Small car to "Get Back in Love With"

[randel]

Following on from "Ford CEO - Americans need to “get back in love” with small cars"

What are peoples thoughts for a small car to replace the daughters Getz? Was written off in a car accident tonight. She is OK - car not so much!

She loved the little Getz - small and reliable.

She is not a car person - doesnt care for brands etc - budget - up to around $25k? Could go a little higher if needed. Must be Auto and Air cond and similar size to the Getz - small Hatch.

Doesnt need to be brand new - but probably worth getting something newer than the Getz.

We happened to be driving home after picking her up and saw a Suzuki Swift - nice looking little car - quick search and 1 speed CVT puts me off. Any feedback on these?

I would love to find something in the Ford range - but anything small Ford in Auto gives me DCT shivers. Had a look at Fords Australian Website - categories are Trucks & Vans/SUVs/Performance/Electric/Future Vehicles. Yet they tell us we need to fall in love with small cars

I want to steer away from Euro ($$$ to maintain) & China. Leads me to Japanese or Korean.

Had a Picanto loaner for her a while back - not really impressed with that - although may just be bad memories because it stunk like fish inside


Hyundai i20/i30? (What is the difference between I30 and Accent?)
Kia Cerato?
Toyota Yaris?
Mazda 2?

Any of the above 4 with known issues to steer clear of?

What would you recommend for your kids? Penny for ya thoughts!

[Citroënbender]

This is going to be interesting. It’s harder to find conventional automatics in newer small cars.

If I overlooked two of your criteria, a very late Alfa MiTo would be a dirt cheap option - they finished around 2018. There’s a couple of competent independent specialists over your way.

[FTE217]

Glad the daughter is a ok randel ! count the blessings thankfully.

I'm sure we will get many say this others that.

IMO, my daughter inlaw had a Mazda 2 from new back in '14 or abouts.
Couldn't fault it, relaible cheap to run, a car is a car to her thats it.
Similar thing got written off someone went up the rear.
150thou k's - just service consumables.
Recently had not good experience with Cerato for the eldest boy, got it from one of the inlaws cheap, over 100thou k's, said they regularly serviced it.
Under a year started getting a large knocking sound from the donk, I reckon probably cam or worse, decidied to flip it for the labour to investigate repair wasn't worth it.

Therefore good timing one of our staff were departing that had one of the company i30's I got new.
Regular servicing, high k's over 100thou for a 2018.
Faultless, 7yr WTY stil got a little cover, bought it from the company.
They are the old days corolla imo and cheaper.
Yaris reliable but pay more.
Swift I don't hear of horror ownership stories much TBH amongst the Trade I'm involved with.


My 19yr old daughter is breaking my chops for a car soon, for me it will be i20/Mazda2/Yaris most likely.
Wouldn't mind sussing out low K Fiesta as well.

[Citroënbender]

The young lady two doors up, has a Mazda 2. Probably similar brief to the OP - small, auto, AC. Drives to office when not teleworking, takes the dog to off-leash parks, a little shopping and the odd Friday or Saturday night out. She never looks unhappy driving it, and it’s never made strange noises as it comes up the street.

[prktkljokr]

Following on from the Getz I would say the i30, very similar and pretty much the next evolution of the Getz

[Franco Cozzo]

What do you mean you don't want a Ford Ranger?

Anything that doesn't have a DSG or CVT box - stick with torque converter auto.

But Getz is Fiesta sized so it's hard to find a recent replacement that's auto without AIDS-on-wheels DSG/CVT.

See if you can find a Honda Jazz, but exclude the CVT version, I think they have a traditional auto variant.

They have this amazing folding rear seat setup where you can move the rear seats around in a zillion different ways so you can turn it into a mini version of a van. Pretty handy as you can fit all sorts of shit in the back.

https://www.drive.com.au/reviews/honda-jazz-review/

Just avoid the CVT like the plague, there's a CVT variant so be careful, but also a normal 5sp auto variant too.

Slim pickings in Getz/Fiesta sized, i30 is a bigger car - there's nothing good around anymore new for us supermini fans.

[falcon_bandit]

Just went through this exact thing couple months ago, was quite scary receiving a phone call at 11pm from a crying hysterical incoherent loved one. Good to hear your daughter was ok.

