Recommend me a small car for daily commute

I will put a post up in due course about the outcome, but it isnt looking good for my Coupe . I had a bump in it the other morning and it has given me the wake up call that a 20 year old 250+ bhp is less than ideal for travelling from one side of Sheffield to the other (25 miles a day).

What I do with the car depends on the insurance offer, it will be with a very heavy heart that I let her get written off, but if they offer peanuts, then I will source a new bonnet and grill and take my chances with what lies behind the cosmetics. Maybe even shoehorn the engine into the X19!

Anyway, back on topic! I want something fairly economical, reliable, big enough to get the kids in the back on occasion, £3k-3.5k tops, less than 60k miles and a bit different. Petrol preferably due to the nature of the vast majority of journey type.

The other half has a Bravo 150 t-jet, which suits our needs for longer journeys and I have the X19 for fun, so those boxes are ticked.

I cant seem to look past a Panda 100hp or a Mito tb. The Panda is favourite, I have driven a few and loved them, although only run them for a few days at a time - honeymoon period? - Its a bit harsh after the comfort of the Coupe after all.

I wont entertain anything French, especially after today's let down experience with a Meganne RS that came into stock at work. On paper it should have been comparable with the Coupe - circa 240 bhp, front wheel drive etc, but in reality it wasnt even on the same page, more refined/modern feel perhaps, but lacked so much in other ways including performance. Irrelevant really, as it is double my budget in any case.

What am I overlooking? I work in the used car trade, so I have driven pretty much anything you may suggest, but I cant seem to look outside the Fiat brand(s)... Never been without one in 25 years of driving!

Help!... or at least tell me I am doing the right thing looking at a Panda 100hp / Mito TB

Punto Evo or Grande Punto 1.4? Doblo 1.4? Stilo? (hard to find below 60k) Some will have stop/start which will help with fuel economy

Lots more choice if you go down to 1.2 including Panda and lots more 500s

I concur with DaveG's choices.

Have a couple of mates with Panda twin-airs and they are very happy with theirs. Another mate has a diesel one with which he 'moonlights' as an Uber driver. He gets very favourable comments about it from passengers.

I love the 500 - we have two and I love driving them. I think they suit having low power. TwinAir would be fun but I hear that the economy is nothing close that they claim.

I had a Mito 1.4TB and hated it (as did all the family that drove it) despite how stylish it was (silver with red leather and carbon effect trim). It had poor fuel economy too.

What sort of a Mazda2 can you get at that price? Good all round car which is particularly reliable.

A shout for the 100hp from me. I bought mine as a stop gap a fair few years ago and it has been brilliant.

Its not the best on fuel, but equally not horrendous.

The thing I love the most about is how much fun it is drive. I can easily drive like miss daisy then, when I want to have a bit of fun drive like Jason Plato.

Mine has hit 214k now and is still looking and running great and has not <touching wood> let me down yet.

Incidently I will be selling mine in December as I have decided to get a more grown up car .

It would be boring if we were all the same - I had a Mito 1.4TB and loved it . I think the MultiAir engine is brilliant. I'd have another without question. No brainer for me.

What about a Volvo C30 1.6 R-Design?
A bit different to the norm and they drive really well.

I use a 1.2 Nissan Micra 2008 plate. Boring jap design yes, but Its pretty economical, a bit more pokey than you might expect and has never ever let me down. Just passed the 100k miles mark and still going strong. Neither my Coupe or the 500 convertible need to take the hammer that this little car gets on a daily basis.

Double up on the Bravo is my thoughts

Me and girlfriend each had one she had a non turbo
I had the 120 1.4 t jet and just sold last week to get my fiat Coupe turbo

It’s the best of both worlds very practical and is a sporty wee number when you want it to be
It’s not much bigger than a panda
And is more than cable of getting 40 plus mpg

Very underrated cars which mean prices are low to buy for what you get compared to punto and panda

I would recommend a MK1 Fabia vRS. Fast, very good on fuel (55+mpg) and reliable. Diesel, but awesome. Plenty of room in the back too. My mate had one with 3 kids and managed.

