WHICH ZIPPY SMALL CAR CAN REPLACE MY BELOVED DAIHATSU?

Dear Alex,

I have been driving my Daihatsu Charade for many years. I love it – the doors that open nice and wide, the zippy engine and so on. But it’s on its last legs and I need to replace it with a small car costing up to £8,000 that fits my parking space. It can be up to a foot longer and/or wider than the Charade, but no more. I usually drive alone, occasionally with a passenger and, rarely, with grandchildren in the back. I don’t need much of a boot. What do you suggest?

HL

Dear HL,

I shall assume your Charade is the last version we got in the UK, sold between 2003 and 2006. That would make it 3.4 metres long and 1.5m wide, giving us dimensions of about 3.7m by 1.8m to play with, considering the size of your parking space. 

That means we’re looking at a pretty small car, but that’s no bad thing, because there’s a great choice of these within your budget. 

Top of my list would be the Volkswagen Up. It’s popular for a reason: neat styling, a cheerful interior, comfortable seats, lots of space and easy access.

Most have a 59bhp engine, similar to your Charade’s. I found a 2019 example, a mid-range Move Up with only 26,000 miles and a full history – yours for £7,995. 

If you fancy some extra zip, there’s also a rarer 74bhp version, usually in more luxurious High Up form. I found a 2017 example with 36,000 miles and a full history for £7,800. 

The Kia Picanto is also a good choice; buy one that’s recent enough and it will still have a portion of the seven-year manufacturer’s warranty remaining. I found a 2018 1.0 example in “2” trim with 20,000 miles, again with a full history, for £7,995. 

Another option is the Toyota Aygo. I don’t think the last-generation Aygo drives as nicely as the Picanto or the Up, nor does it feel quite as solid inside – but if you use a Toyota dealer for servicing, you’ll get an extra year’s warranty, until the car is 10 years old. 

If that sort of peace of mind sounds appealing, the Aygo is easily available within your budget; the 2019 1.0 x-plore I found with 24,000 miles and a full history would serve you well. 

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2024-09-06T06:31:14Z dg43tfdfdgfd