After a bit of research we felt the I30 - the latest facelift model 2021 onwards was the best value

120kw, 6spd auto, android auto, parking sensors, reverse camera, driver assistance, huge drl's, plenty luggage space etc. Throw on some 18" rims, nice looking car

[bangm001]

I would go either a Mazda 3 or Toyota Corolla. Family have the Mazdas and pretty much faultless after many years. Cheap to run and service etc. Both of these are just proven vehicles and would be my pick.

[Cav]

How about a real car?

[Franco Cozzo]

Originally Posted by Cav

How about a real car?

image

image

image

Did it come with the matching flag?

[ford71V8]

[Big_Daz]

i30 Hatch are a good bit of gear. For your budget you should be able to get into an MY21/22 Active hatch with the auto and still have a decent amount of factory warranty. Great little cars and has the safety and tech you and she want. If she wants more grunt, an earlier SR with the 1.6t/DCT combo will come under budget.. But you are getting an older one, probably more KM.

Mazda 2 or 3 are another good option. My mother has a 2016 CX-30 (small SUV on the 2 platform but with the 3 2 litre) since new and even now with over 200k km on it its still going strong. Apart from her hiting kerbs with the rims its been reliable as.

[kevino]

Originally Posted by Big_Daz

i30 Hatch are a good bit of gear. For your budget you should be able to get into an MY21/22 Active hatch with the auto and still have a decent amount of factory warranty. Great little cars and has the safety and tech you and she want. If she wants more grunt, an earlier SR with the 1.6t/DCT combo will come under budget.. But you are getting an older one, probably more KM.

Mazda 2 or 3 are another good option. My mother has a 2016 CX-30 (small SUV on the 2 platform but with the 3 2 litre) since new and even now with over 200k km on it its still going strong. Apart from her hiting kerbs with the rims its been reliable as.

You could add to that the Mazda cx3
Small an suv but basically just a hatch

[Big_Daz]

Originally Posted by kevino

You could add to that the Mazda cx3
Small an suv but basically just a hatch

Sorry, I got myself confused.. cx-3 is what mum has, not the cx-30… she doesn’t drive all that hard but with her keeping it serviced it’s not had a thing go wrong even with all the km on it. Well worth a look. You can get a 2023/24 demo for not much more than ops budget as well.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[falcon_bandit]

Originally Posted by Big_Daz

i30 Hatch are a good bit of gear. For your budget you should be able to get into an MY21/22 Active hatch with the auto and still have a decent amount of factory warranty.

Just to add to this, be aware that ex rentals wont be covered. These are normally the ones with 60thou km's. Additionally, according to Hyundai, any services outside the dealer must have documentation of exact specs of all fluids used or claims will be voided.

Having said that, ex-rentals still can provide excellent value. Picked up our 2021 model ex-rental for 21k delivered, leaving plenty for N-line wheels, & SR leather seat swap.

[DFB FGXR6]

Most Corolla's, Cerato's, i30's sold on the used market at that price point are generally ex-rental vehicles, which may or may not bother you. Plenty of Corolla's, but you naturally pay Toyota-tax on that.

If the size is fine, I'd be looking at Suzuki Swifts.

Near new -
https://www.carsales.com.au/cars/det...G-AD-22873160/
https://www.carsales.com.au/cars/det...G-AD-23054951/

I'd be shopping this, mainly for the bigger engine for safe overtaking ect -
https://www.carsales.com.au/cars/det...G-AD-23261879/

[prydey]

So much love for non fords on ford forums...

SA Focus. Search over.

Even a puma would be worth a look although I think they have dual clutch auto. No reported issues though.

[DFB FGXR6]

Originally Posted by prydey

So much love for non fords on ford forums...

SA Focus. Search over.

Even a puma would be worth a look although I think they have dual clutch auto. No reported issues though.

Sadly, this is the result of Ford abandoning this end of the market, even the rusted on fans/customers simply don't associate Ford with small/economical vehicles.

I'd gladly have a SA Focus, a very underrated vehicle and vastly better than the previous model................one that no one knew existed because Ford are much happier selling near 3-tonne ladder frame pickups in 1001 different versions.

What I find rich is Ford now TELLING customers (in the USA at least) that people should be buying small cars again.................after TELLING customers that they only wanted pickups and SUV's.

[randel]

Awesome feedback fellas, thanks for the input.