Some good suggestions so far, thank you all

The Punto I had sort of over looked, I dont know why as it sits between the Panda and the Bravo, and its what the Mito is based on after all. I will have a look and see if any take my fancy I had an Abarth one about a year ago, it was great fun, but probably does not fit within the criteria, unless I start using man maths! I helped a friend buy one not so long ago and he loves his, I think he has a 120 t-jet.

I dont fancy a 1.2 Panda or a 500, I have driven a few and the 100HP is so much more fun, if a little harsh on poor roads, it also has longer legs for the odd motorway journey if required.

I could probably pick up a Mazda2 in the trade with ease and save a fair bit on retail, but I find them a bit bland. I know they are reliable, have plenty of gadgets if you get the right edition, but they dont have any fizz about them IMHO. Dont get me wrong, some of the cars I am looking at are no more exciting, and it will do the commute in ease and comfort, but they do nothing for me.

I do like the Volvo C30, I have had a few of them through work and I have always like the shape - different! I have only ever had the 1.6 diesels though, which I am cautious of with the kind of miles I will be driving, but otherwise, they do drive really nice. They are a bit cramped in the back in terms of trying to strap an angry toddler into a rear facing seat though. But they might be worth another look to remind myself of what I am over looking.

Sorry Pete, but I have a built in hatred of Micra's ever since one ran into my Cinq 22 years ago. It was my first car, bought new and I still own it to this day... Never have, never will forgive Micra's, the icing on the cake was that I was given one as a courtesy car while mine was repaired!

I completely agree with the Bravo's being under rated, I have often recommended them and I really enjoy driving SWMBO's, but I cant get my head around having two of the same cars - as lets be honest, if she has a 150 t-jet, mine has to be at least the same! I have toyed with freshening her car up with a newer one, but she loves it and wont trade until she has to I dont think.

Not thought of a Fabia VRS, although once again, the majority of my mileage is sitting in slow moving traffic, so not sure if a diesel will be my best way forward, although I presume one would be pre DPF?

Some food for thought there, thank you

Yep, vRS is pre DPF. It's the bullet proof 1.9 TDi.

My dad has had 2 in a row and can't think of anything better to replace it. It would be my first choice if I had to garage the Coupé.

Although diesel is a dirty word these days, they are still better on fuel and have more grunt than most petrols.

I do know what you mean

We bought a new red Mazda2 with the 115PS engine, which to our eyes looks great for a mini car and is real fun to drive. However the older ones are a bit plainer looking. What surprised me though while I was doing my research was how really reliable the previous generation was, which was also supposed to be even better to drive. My aim when buying older work-horse cars is reliability first, style later. There is nothing worse than a cheap car that need loads of money to keep it running

A bit left field, but like a Bravo with a MultiAir engine...Chrysler Delta aka as a Lancia Delta outside the UK.

I'd be a bit wary of getting that Panda: https://www.msn.com/en-gb/cars/news/fiat...ocid=spartanntp

The latest Tipo I think scored very low on recent crash testing as well?
Why would Fiat skip on this critical issue?
A serious rethink is needed???

Hmmm... We love our 2 Panda courtesy cars. Just better hope nobody decides to crash them... Scary!

I hate to say it people, but despite all advice, thank you, I kept the blinkers on!

I have bought a 100HP. I cant help myself with quirky Fiats! I have driven quite a few and done plenty of miles in them, so I know what I am in for with the ride quality, but I have found a low mileage FSH car in my prefered colour, its a late car, so the bulbous round door mirrors will be replaced with the earlier square mirrors, but otherwise it should suit my needs.

Still awaiting the insurance outcome on the Coupe though, I might end up keeping hold of it yet... the damage is superficial and a new bonnet, grill and side light/indicator unit should sort it, but the process has been started with the other guy, so time will tell...

Merc A class diesel (type W169 - 2nd gen). I am on my second A200. Does 50mpg and plenty of quality and poke