently got a compact SUV Skoda Kamiq. Might be a bit bigger than you're used to but DH loves it. Nice to drive, excellent fuel economy and the taller car might be good in flooded times.
I used to drive a fiesta - fab little car.

I’ve driven Fiestas for years but last time I got the Ford Puma. It’s the same chassis as the Fiesta but it has the extra height. The boot is enormous and it has a great sort of sink in the bottom of it. It has a plug hole so you can hose it out and drain it if the dogs are muddy.
It drives like a dream , just like the Fiesta and it’s as easy to park and manoeuvre. It just has a little bit more space and height. I’ve just traded mine in for another and I only lost 4k in three years. I love it!

I adore my Hyundai i20!

Skoda Kamiq, the smallest of the SUVs.

Get some ideas then Google reviews!
is there a make you like? Then you can look at their Fiesta size equivalents.

im a fan of Toyota and Skoda.
Skoda Kamiq?
Toyota Yaris Cross?

I really like the look of the Skoda Kamiq, is it better to go for the 1L or 1.4L?

I'll book a test drive!

I've recently gone back to a Corsa after a couple of years driving a Mini. The moment I sat in it to test drive was like putting on a comfy pair of slippers.

Oh, I do too!

What Car, which I browsed at the airport over the weekend, recommends the Renault Clio as the best small car, the Toyota Corolla as the best family car and the Lexus LBX as the best Small SUV

I have a Seat Leon FR. it’s my second one. Love it. First one was 1.2 petrol but they don’t do them anymore so this one is 1.5 petrol.

Honda Hazz

A similar size to a fiesta, but fewer blindspots, much bigger in size, but bigger boot, similar mpg if its just a petrol version, very reliable, a nice drive and easy to park due to the back being flat.

It all depends on your budget?

I am about to swap my Fiesta for a VW Tiago, it’s a bit higher up and has a bigger boot but it’s not a huge car. Also liked the VW T Roc and Audi Q2 - they are the exact same chassis and it’s also the same as the Golf.

The Ford Puma looks nice too!

We bought a 7 year old Hyundai i10 as a second car and for Dd to learn to drive. We love it and when we come to replace our other car we'll almost certainly buy another i10 or maybe an i20.