Time for some carsales/market place trolling

CAV - as much as I would love her to have a real car like that - I wouldnt fit in it to go for a drive with her. She would need to carry a crow bar to get me out if I got in

[kevino]

Puma is indeed a seven speed dsg
Values have dropped since Ford announced it was withdrawing Puma from Aus sales
Forgot about SA Focus 1.5 three cyl plus an 8 speed torque converter auto

[prydey]

My daughter has a SA Focus Trend. Great little car.

[DFB FGXR6]

Originally Posted by prydey

My daughter has a SA Focus Trend. Great little car.

I had an SA Focus ST-Line as a service loan car, I liked it waaay more than the previous model. A much nicer interior with better use of space, the chassis felt more planted too.

[randel]

I found a Focus that I would like - maybe this would make her into a "Car Lover"

https://www.carsales.com.au/cars/det...-AD-23423594/?

Oh..... and just a tad over budget

See I thought all the later Focus were DSG etc. Will have to check them out. Thanks for the tip Rob.

[prydey]

Originally Posted by randel

See I thought all the later Focus were DSG etc. Will have to check them out. Thanks for the tip Rob.

Wife has a ZH escape. Getting a bit bigger than a getz but the 2L ecoboost is a strong motor. Paired with the 8sp it goes incredibly well for what looks like a girly car.

A bit thirstier though.

[DFB FGXR6]

Originally Posted by randel

I found a Focus that I would like - maybe this would make her into a "Car Lover"

https://www.carsales.com.au/cars/det...-AD-23423594/?

Oh..... and just a tad over budget

See I thought all the later Focus were DSG etc. Will have to check them out. Thanks for the tip Rob.

Perfect!

Ford went back to a torque converter auto with the LZ Focus, which was the updated 3rd generation. In this case, a 1.5 EcoBoost 4-cylinder and 6-speed auto replaced the troublesome 2.0 naturally aspirated 4-cylinder and 6-speed Powershift (DCT). With the updated powertrain, the LZ are much better regarded, just lacks the polish of the SA.



For the SA, Ford used an 8-speed torque converter auto. The ST was available with a 7-speed torque converter, which was the same 8-speed gearbox but with 4th programmed out.

[Franco Cozzo]

That 1.5L Ecoboost is a bit of a shitbox though reliability wise, class law suit going on over in the UK and USA about cooling system dramas due to a design flaw with the block, I'd be hesitant to buy, not a good long term proposition.

For reference my own Fiesta ST has developed the problem, its about $11,000 fitted for a new long and there's only 14x left in stock before its NLA. There's also a few other members here on AFF having dramas with them as well and getting no love out of Ford CRC and their dealerships.

It effects 1.5L, 1.6L and 2.0L Ecoboost engines.

[randel]

Originally Posted by Franco Cozzo

That 1.5L Ecoboost is a bit of a shitbox though reliability wise, class law suit going on over in the UK and USA about cooling system dramas due to a design flaw with the block, I'd be hesitant to buy, not a good long term proposition.

For reference my own Fiesta ST has developed the problem, its about $11,000 fitted for a new long and there's only 14x left in stock before its NLA.

It effects 1.5L, 1.6L and 2.0L Ecoboost engines.

Ahhhh shit - what is the problem that requires full replacement?

Just ducking out to look at a red 2021 Focus in a yard

[Franco Cozzo]

Originally Posted by randel

Ahhhh shit - what is the problem that requires full replacement?

Just ducking out to look at a red 2021 Focus in a yard

Cooling passages in the block, thin wall on the bore and tiny mounting surface for the head gasket and cylinder head, block goes thin in the cylinders, warps and then starts drinking coolant.

I've had an SA Focus loan car, its absolutely mint and peak Focus, but that engine is going to be a problem and given they had a short run before being discontinued in Australia it wont be long before parts supply dries up.

[DFB FGXR6]

Originally Posted by randel

Ahhhh shit - what is the problem that requires full replacement?

Just ducking out to look at a red 2021 Focus in a yard

That should be the SA, which had the 1.5 3-cylinder engine, I thought they were sorted.

[Franco Cozzo]

Originally Posted by DFB FGXR6

That should be the SA, which had the 1.5 3-cylinder engine, I thought they were sorted.

There's also three variations of that engine in circulation across a couple years, two of the variations have a wet belt setup driving the oil pump and one is geared.