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Post by woofwoof on Nov 15, 2022 17:52:15 GMT
Hi all. I'm still happy with my Evoque, Getz and MX5 but Mrs WW wants a small auto to add to the fleet and I have no idea what to suggest. She wants something small and auto and she likes the look of Smart and similar cars, it'll probably used as she is like me a bit careful with money  Just wondering if anyone has any recommendations or advice and if there's anything we should avoid. There's no rush as she needs to pass her test in the UK and we wont be buying until... er... next year sometime maybe but I move sloooowly these days and we'll need time to research, find and test drive so might as well set the wheels in motion now Over to you experts |
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Post by ChrisM on Nov 15, 2022 18:52:08 GMT
How small is small? Fiesta too big?
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Post by bryan on Nov 15, 2022 19:53:16 GMT
Polo dash in the upto 2017 model? Or an Up
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Post by LandieMark on Nov 15, 2022 19:56:20 GMT
The previous generation smarts were a robotized manual which was utter garbage. Hateful things.
The new ones are basically a Twingo, apparently.
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Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Nov 15, 2022 20:11:56 GMT
I tried the new one a while ago, basically a Twingo as mentioned. Horrible driving position even for me at 5' 9". To use the clutch I had to left the left foot off the floor and adopt a very unnatural poise.
Nasty thing.
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Post by ChrisM on Nov 15, 2022 20:29:52 GMT
Polo dash in the upto 2017 model? Or an Up You have to watch the auto DSG transmission. If it's not been serviced properly (there is some sort of fluid and filter change required, apparently, every 40k miles or so) they can be a bit of a nightmare. The Polo autos also tend to be quite hard to find and expensive (as if the manuals weren't expensive enough to begin with). The current Polo is much bigger. If you look at something pre-April 2017 you may want to search out cars that are £30 or less per annum to tax (based on emissions) |
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Post by bryan on Nov 15, 2022 21:36:19 GMT
I enquired in several places to service the DSG at 40k in the Yeti and all including the main dealer said there was nothing to do
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Post by Roadrunner on Nov 15, 2022 22:00:02 GMT
I would suggest an UP! but the auto has a bad reputation. The manual is excellent.
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Post by woofwoof on Nov 15, 2022 23:48:54 GMT
Thanks all.
I've had a quick read and will reread tomorrow.
She likes the Toyota Aygo and she mentioned Mini but thinks they're too expensive so I think Aygo / Mini is about the size and we might have to argue about the cost later, my view is you can't take it with you.
I did think I remembered hearing something about auto Smarts being rubbish so thanks for confirming that.
There's a Hyundai dealer within walking distance, are auto i10's any good?
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Post by bryan on Nov 16, 2022 6:41:08 GMT
I don't think they're bad cars, could you chop in the Getz to keep the fleet at a reasonable size?
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Post by bryan on Nov 16, 2022 6:41:42 GMT
Not cheap but electric UP?
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Post by Big Blue on Nov 16, 2022 9:45:07 GMT
Toyota iQ. It’s a Toyota so, like my friend’s one, will be indestructible.
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Post by bryan on Nov 16, 2022 10:20:23 GMT
Could get the Aston version!
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Post by woofwoof on Nov 16, 2022 10:27:47 GMT
I don't think they're bad cars, could you chop in the Getz to keep the fleet at a reasonable size? Yes, I think realistically the Getz and MX5 will very likely go. I haven't drove the MX5 since I got the Evoque and although there'll be regrets and tears I think the reality is that it'll need to go. |
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Post by woofwoof on Nov 16, 2022 10:31:24 GMT
Not cheap but electric UP? I have massive reservations about electric. I've been maybe foolishly reading stuff on line about environmental damage and I do worry that the move to electric is going to be an environmental disaster but I suppose what I think doesn't matter one jot and as the world has decided that electric is the future and worries about environmental damage will be quietly pushed to one side and declared a far right conspiracy. So, I suppose nothing is really honestly truly out of bounds but I think electric is possibly hanging on to the very bottom of the list by it's lithium stained fingertips. |
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Post by woofwoof on Nov 16, 2022 10:33:33 GMT
Toyota iQ. It’s a Toyota so, like my friend’s one, will be indestructible. I can see Mrs WW liking the look of those but out of production for quite a while now though? |
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Post by PetrolEd on Nov 16, 2022 10:53:17 GMT
is the answer to any automotive question now - just get something Korean - or a Toyota with the 10 year warranty.
