$17,000 and not a penny more - what city car would you get?

[Molotov]

Hi All

Girlfriend just totalled her Yaris this morning. Early days yet, but I'm guessing her insurance payout will give her somewhere in the realm of 14-17k (agreed value). She'll have to replace it with a similar city car to commute in inner-sydney. The absolute maximum she'll be able to spend is 17k and it has to be:

* A new car.
* Auto.
* No larger than a Yaris/Polo/Micra/Jazz etc (ridiculously tight garage)
* 3 or 5 door.

The Yaris was a perfect car for her needs and even though I used to loathe small cars, it was perfectly designed for its market. That said, I'm leaning towards getting her to switch to either a Honda Jazz or a Nissan Micra.

Appreciate your thoughts/feedback/opinions/experiences. Assume you can haggle on the price.

For what it's worth, I'd love to get her in a 77tsi Polo but it really is a firm ceiling of 17k and unless you can teach me how to use The Force I don't think I'm going to be able to convince a dealer

[gecko2k]

Wheels tested all these smaller cars 2 issues ago: the polo came in first, followed by the fabia. According to wheels magazine the fabia nearly won, but to option it up to the same standard as the polo it ended up being more expensive, thus 2nd place. Polo was last years car of the year and you might be able to grab a 2nd hand one with low kms on it!

The new yaris was tested in the the January issue and got mixed reviews, as some old problems still exist and certain parts are pretty 'old'...

The review ended with: 'middle Australia, you can do much worse'

If you hurry you might be able to grab the old issue before the new one comes into stores (it's the one with the new 86 on the front)..

[team_v]

Skoda Citi-go.

In reality though i would just pick up a second hand jazz/fiesta

[Mk3 AAA]

Ford Fiesta, shop around and haggle, you should get a base model Auto very close to that money (I think a mates mum's was 17 flat). Brilliant little cars, feel like a class bigger than the Swift/Yaris etc and a generation ahead. Although I'd recommend a Toyota I'd actually buy the Ford (if I was in that market). Go do some test driving.

[walshydub]

http://www.vwwatercooled.org.au/foru...3-a-63628.html Perfect city car

[frozze]

I like the look of the new Yaris than the old one. Seems really well equipped too.

If you can wait till the end of the year, there's the VW Up!

2012 Volkswagen Up! coming to Australia Q4 2012 | Car Advice

[Molotov]

Thanks for the feedback so far. I've actually got that edition of Wheels so I'll give it a read tonight.

Didn't think of the Fiesta - will definitely take a look.

[Tony_Mitchell_1983]

The Mazda 2 are quite nice as well.

If you go with a Nissan micra, at least you know no one will ever look at her while driving it.

Those things are UGLY.

[The_Hawk]

While I would expect the Up! to be less than the Polo I do wonder by how much? Sadly I don't think that waiting is an option for a totalled car either.

You can probably squeeze a 2nd hand current model (2010+) Polo into that budget if it were a manual, not so much for an Auto. Even then you are talking about a Trendline and that 1.4L NA engine just feels so underpowered I can't recommend it. To step up to the 77TSI (or 66TDI) you get up over $20k and even $25k VERY quickly. (Looking at CarSales today).

Poking around in that sort of price range your are squarely in 2nd hand Golf money. 77TSI, 90TSI and even 118TSI's can be found there (in current ten models).

If you're happy to go back to the older models then there is plenty in the VW stable available in that price range in an auto.

How about something like this:
2007 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE MIAMI 9C MY2007 Coupe Private Cars For Sale in NSW - carsales.com.au

Think she would like that??

[Stuwey]

Jazz or Fiesta for sure. Even Jeremy bought one!

Jeremy on his daughter's first car - BBC Top Gear

[Digger11]

Yes, but because the Poms have been conditioned by high fuel prices over the yeara, stupid clarkson bought this as a large safe car for his daughter when in Aus it is just above the micro car category.
I would only buy VW if she wants quality, the dumb young girls at my work mainly buy the horrible hyundai i30s and love them . Proves most gave no idea.

[zach]

fiesta and swift

[buzuki]

suzuki alto?

[Stuwey]

I would only buy VW if she wants quality, the dumb young girls at my work mainly buy the horrible hyundai i30s and love them . Proves most gave no idea.

Are you kidding me? I will personally never buy another VW. Mine has proven to be the laughing stock of my family. My mums (Mazda built) Laser has been a far better car.

[madglf3]

I'd get a Honda Jazz if I had to spend that kind of money. The Girlfriend has one, it's a great car, very versatile interior, good quality and feel compared to a Toyota Yaris, and the 1.5l / 7speed engine/gearbox combo makes for an intersting drive (better than I would have thought).