Downsizing - which one?

[Sleepy]

Decided that running the Defender across town, whilst fun, isn't all that practicle.

Missus Sleepy loves her Disco and I have the S3 to get dirty, so decided to lease a little economical thing to drive to work in. Had a few nibbles on the 90 so don't anticipate any dramas selling it at a good price.

So what would you lot know about little cars - heaps I hope. ;)

Anyway the choices are up there ^^^^. Thinking of an auto cause I'm lazy and drive in way too much traffic. (110km across Melb each day).

Will mostly be just me but occassionaly four adults for short trips.

So poll away oh wise ones and let me know what you think.

[d2dave]

Paul,
Try this.

Dave.

http://www2.mercedes-benz.com.au/content/australia/mpc/mpc_australia__website/en/home_mpc/passengerca

Sorry about the link. something funny going on but what I copied and pasted it came up different when I posted.

It is a Merc B class sports tourer

[Sleepy]

Paul,
Try this.

Dave.

http://www2.mercedes-benz.com.au/content/australia/mpc/mpc_australia__website/en/home_mpc/passengerca

Linky no worky :(

[V8Ian]

Sleepy, a mate of mine has a Mazda 2, he loves it. It is used for a similar purpose to to your intention, travelling driver only from Gordonvale to north of Cairns daily. He went to purchase a Mazda 3, but found that he, his wife and two late teen kids were more comfortable in the externally smaller car. He has had no issues in two years, and says it runs on a sniff from a petrol dampened rag.

[alien]

Swift from us :D

Leg room in back for adults,
Room in boot for luggage for 4 people, a weeks worth at that, when the Landy's not running :confused:
I bought the sports pack with the extra air bags and mag wheels as mostly high speed work.
7Ltr/100Km. No porblems exept soft tyres(30thou) ex factory.
Can't get SHMBO out of it.
FYI now done 80 thou now and happy to keep it.

Good luck on this one:p

Ps.
Old man just picked up a turbo deisil Ford Focus,
6.5Ltr/100Km, only done 5thou so time will tell.

Cheers.

[Rangier Rover]

I'm not a lover of small cars but was most impressed by the Nissan Tiilda I hired a wile back. Being a hire care it went 25kmh faster in every gear and stood up to our terrible roads here. Was very easy to drive,good on fuel and had a lot of room for a small car.
Only thing I noticed was a bit of kick back in the steering when driven very hard on rough dirt roads although handled well for a small car.Nissan Tiida: Prices, Parts, Accessories, Photos, Specifications (http://nissan.com.au/webpages/models/Tiida_model.html)

[MickS]

Go the swift...

[V8Ian]

I'm not a lover of small cars but was most impressed by the Nissan Tiilda I hired a wile back. Being a hire care it went 25kmh faster in every gear and stood up to our terrible roads here. Was very easy to drive,good on fuel and had a lot of room for a small car.
Only thing I noticed was a bit of kick back in the steering when driven very hard on rough dirt roads although handled well for a small car.Nissan Tiida: Prices, Parts, Accessories, Photos, Specifications (http://nissan.com.au/webpages/models/Tiida_model.html)
Geez man, you probabley flogged the bum off it;:( it's not a Rangie ya know:o. I can't believe I'm defending a Datto:eek:
:p:p:p

[Tombie]

Yaris mate...

Killer reliable, and having seen my mates 18 yo OPEN THE DOOR and walk out of an accident where she T-Boned a Chrysler Voyager @ 100km/h (serious).... They're pretty damn safe!

I'll get some photos...

But yes, my Aunty has had one, 80,000km so far and not one issue aside from service...

Toyota tend to build reliable, generic plastic fart boxes :cool:

[abaddonxi]

Spent more time than I want to in a Swift, tinny, tiny, cheap, gutless, noisy.

Nice solid build on a Ford focus, bit thirsty, room enough for four plus gear.

