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Original poster

Anyone got a Yaris, Clio, Matiz - or a car that size? What's good or bad?

25 replies

TurkeyGang · 31/12/2005 00:36

I'm thinking of getting a smaller car now we're not coping with carseats and pushchairs etc.

It'll only be for shortish shopping journeys into town and local driving etc. Needs to be big enough for three children too (aged 7 and 4 yr old twins).

Yaris, Clio and Matiz have cropped up in conversation. Any thoughts or other suggestions?

I wanted to ask mums here for opinions as you are the ones (like me) who are doing the day to day stuff and know what the highs and lows of daily life with kids in tow can be like.

OP posts:

chipmonksRoastingOnAnOpenFire · 31/12/2005 01:06

dh has a Yaris and I love it but I know very little about cars and it may be just that his is a lot cleaner than mine because I am the main child-bearer( in more ways than one!!). The boot is a bit small for grocery shopping though.

TreeFuses · 31/12/2005 01:13

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

Elf1981 · 31/12/2005 01:40

I'd suggest a Fiat Punto. I have one, it's the same size as my neighbours Yaris, possibly slightly bigger (but not much). Very roomy and so far (touch wood) reliable.

Also, Peugeot 106 / and the new one, is it a 206? V nice.

skerriesmum · 31/12/2005 04:35

We upgraded from a Starlet to a Yaris and would highly recommend it. The seats fold down to make a bigger boot if you're shopping or whatever. The seats also feel roomy even though the car is small, you'd be fine with three kids in the back. Great on petrol too.

Original poster

TurkeyGang · 31/12/2005 09:12

Thanks all. (I used to have a Startlet - pre children - and loved it!)

OP posts:

NannyL · 31/12/2005 10:48

all i can say is make sure you get one where you can turn the front air bag off.

come may it will be illegal to have a child under 10 in the car without a child seat, so its best that they can go in the front.

My mums got a yaris and i think it would be a REAL squash to get 3 kids in the back, and the boot is tiny... unless you put the back seats forward when you get a bigger boot, but no leg room for back passengers!

I have a clio.... again i can only get 2 car seats in the bag, but the car is a much bigger small car than the yaris and i love it! also i have no passenger air bag so i can get 3 kids in safely. The boot is also VERY big for a small car!

gscrym · 31/12/2005 11:11

I have a 51 reg Clio and although it's a little dull, it's great. Before DS came along, I took 2 adults and 2 kids on their trip to the airport with 3 suitcases and managed to get it all in. DH has an N-reg punto and also has good room and managable boot. They're alright when it's booster seats and not proper bulky car-chairs you're using. My Clio has passenger airbags but these can be disabled using the key. Any small car, I would advise the 5 door rather than the 3 door.

Another plus for the clio (I had the old shape as well), I've banged it on a few occasions and it's virtually indestructable. Handy when you're cack-handed like me

Ailsa · 31/12/2005 11:39

Yaris reviews

Clio reviews

Matiz reviews

I personally would go for the Yaris, Toyotas are very reliable. We've got an Avensis at the moment, but dh is being a winge bag because he doesn't get to drive it very often, so I'm probably going to get a Yaris for myself.

LIZS · 31/12/2005 12:06

Personally would also consider a Yaris Verso as it seems just a bit more flexible for seating/boot space than the regular hatchback or a Renault Modus. Would always go for 5 door and the highest spec you can afford as this gets you more comfort.

Roobie · 31/12/2005 12:39

Can you get three car seats/booster seats in the back of one of these small cars though?

LIZS · 31/12/2005 12:45

Probably not, but legally from May you could still carry an over 3 in the front, in an appropriate carseat. Whether you want to do this, airbag disabled or not , is another matter.

Janh · 31/12/2005 12:52

Don't laugh but the Suzuki Wagon R would be brilliant for you. You'd have to get one with an 03 reg (I think) or newer in order to get 5 seatbelts - they depreciate quite fast so a nearly-new one would be best value. It doesn't have a huge luggage space but big enough for normal day-to-day stuff, and it has a high seating position, loads of headroom - good for reaching in to fasten seat belts - and a great view out for the kids. The rear seatbacks fold neatly flat to the floor if you want to carry anything bulky (without passengers obv.)

