DECISIONS, DECISIONS!

[the_great_she_elephant]

OK folks, I need advice. the Elephants are looking for a new car. Our little shopping trolley (Suzuki Swift)  has served us faithfully for 21 years and has nearly 300,000 ks on the clock, but it is  now fast approaching retirement. We want something small, nippy and cheap to run  - a car that will only be used around town as we have a Lancer for longer runs.

Options we are looking at are Mitsubishi Mirage, Suzuki Alto, Volkswagon Up!  Nissan Micra, or Mazda 2.

Which one would you recommend and why?

Or would you suggest something other than any of these. (I would dearly love a smart for 2 but Mr Elephant says no and anyway they are a bit outside of our budget.)

[**meep**]

Thank you

I remembered this thread having some good advice re small cars.   Looking to buy a small car (currently have a Magna but need something smaller that  an L-plater can drive )

Going around in circles and keep coming back to the Ford Focus Trend.

Also considering Hyundi i30

Hyundi Elentra

Kia Cerato

Mazda 3

I've read the reviews, checked the ANCAP ratings etc......

Can someone please tell me good things about the Ford Focus? 

[freakiness]

Have you looked at the Mirage?

Or a small VW/ Golf?   Nice

[**meep**]

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@freakiness wrote:

Have you looked at the Mirage?

Or a small VW/ Golf?   Nice

---

Yes, I do like the look  of the new Golf but the Mirage looks a bit too small ??

[joz*garage]

Can someone please tell me good things about the Ford Focus?  

good history - carry over from the ford escort

i'd research the madaz3, focus or golf (& i'd stay away from the other models you listed

freakie will always suggest the mirage, dunno why, cheap carp - you virtually get what you pay for

corolla? bit expensive maybe?

[darksideofthemoon]

Well Elly you would ask 

[freakiness]

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@joz*garage wrote:

Can someone please tell me good things about the Ford Focus?  

good history - carry over from the ford escort

i'd research the madaz3, focus or golf (& i'd stay away from the other models you listed

freakie will always suggest the mirage, dunno why, cheap carp - you virtually get what you pay for

corolla? bit expensive maybe?

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Who has a cheap **bleep** Mirage?

They're great.  I've no experience with the new ones but the old ones are the best small cars.

Low fuel consumption, low maintenance costs, reliable and comfy.

[lurker17260]

My OHs car is a 6 year old Ford Focus diesel. Now, I know absolutely nothing about cars but it seems pretty good. It's comfortable and seems to get us from point A to point B without problems. We've done a fair bit of highway driving in it and it's been fine.
It does have a couple of silly little design faults. Firstly, something to do with the airbags is located under the front seats, so you have to be really careful when you adjust them or something happens to the controller and the airbag warning light comes on.
And secondly, there are no cup holders. Minor problem I know, but annoying when your on a long trip and want/need a water bottle handy. You have to either put it on the seat beside you or on the floor, where of course it rolls around and gets under the seats and then you're back to problem number one lol
It's not the best car we've ever had MIT not the worst either by a long shot.

[**meep**]

Thank you for the info Lurker .  Taking the Focus and the Kia for a test drive today.  Will ask about the airbags.

Thanks guys

She-ele and Punch, how is the Alto going?

[the_great_she_elephant]

We are loving our Alto, Meep. It is our "shopping trolley" we use the Lancer for longer trips. The Alto, while not the absolute cheapest car to run is still very economical (we have an automatic - a manual would probably use even less juice.) it is comfortable to drive and brilliant for parking.

The only drawback (as far as Mr Elephant is concerned - it doesn't bother me) is that it doesn't have cruise control.  If you want something a bit bigger I reckon you can't go past the Swift. As I mentioned before, we had our old one for 20 years and did 300,000ks in it.

If you get a Mirage I wouldn't recomend an automatic if it is mostly going to do short stop and start trips. The automatic system on the Mitzi's (Infinitely variable something or other) takes a fair while to warm up, though it's great on the open road. 

This is a good website if you want to compare prices, specs, extras etc on various cars.

http://www.carsales.com.au/?mkwid=sE899Xjkp&pcrid=23786443686&pmt=b&pkw=%2Bcarsales&plc=&pdv=c&gclid...

[**meep**]

Thank you, She-ele.   I found the carsales site quite useful.