Thread: Small Runabout Car

Looking to buy a small runabout car for the monday - friday daily grind rather then chewing up unnecessary km on my ute. I’ve only ever owned 4wds and never been in the market for a little car so keen to hear anyone’s recommendations. Basically looking for small low maintenance platform with an engine around 1.2 - 1.5l max so it’s nice and efficient on fuel and can fit my three kids in it. Two car seats can go in the back and my daughter can go in a booster in the front seat if needed.

Looking at the likes of these atm:
Suzuki Swift
Mazda Demio
Honda Fit
Toyota Fitz
Toyota Yaris

Thoughts?
Cheers all

Forgot to add, not looking to spend a lot. Probably top end around 4k

Honestly a secondhand Nissan leaf has been a game changer for our family run around. Nearly zero servicing cost, cheap to "fuel" and great to drive. Hilux only comes out for trips to the hills or towing. I know some on this forum wont have a bar of EV's but i'd urge you to consider it.

Edit just saw your second post re cost, probably not viable.

I bought a 2004 Corolla for $1.5k, 300kms. Had it 3 years now, runs like a dream, no probs for a WoF.
Handy for hunting too if your leaving it overnight rather than leaving your expensive ute there

Originally Posted by stagstalker

Looking to buy a small runabout car for the monday - friday daily grind rather then chewing up unnecessary km on my ute. I’ve only ever owned 4wds and never been in the market for a little car so keen to hear anyone’s recommendations. Basically looking for small low maintenance platform with an engine around 1.2 - 1.5l max so it’s nice and efficient on fuel and can fit my three kids in it. Two car seats can go in the back and my daughter can go in a booster in the front seat if needed.

Looking at the likes of these atm:
Suzuki Swift
Mazda Demio
Honda Fit
Toyota Fitz
Toyota Yaris

Thoughts?
Cheers all

All good choices except the Fit.
Swift probably has the most space.
If you could stretch to a Maxda Axela/3 thats what I would be doing

Exactly why I have a swift. Great little cars, mines a manual and quite fun to drive, easy to repair and service.
I can do 1000k a week in mine if going to orifice everyday.

One of my guy here also have 2010 Swift and he is very happy with it, cheap little reliable car he said.

Wife used to own 2005 Mazda 2 or Demio, she used it for 10+ years before she upgrade and gave the car my mate's kids to learn to drive,
they use the car until last year when rust is unrepairable and couldn't obtain WoF but engine still goes at 250+k.

Originally Posted by stagstalker

Looking to buy a small runabout car for the monday - friday daily grind rather then chewing up unnecessary km on my ute. I’ve only ever owned 4wds and never been in the market for a little car so keen to hear anyone’s recommendations. Basically looking for small low maintenance platform with an engine around 1.2 - 1.5l max so it’s nice and efficient on fuel and can fit my three kids in it. Two car seats can go in the back and my daughter can go in a booster in the front seat if needed.

Looking at the likes of these atm:
Suzuki Swift
Mazda Demio
Honda Fit
Toyota Fitz
Toyota Yaris

Thoughts?
Cheers all

I get the reasoning, but why not just use the ute ? You've already got it. may as well use it.
There's no way I'd put my kids in the back of any of those vechiles if my ute was sitting at home. Particularly after you've been to a few bad MVAs involving small cars.

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I crashed a Mazda Demio (courtesy car) into a Kia Picanto earlier this weekend. His Picanto was still drivable but the Demio was not.
Hope that helps lol

Toyota

I've got a 2007 Toyota Ractis I paid $5000 about 4 years ago @100,000km over 200,000 now and still no problems. I'm a notorious leadfoot and have always had heavy fuel usage but I regular get 7-7.5L/100km.
It's huge inside, I'm 6'2" and still have 4" headroom, fold the back seats down and I can comfortably sleep in the back if I curl up a bit.

How much money are you really saving if you buy a second car as you still have out lay the purchase cost (that’s a lotta diesel) then you still have to service it, maintain it, fix any mechanical issues which do arise in even small cheap cars, insure it and rego it and then you still have to pay for the petrol that goes in the tank…

Another one that's worth a look is the corolla/fielder wagon, should be able to pick up for less than $4k.
I have one for a work car at the moment, good on fuel and heaps of room

if its got a toyota badge on it...job done. our wee corona has over 200,000kms on clock and the previous one had similar... never given bit of trouble.

Originally Posted by BRADS

I get the reasoning, but why not just use the ute ? You've already got it. may as well use it.
There's no way I'd put my kids in the back of any of those vechiles if my ute was sitting at home. Particularly after you've been to a few bad MVAs involving small cars.

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We are going through the same thought process at the moment, but with the kids 'first car'.