Suggestions for a small, cheap, BUT RELIABLE new (or nearly new) car?

[Concordia]

Hi,
we have a focus cmax as our main car but unfortunately(and we have tried to find a way to work around it and be just a one car family) we do need a second car for nursery collections (did it last week 2 hours on public transport / walking combo round trip vs 15 mins in car) and for DH to go to work as he works shifts. (I use the other car for my business).
Our 7 yo VW polo is causing us £1000 a year in service and repair bills now (don't anyone ever tell you they are reliable - ours certainly isn't!) so we are looking to replace it as think this will be cheaper in the medium term. We don't need anything as big as the polo it will do mainly short journeys of up to 10 miles across cities and we will use the other car for holidays where we pack the boot up etc.
We want new or fairly new as the trips to the garage are doing our heads in.
But we do need to fit two toddler car seats in the back.
Any suggestions (sorry for long post)

No, correction, i think the polo has cost us £1500 this year in service and repairs....grrrrr

i have a hyundai i20 which is fab, after roadtesting lots of cars as i had a car to scrap, i went for this because its cheap to run had loads of extras as statndard, has 5 yrs warranty.. i love it. i found the little cars like the aygo/107 are noisy as hell inside and they costed the same as my cat but without any extras and i have loads more room. HTH

For reliability, I don't think you can beat Japanese cars but if you're going to buy fairly new, you could probably get anything really - most newish cars are pretty reliable. I'm (unfashionably) a big fan of Peugeots - I'm now on my 4th. I think they're well-designed, cheap and have good engines.

you must be unlucky with teh Polo, I have had great experience with VW.

How about a Ford Fiesta? they are pretty reliable.
Toyotas good up to 13 years old, then everything goes at once, so I have heard.

but they are expensive herbietea, and you dont get alot for your money. the noise inside if you drive on a dual carriageway is horrid.

I know they're not exactly trendy but Skoda's are great - cheap (you get a lot for your money, esp compared to VWs) and not expesnive to run. I''m on my second, and love it.

Also heard good things abuot Hyundi.

Good luck

ooh thanks, will print this out and give to DH to discuss. we are considering the Hyundi (sorry can't spell)i10 or the toyota aygo so it's good to year people's opinions.
if anyone else wants to chip in feel free as cars are a bit of a mystery to me (and DH isn't really a car person either)

Toyota yaris is v good, I have a 53 and has loads of space for a little car

Toyota yaris is v good, I have a 53 and has loads of space for a little car