I used to have the previous model (a Y reg) which only had 4 belts - I got it when DD1 went off to uni and our old people carrier was getting v expensive to run, and I thought the 4 belts wouldn't be a problem because there were only me and 3 other kids to carry most of the time, but sometimes there was an extra bod so I caved in to the inevitable and traded it in for a Zafira. I was very fond of it though

MaryChristmas · 31/12/2005 12:55

Honda Jazz.

Original poster

TurkeyGang · 31/12/2005 12:55

Yes, don't think a two door would work for us.

Could anyone please clarify the new rules from May re. children in cars, that has been mentioned?

All of ours are now in booster seats, but tbh dd (7.5yrs) is tall and doesn't seem to need hers now, although we still use it. Will the new rules mean we have to keep a booster seat for anyone under 10?

OP posts:

LIZS · 31/12/2005 12:59

Summary of proposed changes here . It seems height (135cm cut off) might be the determining factor.

Original poster

TurkeyGang · 31/12/2005 13:13

Many thanks Liz.

OP posts:

NannyL · 31/12/2005 14:41

the law has a cut off of 135cm.... but its recomended they stay on a booster seat until 150cm for safety reasons... (it keeps the belt correctly placed over their pelvis so they dont suffer horrendouse internal stomach injuries and also pelvic and spinal injuries in a crash)

FairyTaleinNewYork · 31/12/2005 14:47

i have a matiz for my and the 3 girls. its a basic car and boy dont you know it. i keep shoving blankets in there for the kids, and was driving the other day with gloves on. its a bit tempermental at times, and is sluggish to start. but is nippy once it gets going. dd1 sits in the front in a high back booster (she is 5 and the heaviest by 1lb), dd2+3 in the back. boot is small, but i still use a buggy for dd3, so it takes all the space. i could probably get about 7-10 bags of shopping in tho without the buggy (tho use peters big car for shopping).

paolosgirl · 31/12/2005 14:55

I have a Polo - and it is the best, most wonderful car I have ever, ever, ever had. I can understand now why some people love their cars . It feels like it's been built around me, iykwim - and everything is in the right place, again, iykwim.

FairyTaleinNewYork · 31/12/2005 20:14

i put you off a matiz didnt i lol.

Original poster

TurkeyGang · 01/01/2006 23:09

Lol.. no not at all! It's just the kind of thing I was trying to find out. Still mulling it all over really. Thanks to everyone - really helpful comments. I'm kind of veering towards a Yaris atm, but I want to try a few different ones out.

I think it's so sweet Paolosgirl loves her polo so much; you can get strangely attached it's true. Maybe she should change her name slightly to reflect this

OP posts:

misdee · 01/01/2006 23:11

i've chsnged my mind, i have ebeen using my little car more this week (its practically runs on air lol), and its ben pretty good the last few days.

TinyGang · 01/01/2006 23:20

Ahh.. FairyTale is misdee! Gosh these Christmas names have mixed me up. Plus you've reminded me to change mine back now. I'm fed up with Christmas now - I want it all packed away!

bluebear · 01/01/2006 23:28

I've got a 5 door Clio - I have 2 kid's seats in the back (a 0-4yr seat and a high back booster style) and have had a small adult sat between them at times.
I love my car, chose it because we had a Clio to use when dh's car was being repaired and bought one as soon as I could. It's very nippy (I think it's a 1.4l) and has great fuel economy. And brill for parking as it's so short...and it's sides are made of some sort of plastic so if you do have a little bump it leaves no mark!
Oh, and the driver's seat has an up and down control which means it's one of the few cars that both I (5ft) and dh (6ft) can both drive comfortably.
We used to have a Peugeot 306 (bought because it is a 'sensible' family car and because at the time, it was the only cheapish car which had 'switchoffable air bags') It was pants.

Skribble · 02/01/2006 00:14

I had a Matiz and loved it, I liked the fact it had 5 doors a lot easier for getting kids in and out especially when they were still in seats. It seems skinnier than most small cars but does have 3 rear belts.

I think because it is a little bit higher it feels roomy enough inside, I thought it heated up OK. Boot is much the same as others as it is just shorter at front. Mega easy to park as it that little bit shorter than other small cars.

Great fuel economy is good in town but due to mine being 800cc in struggled on long hills on the motorway and drank the petrol while it laboured. Perhaps thats due to the fact I always drove at 70 on the motorway. In town you can drive for about 2 months on 1 tank .

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