Buying a small car? Don’t do it.

Not until you've read this.

Last year I heard on the radio near 40% of motorists were considering changing to a small car. I immediately dashed out an article on the internet saying ‘don’t do it’.

Why?

Because over the decades I’ve been selling cars these cycles come and go. When there is a move to small cars very shortly afterwards there is a move out of them. This is because small cars can prove too small with inadequate space and versatility.

The cost of an unplanned change back to a larger car is disastrous because the hidden horror of depreciation is realised. The cost of depreciation far outweighs any saving you may make over a number of years by way of a small car’s fuel economy.

My recommendation is buy a more economical car not a small car.

There are several more important points to consider. Before I make them let me declare my own opinion so you know where I stand and can form your own understanding.

I say don’t run a small car but run one myself. That’s because it’s all I need and like the way small cars perform. If I want an MPV for a holiday trip I hire one. When an MPV isn’t roomy enough to take my daughter to uni’ I hire a van.

When my kids were about I ran a medium-small MPV, today that would be a Renault Scenic Grand 5-seats. If I wasn’t cost conscious I’d run an Espace dCi Automatic. I did in the 80s. My wife became the village taxi driver which doubled our costs.

Here are points you may like to consider.

Small cars - Clio - are fun to drive. Most are comfortable and have room for 5, but only for regional trips. Two could travel across a continent. They’re normally very stylish with street-cred’. Certainly they are way cheaper to run than big cars. Most are safer than people think and some have 5-star NCAP crash test ratings.

Small MPVs - Modus - may give you more room and versatility but you still have to be cautious and ask, is it enough?

Medium-small sized cars - Megane - have proved in the past to be the car for everyone. Again fun to drive, stylish, comfortable, reasonably cheap to run with many now achieving 5-star crash ratings. Most are roomy enough for four over long distances but lack luggage space.

Medium-small saloons and estates will improve luggage space. Choose a diesel engine for small car economy. The saloon and estate’s conventional image seems to be a drawback for many.

The medium-small MPV - Scenic - seems to be the most successful idea since the Mini. They have all the space and versatility most need. There are a wide range of engines and trims to fit your own idea of performance and comfort. Diesel engines make them very economical. Most are safe, some super-safe.

At first the Scenic had an image that made people think twice. Now it’s an image many want. The Modus is going through the same process at the moment.

Medium sized cars, MPVs are obviously expensive to buy and run. Most executive cars are run using someone else’s money. As for 4x4s, I’ve been selling cars since 1966 and still don’t get it.

I’ve written this article again because I read in the papers yesterday that a SURGE of small car sales is expected. So I have to say, DON’T DO IT’. Buy a more economical car. For example:

Renault Clio 1.2 or 1.4 petrol or dCi 86
Renault Modus 1.2 or 1.4 petrol or dCi 86
Megane dCi 106
Megane saloon or estate dCi
Scenic dCi
Even an Espace dCi

Better still a diesel Renault Kangoo car. You may look like Postman Pat and they’re dull to drive but they’re cheap to buy and run. Loads of space and versatility. Acceptable comfort and safety. The main advantage is you can give a Kangoo a hard life and not worry about it.

Regards
Ralph

http://www.carbuyersinfo.co.uk/renault_clio_price_list_with_super_savings.htm