[Rangier Rover]

Geez man, you probabley flogged the bum off it;:( it's not a Rangie ya know:o. I can't believe I'm defending a Datto:eek:
:p:p:p

Gotta love the hire cars:twisted:. Back in 93 I hired a Nissan micra wile in the UK:eek: Was a pos as killed it in a few days.( Seems the small Nissan have improved over the years.) Chucked it in for a Peugeot 205. It was unbreakable and handled really well:angel:

[V8Ian]

Yaris mate...

Killer reliable, and having seen my mates 18 yo OPEN THE DOOR and walk out of an accident where she T-Boned a Chrysler Voyager @ 100km/h (serious).... They're pretty damn safe!

I'll get some photos...

But yes, my Aunty has had one, 80,000km so far and not one issue aside from service...

Toyota tend to build reliable, generic plastic fart boxes :cool:
Can't argue with that.

[robzilla]

It's not on your list, but i'll put my vote in for a Toyota Corolla.

I scored a trip to Mackay for work a few months back and got the sedan as my hire car. Was definitely the best small/medium sized car i've been in/driven.
Comfy, good driving position, good list of features and, for a small car, made the highway trip to Proserpine and back a breeze!

I'll put a vote AGAINST the Nissan Tiida. Good rear leg room, but they're an absolute appliance. Horrible, plastic interiors and Ugly as all hell from the outside...

We had ford focus work cars and they were just the pits. they were the most basic of basic models, but it was the little things. Like rock hard seats, air vents that couldn't blow towards the driver, a centre console that loved getting in the way of your right left knee etc. etc.
So i'd be wary of the Fiesta as well...

But it's a new car. doesn't matter what anyone says, go test drive them all and see which one tickles ya fancy :D

[abaddonxi]

<snip>

We had ford focus work cars and they were just the pits. they were the most basic of basic models, but it was the little things. Like rock hard seats, air vents that couldn't blow towards the driver, a centre console that loved getting in the way of your right left knee etc. etc.
So i'd be wary of the Fiesta as well...

But it's a new car. doesn't matter what anyone says, go test drive them all and see which one tickles ya fancy :D

Oh yeah, not wrong about the hard seats, although I did eight hours straight in one without too much pain.

[Landy Smurf]

get the ford.the barina is a chicks car, the suzuki well if you like big butts,mazda and the jazz over priced the getz are not to bad of a little run around car but a bit small if you want 4 adults. the toyota probly not too bad but it is a toyota so no,no plus they have that stupid gauge panel in the middle but at the end of the day the ford is sexy so it has to be that 1

[BigJon]

You can have your cake and eat it too.

My Dad has a second hand E270 Merc sedan. 2.7 litre 5 cylinder turbo diesel auto.

Not much more expensice than a new buzzbox. Real car size with real car room.

Genuine 5.2 litres per hundred on the open road, 6 - 7 around town.

I was sceptical at first, but I think it is a great car.

[Blknight.aus]

the swift gets my vote, Used the old 3pot 550cc version of it for pizza cars, ran on the sniff of a wet fart and could not be killed.

they havent changed much they're safer than they were back then but not as safe as some other cars nor as roomy inside.

[Ken]

Honda Jazz


4 Cylinders of Japanese Fury :twisted: 2 and a quarter exhaust CAI and a short shifter
Polish the throttle body with thermoblock gaskets and youll smoke V8s :D:nazilock::D

[Chucaro]

Not a Buzz Box but a BMW R1200GS will do just fine and in style :D

[Sleepy]

You know Coops - an auto 90 would be fun and pretty darned economical too.....but I don't think I can justify it anymore. It's also a shame to wear it out on bitumen - 30,000km per year - just to and from work.:(

Thanks all for your help. We went for a bit of a sticky beak today. Will test drive a few. Also saw a C2 Citreon - which is pretty funky but french cars have a shocking resale.

Had a look at the Hyundai Getz - too tinny. And the i30 - fat rrrrrrs and big blind spot - very unispiring.
THe Nissan Micra is rather quirky but doesn't look as safe as the others.

