How To Pick The Right Small Car For You


Surveys reveal when you're considering a car it's important to choose one that

1. Fits your lifestyle.
2. Is one you can afford.
3. Is Safe.

The small car comes in three different lengths in the UK, about  3.5, 3.75 and 4m.

City cars - Kia Picanto, Citroen C1, Fiat 500 etc - are tiny and only 3.5m'ish long. They're easy to park, tight in the back an have limited boot space. The choice of engines is usually restricted.

Super minis - Nissan Micra, Mini - are nearer 3.75m long. A handy size, better in the back and boot. More choice of engines.

The cars around 4m - Renault Clio, Vauxhall Corsa, Ford Fiesta etc - may be bigger than you like but the space in the back and boot could mean they're all the car you really need. There's a wide choice of trims and engines.

When you move from model to model, trim to trim, engine to engine, always check the car insurance group for each because it's a major expense theses days.

To see if one fits your life it might be helpful to ask yourself:

• What do you like about your present car?
• What's your car's body type - saloon, hatch, estate, coupe, drop head, sports, MPV, SUV - and length?
• What do you think is important in a car - price, size, style, prestige, space, comfort, performance, fuel consumption, emissions, safety?
• What do you use your car for?
• Who drives the car now and who is likely to in the future?
• What do you carry in your car?
• Do you motor in the town, country or motorway?
• What's your average annual mileage?

When deciding if a car is affordable take a DIM view - Depreciation, Interest, Maintaining it on the road.


Safety is simple - if you buy a car with less than a Euro NCAP 5-star crash test rating and without electronic stability control then you are buying less than a safe car. Having read that if you now do so, you do so knowingly.

When you're happy a car will fit your life, budget and it's safe then it's time to consider other aspects:

• Revisit the question above - what do you think is important in a car - price, size, style, prestige, space, comfort, performance, fuel consumption, emissions, safety?
• Test your answers to these questions with, 'so what' and test that answer with, 'so what's in it for me.'
• You know you must test drive a car.
• Get the best deal for discount, finance, part-exchange and add-ons. Get the best deal on all four not just one or two.
• Don't think because a car is in the top 10 new car sellers list it's the best car. Many things determine new car sales. It doesn't reflect used car popularity where the market is 3 times bigger. It's not a measure of customer satisfaction. All current small new cars in the UK are contenders once you pick a size.
• Only consider small diesel cars if your savings exceed the added cost of a diesel car and fuel over a reasonable mileage and time.
• If cars you're comparing rank closely for fuel consumption in what are lab' tests do not assume the same difference will be present on the road in real driving conditions. There may be no difference. Also work out the financial cost of any difference for your yearly mileage - it may be insignificant.

Hope that helps

Regards
Ralph
carbuyersinfo.co.uk. Car Comparison Website to help find the right car for you.