Picking a small, long warranty car in the UK
May 17, 2011 5:23 AM Subscribe
Help me choose a new car: I'm in the UK, and I want a small 4-door with long warranty, low mpg and low emissions.
My parents have offered to help me buy a new car, and have suggested that I buy one with a long warranty to keep the running costs down. With what I want from a car I've come up with three options:
- Vauxhall Agila
- Toyota Aygo
- Hyundai i10
Do people have any advice on choosing, related to the cars themselves or the service they've had from those companies under the warranty? Or indeed, have I missed a long-warranty small car off my list?
Thanks!
My parents have offered to help me buy a new car, and have suggested that I buy one with a long warranty to keep the running costs down. With what I want from a car I've come up with three options:
- Vauxhall Agila
- Toyota Aygo
- Hyundai i10
Do people have any advice on choosing, related to the cars themselves or the service they've had from those companies under the warranty? Or indeed, have I missed a long-warranty small car off my list?
Thanks!
Best answer: If it helps, we recently purchased a 2yr old Hyundai i30 and wouldn't look back. The Hyundai service is excellent and the 5 year warranty helps stop my fiancee worrying about car problems.
If the warranty length is something your interested in, KIA have a 7 year warranty.
posted by SRMorris at 5:50 AM on May 17, 2011
If the warranty length is something your interested in, KIA have a 7 year warranty.
posted by SRMorris at 5:50 AM on May 17, 2011
Response by poster: Yes, I do indeed mean high MPG, whoops!
Thanks for the Hyundai info!
posted by Coobeastie at 6:26 AM on May 17, 2011
Thanks for the Hyundai info!
posted by Coobeastie at 6:26 AM on May 17, 2011
The Aygo is also badged as the Citroen C1 and the Peugeot 107.
I own a Mk I Citroen C1, and I'm really pleased with it. I did about 300 miles on roughly 1/4 of a tank. It's got low emissions and cheap tax. I tested it to see what kind of MPG I could get out of it, and I got over 150 miles from the first of 6 bars on the fuel gauge.
However, I've just had to have the clutch replaced. Citroen quoted me over £600, and said that if it wasn't the clutch at fault, I'd have to pay the labour charges. The car is currently under warranty. Citroen are trying more and more to wheedle out of warranty repairs.
posted by Solomon at 6:51 AM on May 17, 2011
I own a Mk I Citroen C1, and I'm really pleased with it. I did about 300 miles on roughly 1/4 of a tank. It's got low emissions and cheap tax. I tested it to see what kind of MPG I could get out of it, and I got over 150 miles from the first of 6 bars on the fuel gauge.
However, I've just had to have the clutch replaced. Citroen quoted me over £600, and said that if it wasn't the clutch at fault, I'd have to pay the labour charges. The car is currently under warranty. Citroen are trying more and more to wheedle out of warranty repairs.
posted by Solomon at 6:51 AM on May 17, 2011
Best answer: My brother and brother in law both own and run car showrooms and garages in England. They'd always tell me you're better off getting a two year old second hand diesel Volkswagen Golf or Ford Focus or even Renault Clio with a full service history than a new Hyundai. They're much better cars which will drive better, be more reliable and have a higher resale value as well. You lose a lot of money when you drive a new car out of the showroom, particularly with the type of cars you mention.
posted by joannemullen at 6:55 AM on May 17, 2011
posted by joannemullen at 6:55 AM on May 17, 2011
Best answer: In my experience, Toyota cars cost a lot to service (from a dealer at least) but are pretty much bulletproof. The other two I can't comment on. In the last 16 years I've owned 6 Toyotas and loved every one of them. I own 3 right now and I'm considering ditching my Peugeot for a 4th.
They've been pretty good on waranty stuff too.
You might find the Parkers car chooser useful. I just told it <10k, city&commuting, new, 4 door, 2adults2kids, greenest first and it returned: Aygo/C1/107, Hyundai i10, Suzuki splash, Alto, Panda.
Of those, I'd be tempted by the Panda but I'm 6ft5 and I've had bad experiences with fitting my frame in small Suzukis...
For fuel economy, Mefi sister site Fuelly gives decent real world examples.
posted by sodium lights the horizon at 7:48 AM on May 17, 2011
They've been pretty good on waranty stuff too.
You might find the Parkers car chooser useful. I just told it <10k, city&commuting, new, 4 door, 2adults2kids, greenest first and it returned: Aygo/C1/107, Hyundai i10, Suzuki splash, Alto, Panda.
Of those, I'd be tempted by the Panda but I'm 6ft5 and I've had bad experiences with fitting my frame in small Suzukis...
For fuel economy, Mefi sister site Fuelly gives decent real world examples.
posted by sodium lights the horizon at 7:48 AM on May 17, 2011
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posted by jon1270 at 5:37 AM on May 17, 2011 [2 favorites]