Buying A Small Car

[naomi24]

I’m trying to help a friend following her divorce. Can anyone recommend a small inexpensive car, reliable and economical to run – and one that may be purchased new on interest-free credit?

[sunny-dave]

As usual I'll bung my support for the Mazda 2 into the pot - some good offers at the moment :

http://www.mazda.co.uk/offers/mazda2/

[gingejbee]

As usual, I'll recommend the Skoda Citigo (sister car to VW Up!, but cheaper) and What Car's City car of the Year 2013:

http://www.skoda.co.uk/models/citigo-3-door/default

[solvitquick]

Dear Naomi,
Aaaw some difficult qualifications to my answer. Dunno about interest-free credit or whether the dealer, Chevrolet, will deliver or if your friend can get to Exeter where their sole distributor lies.
But I would recommend the Chevrolet Daewoo Matiz. It fits easily into modern narrow garages, So it's good for the 2-car family as well as the single-owner who wants to park "indoors" and avoid scraping the windows in winter.
The engine is built of top-quality parts and if he/she wants a city-run around it's perfect. Mind you it's only 980 cc.
I used to own a large full Ghia spec Ford but changed to the smaller to avoid continual swapping and changing positions with my lady partner (VW) at the endof the day.
Try plugging in Chevrolet U.K. into the search engine and see. Inexpensive? Yup. But that doesn't mean low-quality in this case!
Good Luck,
SIQ.
I can't search or they'll try to sell me a new one by post forever.

[gingejbee]

solvitquick,'s suggestion is a non-starter (pun intended!) because they stopped making the Matiz in 2010. The replacement (the Spark) is just as
mediocre as the Matiz was and is a Which? "Don't Buy"!

[boxtops]

I bought a second-hand (not much miles) Daihatsu Sirion 4 years old. Nice little car, especially as a runabout. I'd recommend it.

[gingejbee]

The OP specified "new"...Daihatsu cars are no longer sold in Europe.

[Canary42]

I've now had two second-hand very low mileage Citroen C1s - the latest model is tax-free. Both cars have been trouble-free.

[naomi24]

Thanks for your answers - but second-hand isn't an option. She doesn't have the cash at the moment to pay for a second-hand car. She works but has come out of the divorce with nothing.

[sherrardk]

Be careful with Chevrolet cars, there aren't many main dealers if anything major goes wrong with them. We have to go miles to have anything technical done to ours - but it has (touch wood) been excellent since we have had it (it had to go to a main dealer for a sensor recall thing, saved us a fortune).

[Zacs-Master]

Can't beat this Naomi
http://www.toyota.co.uk/new-cars/aygo-offers-finance

[Zacs-Master]

Yes Chevrolet are the old Daewoo. Shudder.

[LazyGun]

Don't know about recommending a specific car, Naomi, but you/your friend might find this best in category list from What Car useful.

From the sound of things, cars in the "city car" or "supermini" or "small family saloon" class might suit your friend the best, and I am pretty sure you can arrange a good finance deal on a new car with any major brand.

Oh, there is an annoying video link top right hand corner that plays on the first page - sorry about that ;)

http://www.whatcar.com/awards/

[Nibble]

Try buying the Fiat 500, who have now bought Chevrolet, (who had previously bought Daewoo), should if they have continued to stock "their" previous models, still have ALL the models available... But, I wouldn't hold my breath for this!

[Nibble]

^ D'oh... Got the wrong US manufacturer :((.... Sorry folks :(... But I'd still look at a Fiat 500

[237SJ]

Personally, I think that considering your friend`s circumstances, a new car is a luxury. She could look into getting a pre-reg car which is as good a new but cheaper. If she looks around at interest rates, she might find that getting pre-reg with a good rate is a better investment than new with 0% interest.

[sherrardk]

Zacs - how are Chevrolet the Daewoo (shudder)?

[Hopkirk]

I find it a bit baffling that someone with no cash has to have a new car as they can't afford second hand.

[silliemillie]

I have always had new Ford Ka's .

Don't know what deals they have on them but recommend them for reliability cheapness to run (eg Tax is only £30 per year)

[sunny-dave]

Hoppy - sounds like they have a secure income to pay the monthly payments, but no cash for a deposit (or indeed any maintenance bills) that would be needed for second hand.

[Hopkirk]

I bet a dealer with a possible second hand sale could put together a finance package