Buying Supermini - choice HJ?
Hi HJ - You have helped with choice for self and family before - many thanks, really appreciated.
Have Spark 1.2LT (px around £4.5k) to trade + c£7k.
Like almost new Panda 4x4 twinair but concerned re Fiat reliability.
Skoda Fabia 1.6d 105bhp seems really wellmade and should be reliable, fast enough and economical.
Chev Aveo 1.3D seems good. Have I missed anything obvious? My wife did not like Suzuki Swift and VW Up is a bit too small.
Which do you think wouldbe best assuming all will give similar p/x. Thanks again.
Have Spark 1.2LT (px around £4.5k) to trade + c£7k.
Like almost new Panda 4x4 twinair but concerned re Fiat reliability.
Skoda Fabia 1.6d 105bhp seems really wellmade and should be reliable, fast enough and economical.
Chev Aveo 1.3D seems good. Have I missed anything obvious? My wife did not like Suzuki Swift and VW Up is a bit too small.
Which do you think wouldbe best assuming all will give similar p/x. Thanks again.
Asked on 19 June 2013 by Neil23
Answered by
Honest John
Be interested in feedback on the Spark, because I haven't got any.
There is no problem with reliability of FIATs built at Tichy in Poland (previous Panda and 500). But I think the new Panda is built in Italy. TwinAirs are great to drive but do not achieve the real world economy that they manage in the EC lab tests. Don't get the Fabia. It's overdue for replacement and the 1.6TDI 105 has had problems. The Chevrolet Aveo 1.3D must have the FIAT/GM 1,252cc Multijet engine as that is the only 1.3 diesel around. That can have DPF problems. The cheap choices are the Dacia Sandero 90TCe, from £7,395 NEW, and the Sandero Stepway, from £7,995, and the Dacia Logan MCV estate.
There is no problem with reliability of FIATs built at Tichy in Poland (previous Panda and 500). But I think the new Panda is built in Italy. TwinAirs are great to drive but do not achieve the real world economy that they manage in the EC lab tests. Don't get the Fabia. It's overdue for replacement and the 1.6TDI 105 has had problems. The Chevrolet Aveo 1.3D must have the FIAT/GM 1,252cc Multijet engine as that is the only 1.3 diesel around. That can have DPF problems. The cheap choices are the Dacia Sandero 90TCe, from £7,395 NEW, and the Sandero Stepway, from £7,995, and the Dacia Logan MCV estate.
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