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Post by Bob Sacamano v2.0 on Nov 16, 2022 11:28:49 GMT
Thanks all. I've had a quick read and will reread tomorrow. She likes the Toyota Aygo and she mentioned Mini but thinks they're too expensive so I think Aygo / Mini is about the size and we might have to argue about the cost later, my view is you can't take it with you. I did think I remembered hearing something about auto Smarts being rubbish so thanks for confirming that. There's a Hyundai dealer within walking distance, are auto i10's any good? I wouldn't bother with the Aygo and it's various French variants. They are very small and cheaply built. There are plenty of Yaris autos (hybrid & CVT but you'll not notice the difference in a car of this size and they are tremendously reliable) for reasonable money and you can pretty much pick a colour you like and you'll be good. |
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Post by bryan on Nov 16, 2022 11:39:56 GMT
What about that new Aygo X, Toyota only but maybe too new, or a GR Yaris.......😁
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Post by woofwoof on Nov 16, 2022 12:12:55 GMT
How small is small? Fiesta too big? Dunno. Might be. I think she might see Ford as being pretty low rent. I think she's said something to that effect, I think some Thais do see Ford in that way, cheap and unreliable. That might not be the reality. |
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Post by woofwoof on Nov 16, 2022 12:14:26 GMT
I tried the new one a while ago, basically a Twingo as mentioned. Horrible driving position even for me at 5' 9". To use the clutch I had to left the left foot off the floor and adopt a very unnatural poise. Nasty thing. Years ago my Kazakh GF had a Twingo (I think) and it was an odd car. I never drove it but being a passenger in it was bad enough Just typing that made me think about her. I'd never met a Kazakh before, she was living in Belgium at the time I met her in Darlington. It's a small world Here it is in Belgium.   |
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Post by woofwoof on Nov 16, 2022 12:18:00 GMT
I googled a couple of cars which could possibly make the list and I was shocked to see that they're in the £15-22k+ range. I must be more out of touch than I thought! I think I'd rather buy her another Evoque When I/we can make a serious shortlist we'll have to decide if we're going new or used but at a first look those new prices are a bit of a shock, but like I say, maybe I'm out of touch. |
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Post by PG on Nov 16, 2022 20:02:26 GMT
This guy on YouTube does a good run down of autos to go for and avoid. Ok, he's lookin gat £5k and under, but if you follow his examples and just up the budget accordingly, you will have a result. I'd say Toyota Yaris or Corolla hybrid, Honda Jazz or something Korean as long as it is not a twin clutch gearbox. |
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Post by woofwoof on Nov 16, 2022 20:17:46 GMT
Ta. I'll watch that later |
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Post by woofwoof on Feb 1, 2023 17:35:55 GMT
Mrs WW is currently learning to drive in an auto Vauxhall Astra and she likes it. She has a Thai licence but apparently it's not valid here and tbh she does need professional lessons and coaching here. She passed her theory test first time, I think she said she scored 46. Well Done Her We celebrated with fish and chips and slices of bread, no expense spared. I don't know if we'll get another car or not as I think she's gone off the idea but women have been known to change their minds so you never know I did think she'd drive the Evoque as she had and left her XTrail in Thailand and that must be a similar size and drive but she doesn't seem keen. |
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Post by ChrisM on Feb 2, 2023 21:12:02 GMT
I can now recommend a VW T-Cross auto. It may look big but it's only 4.1m long and 1.76m wide, so it fits in most UK parking spaces comfortably
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Post by woofwoof on Feb 6, 2023 11:15:01 GMT
I can now recommend a VW T-Cross auto. It may look big but it's only 4.1m long and 1.76m wide, so it fits in most UK parking spaces comfortably She has another lesson today but I don't think she's thinking about a test just yet so there's plenty of time to think. She recently said that she doesn't want to go anywhere without me which is a pretty depressing thing to hear. The assault/racial abuse a while back probably plays a part in this as does the fact that she's finding it hard to make close friends here so anywhere we go we go together rather than her heading off by herself or with a friend. I do hope she can snap out of this and be a little more independent. At the moment getting a new car is on the back burner. It's a possibility, but at this moment in time I don't think it's imminent. |
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