I liked the Mazda2 - comfy enough and nice interior.
I am told it is the same platform as the fiesta. Looks it too.

Short list is now. Mazda2, Suzi swift, Ford Fiesta and Holden Barina

Being such a small car safety features are important - in case I get squished by one of you road hogging 4wders :mad:......................:wasntme:.:D:p;)

[robzilla]

if you choose a ford, have to get the XR4 :D white with blue speed stripes (they add an extra 15kw!)

[d2dave]

Linky no worky :(

Forget the bland jap stuff. Hopfully this link is now worky.

Dave.


Mercedes-Benz Australia - B-Class - B-Class Sports Tourer & B200 Models (http://www2.mercedes-benz.com.au/content/australia/mpc/mpc_australia__website/en/home_mpc/passengercars/home/new_cars/models/b-class/b245.flash.html#chapter=1)

[Sleepy]

Thanks Dave, Very nice - a little too expensive though:o :(.

The bland bit doesn't really worry me - looking for function. I will drive the Series 3 on the weekends to "un-bland" myself. :lol2:

[p38arover]

Toyota tend to build expensive, reliable, generic plastic fart boxes :cool:

Fixed it for you, Tombie! :)

[Landy Smurf]

buy a kenworth

[k1000o]

buy a kenworth
Hahahahaha!!!!
Sounds good!! sounds powerful!!! yay!!
:D:D:D

[crl]

Fiesta is my tip. Reliable, handles well, economical and safe.

Second choice is Yaris.

[Dmmos]

My girlfriend and I did this just under 2 years ago (the 89 ford falcon ute wasn't very - er - nice :p)...

We thought the Yaris had the most horrible interior, and importantly the roof seemed to slope on the sides (I couldn't sit in the back sides)... The whole car was tiny inside, and the engine is a little underpowered...

We looked at everything - bought a brand new Suzuki Swift in the end (with S package), despite the fact we had always ridiculed the Hello Kitty crowd that drove them around Uni :p It's got a perfect interior, great economy/power for the class, and the manual at least is heaps of fun to drive... Head room is crazy - I'm 6'2 and the roof is far, far above me :)

It's now done 75,000km in 23 months, only complaint is (as someone mentioned here)
the flimsy tyres, replaced two fronts at 35k...

Only other car I really like the look of is the Mazda 2 (although in green it looks like a ninja turtle)

By the way, I haven't seen it in person, but definitely consider the (new) Suzuki Alto...

Cheers Dave

[alien]

My girlfriend and I did this just under 2 years ago (the 89 ford falcon ute wasn't very - er - nice :p)...

We thought the Yaris had the most horrible interior, and importantly the roof seemed to slope on the sides (I couldn't sit in the back sides)... The whole car was tiny inside, and the engine is a little underpowered...

We looked at everything - bought a brand new Suzuki Swift in the end (with S package), despite the fact we had always ridiculed the Hello Kitty crowd that drove them around Uni :p It's got a perfect interior, great economy/power for the class, and the manual at least is heaps of fun to drive... Head room is crazy - I'm 6'2 and the roof is far, far above me :)

It's now done 75,000km in 23 months, only complaint is (as someone mentioned here)
the flimsy tyres, replaced two fronts at 35k...

Only other car I really like the look of is the Mazda 2 (although in green it looks like a ninja turtle)

By the way, I haven't seen it in person, but definitely consider the (new) Suzuki Alto...

Cheers Dave

Just a note on tyre wear,
Mine did 20k front and 45k rear on original rubber(soft compound):eek:.
Expecting @ 70-80k from replacments.
I only rotate when fitting 2 new tyres as rear non adjustable.

15k service intervals and no cam belt to change:D

Cheers.

[DeeJay]

Yaris mate...

Killer reliable, and having seen my mates 18 yo OPEN THE DOOR and walk out of an accident where she T-Boned a Chrysler Voyager @ 100km/h (serious).... They're pretty damn safe!

I'll get some photos...

