OK, so my 100HP will be 4 years old in a few months and I fancy a change. Now its a 3rd car/town car/never goes on long runs so my requirements are not to 'upgrade' etc. I'd like softer suspension than the 100HP, nippiness (the 100HP's 1.4 is great for Wycombe's hills), same or very similar phyiscal dimensions and ideally 5 doors (makes the front door shorter for ease of exit in tight spaces). Insurance is not really an issue. Simlar MPG is fine. New or 1-2 years old is fine, £7k-£11k price range.

Current cars I'm thinking of trying:
- Twingo Renaultsport
- A new Panda if and when it happens? Maybe with the 2 cylinder engine?

Cars I don't really want:
- Suzuki Swift
- Fiat 500
- Hyundai i10 (is there one with enough umph anyway?)
- Kia Venga
- Fords or Vauxhalls (styling doesnt do it for me)
- Toyota iQ, Aygo and it's brothers.

Cars I'm not sure about
- Mitsu Colt thingy
- Honda Jazz (again too slow? bit blue rinse maybe?)
- Yaris - quite like them, but is there a nippy one?

Can anyone suggest something diddy and nippy? If I go up to the Punto/Clio size I know there is more choice...

French cars are awful.

The 100HP Panda meets your stated requirements perfectly, and therein lies your problem; I can't think of any other car on the market today which will do all of those things quite as well.

This will be a boring suggestion but why not just keep it for another year; by then there might be something more tempting available. Or - even more boring - get a 1.2 Panda & you will have exactly the same practicality but with lower running costs - and it will get up Marlow Hill eventually, I promise!

The Punto is pretty and spacious, but I don't want a car that size. We have the Golf GTi for that purpose. I either get a diddy car or another silly car (another Z4 which I've had before, a Porsche Cayenne or a Jag XKR etc.).

Your comments regarding French cars are a bit offbeat, since the French and Italians excel at small city cars (as do the Japanese). I agree anything French with gadgets or turbos is asking for trouble though

A Panda Cross rumbled past me walking down the street a few minutes ago. hmm. Also just thought of the Audi A2, pity they stopped making it (the new A1 is old A3 sized).

Regarding diddy cars in general, did I mention that I want to walk away from an accident too? Hence why my Panda has the optional ESP and side/curtain airbags, probably one of the few in the country with these options.

jrkitching said:

The 100HP Panda meets your stated requirements perfectly, and therein lies your problem; I can't think of any other car on the market today which will do all of those things quite as well.

This will be a boring suggestion but why not just keep it for another year; by then there might be something more tempting available. Or - even more boring - get a 1.2 Panda & you will have exactly the same practicality but with lower running costs - and it will get up Marlow Hill eventually, I promise!

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Yeah, I'm leaning towards keeping the Panda for now - no rush to change it. I'm hoping to see what the next-gen Panda looks like as I'm a fan of the rufty tufty look and so NOT the Fiat 500 pretty boy look.

Running costs are not an issue (within reason!), and I know I'd regret swapping for a 1.2 every time I come to a hill

id have a good look at at cit ds3, the colt cz2 is good but very very cheap plastics inside

Trefor said:

Regarding diddy cars in general, did I mention that I want to walk away from an accident too? Hence why my Panda has the optional ESP and side/curtain airbags, probably one of the few in the country with these options.

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The Hyundai i20 has all that stuff as standard on the base model along with five NCAP stars.

Probably doesn't meet your nippiness or fun requirements though...

Keep the Panda until something which you really want comes onto the market. Changing a car for the sake of it leads to regrets.

Hyundai ix20 looks quite nice, 1.4 has 89 Bhp, so not far of the 100HP.
Obviously wont handle like one either but I'm liking the looks and spec for the money. Its on my list when i come to replace early next year.


http://www.hyundai.co.uk/newCars/ix20/

I know you said 4 doors, but do you need 4 seats?

How about a Mazda MX5 or suchlike? Fun, nippy, cheap to run. I'd go for something like this but would have to sell the kids first!

How about the BMW Mini? You can get the Mini First for about £11000 or the ONE or COOPER used.
If you have a TVR you probably will not want a Mazda MX5.How about an old MGB or TR6 for a fun car?
I would not knock the Toyota IQ Hyundai i10 or Kia Picanto.All available as automatics,perfect for round town.
If you only need 2 seats and want to be different the Smart is a great car. I have the Diesel.Automatic,60 MPG round town,free road tax,very strong with the Tridion safety cage,and you get loads of looks.

Mozarella said:

French cars are awful.

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Yeah, they have the best chassis, terrible really!

I don't honestly see Fiat as any better than Renault, which is why I'd never consider a Fiat that is older than 3 years (and was willing to take the gamble on a new one).

I reckon a Twingo RS would be a lot of fun and be a good step up from the Panda.

jrkitching said:

The 100HP Panda meets your stated requirements perfectly, and therein lies your problem; I can't think of any other car on the market today which will do all of those things quite as well.

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A Twingo RS will do everything better apart from the door count.

Thanks all.

Citroen DS3, Hyundai i20 all too big for what I'm looking for. I want a diddy town car. The size of the Panda is great for small gaps and parking.

No automatic thanks - I live in a very hilly town and a small capacity auto will be a slug. Nothing against autos in the right situation, just not in this 'shape' car.

4 doors ideally, but def want 4 seats. Avantage of the Panda is my Brother fits in the back (we're both 6ft 5). No old classic please, once I start down that slope I'll end up with dozens of cars Plus this is something for nipping to the shop/gym/station, stays within 5 miles of home most of the time. It is not intended to be something I lift the bonnet on to clear the damp from the points every time I want to use it

Toyota iQ - no thanks. 1. it's Fugly and overpriced 2. I'd rather have a Panda.

Twingo will be tried for size when I see one for sale nearby.

Trefor said:

Twingo will be tried for size when I see one for sale nearby.

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Let us know how you get on.

The Ralliart Colt is pretty potent with around 150bhp. It also has a fun chassis. It does look a bit quirky though. Might be good as an outsider.

Think the Honda Jazz is just boring so forget that.

Twingo has similar attributes to the 100hp but in a more polished package with a bit more power (133bhp), plus it has bigger wheel arch extensions.

Twingo RS is a really fast car(for it's size), and it handles good.
Especially the cup version.

If i'd change mine 100HP it would be for someting bigger.
My first choise would be an Leon Cupra 310...

just a shame it feels far too tinny to drive and the stereo is in the wrong place

Mozarella said:

French cars are awful.

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Yeah this one sucks....

Fabia VRS