But yes, my Aunty has had one, 80,000km so far and not one issue aside from service...

Toyota tend to build reliable, generic plastic fart boxes :cool:

Yup, all small cars are pretty safe..................

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2009/09/1194.jpg




Up to a point...





https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2009/09/1195.jpg

[Cap]

I have driven the Hyundai i30 (Ithink) and its a well finished and VERY economical vehicle (diesel hybrid).

[klappers]

Mazda 2 by far mate.

[Sleepy]

Up to a point...


Yikes......I wonder what the Defender would look like in that sandwich......???

[d@rk51d3]

Whew! that truck nearly suffered some damage.

[Sprint]

whats wrong with the 90?

fiesta: too euro - potential maintenance issues in bulk
yaris: soulless toyota buzzbox, nigh on bulletproof, but cheap, tacky and did i mention soul-less?
Getz: where do i start.....
mazda 2: better off getting a 3, but resale is still horrendous
swift: nippy, fun, as tough as a toyota (mechanic at work loves them, reckons he's yet to see anything major go wrong) but sorely needs cruise control
barina: mmmm..... kinda like a yaris but with a holden badge
jazz: as for getz

personally, i'd look at something like a turbo diesel VW golf or focus

[samuelclarke]

I'd go for a VW Golf (http://www.volkswagen.com.au/vwcms/master_public/virtualmaster/en_au/New_Cars/golf.html?kw=vw+golf&247SEM) personally - they're awesome cars plus the diesel is both powerful and cheap to run. :cool:

[klappers]

Resale on a Mazda 2. Nuf said really

[Sleepy]

whats wrong with the 90?



You make a bloody good point sprint........I love driving it too..... :-(

[VladTepes]

Over the years various members of my family have owned Mazdas and they have proven extremelt reliable with excellent build quality.
I don't like the bright red insrumentation at night but thats just me being fussy.
Given your "wants" list I reckon the Mazda would be hard to go past.
just DO NO get te bright metallic green that 99% of Mazda 2's are sold in. I reckon ANY OTHER COLOUR will be what people are looking for later on the 2nd hnad market.

The Citroen would probably be a nice car but repair costs onmce out of warranty... ouch.
(We have a C5 - a few price classes above wht you are chasing granted - and its a bloody lovely car to be in during the daily traffic grind)

[Sleepy]

Over the years various members of my family have owned Mazdas and they have proven extremelt reliable with excellent build quality.
I don't like the bright red insrumentation at night but thats just me being fussy.
Given your "wants" list I reckon the Mazda would be hard to go past.
just DO NO get te bright metallic green that 99% of Mazda 2's are sold in. I reckon ANY OTHER COLOUR will be what people are looking for later on the 2nd hnad market.

The Citroen would probably be a nice car but repair costs onmce out of warranty... ouch.
(We have a C5 - a few price classes above wht you are chasing granted - and its a bloody lovely car to be in during the daily traffic grind)

Agree VT, that green is very ummmmm green and will date. The black looks nice but thinking safety I will probably get white.

The citroens are very nice I like the quirkness of the C3.....very 2cv!

I gotta admit - fitting the ZF auto to the D90 might be the best option.....Ummmmmm,,,,

[warren9981]

Yup, all small cars are pretty safe..................

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2009/09/1194.jpg




Up to a point...





https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2009/09/1195.jpg

Not the same car in both photos. (Different wheels)


Go the VW golf. excellent diesel, very economical, lots of features.

[Sleepy]

Do it Sleeps,my green thing is tremendous in auto.Would not have believed the difference,

OK, OK...time for a new thread.

http://www.aulro.com/afvb/technical-chatter/87644-zf-auto-td5-defender-advice.html#post1065722

[Sprint]

You make a bloody good point sprint........I love driving it too..... :-(

i should also add that technically, a 90 is already downsized...... from a 110!

[Grumbles]

Barina - build quality is questionable these days. And after sales service??????

[Shonky]

^ Agreed.

Barina = Daewoo