Help my mum find a car

My mum wants/needs a new car. About five years ago, she wrote off her fun little Fiat Panda after aquaplaning on the M5, and it got replaced with a Mazda2 that I have never thought appropriate to her needs.

She will be 80 in September, but is still young of mind and heart, if incredibly aggravating.

She lives in near Todmorden, drives to Bury frequently, and travels down to South Wales on average six times a year.

Budget is £3k.

Criteria include:

– Not overly large, but bigger than the Mazda she currently has

–  Five doors as opposed to three, as door weight is an issue

– She prefers manual, although I think it’s just for sentimental reasons

– She and my dad had had a Skoda Fabia, and I don’t think she wants another Skoda

– She prefers European badges, although wouldn’t absolutely rule out something Japanese or Korean

– Above all, it needs to be reliable and safe

She was thinking about a Seat Leon.

I was thinking Volvo V40 or a BMW 1 series.

The question is: What does STW think? What would you get your mum that matched that criteria?

Hyundai i20?

My Mum is nearly the same age, and fits the description as well, but she drives a mk7.5 Golf GTI like she stole it, so I won’t use her as an exemplar.

I think I’d struggle to look past a Focus. Loads available on the market, parts are plentiful and cheap, they’re a decent size and easy to drive.

Honda Jazz. They are much more spacious than you’d expect and very reliable. They’ve also usually been owned by older people who care about things like servicing and don’t mind spending money on cars which is a rarity for stuff at that price point.

I wouldn’t touch a £3k 1 series and I’d definitely avoid diesel. Seat Leon and other VAG stuff will have issues at this age and money.

I think she’s after a Porsche 🤔. RNP is just over the hill from her and he sourced one for £500.

i20 a good shout, my mums i10 is ace. BMW 1 series is a
Bit low and has a long bonet.

Above all, it needs to be reliable and safe

It’s not the plane, it’s the pilot 😀

A mate of mine’s mum was in a very similar situation.

She bought an MX5.

i20 would be a good shout.

If not a Fabia – my default answer – the Scala is the next “size” up and might suit?

Kia C’eed?

I was coming here to say i20. We’ve got i10 and it’s a cracking car.

Looking at 78 year old mother in law’s Peni5 mobile (Kia Rio) who has just popped down to see us.

It’s been a great little reliable car for her, owned from new. 1.4 manual.
She drives it to the south of France and back every year as well as local (including popping to Todmorden).

Kia main dealer have been good with her and give it a proper looking over before the France trips, no daft bills.

I was thinking Volvo V40 or a BMW 1 series.

Good luck finding a decent one with a £3k budget.

Boring answer is a Ford Focus with a Zetec engine. Although at £3k rust could be an issue so check carefully for that.

A CMax may be easier to get in and out of though due to the slightly higher seating position. I had one for a few years (1.8 petrol) and it drove really well.

Another Jazz vote.

I wouldn’t buy a Focus with an Ecoboost engine. Apart from the ability of the engine (and clutch) to self destruct, it’s a great car, but not great enough to compensate. In fact, after the way Ford have responded to the issues with that engine, I won’t buy a Ford of any kind.

Toyota Aygo, or if the Euro badge is really important, either its Citrôen or Peugeot siblings. They’re all the same inside, the Toyota is nicer styled and a bit better finished. There’s a Citrôen C1 directly opposite my house, it’s a 4-door manual, and the owner bought it after asking my suggestion for a replacement for her previous car. She absolutely loves it.

Popular cars with the Motability crowd, I drove loads of them and they’re decent little cars, if a wee bit noisy when ‘making progress’… 😉

My Mum is 86 and drives a 58 reg Focus Titanium she’s had since it was 6 months old. Doesn’t have a straight panel but it’s been reliable and only needed usual maintenance.

Japanese or Korean, petrol, fwd with all seasons

Yes Jazz fits the op. Possibly a civic mk8.

Japanese for the reliability at £3k. That’s the difficult bit.

Suzuki SX4 (early one, not s-cross). Lots of options (petrol, diesel, AWD).

My 1.6 petrol is approaching 160k miles and drives great. Parts are very cheap too.

Also came badged as a Fiat Sedici I believe…

3K should get a good example.

Jazz every day of the week. I actually bought ours cause I loved my mum’s.

Had it since 2015, it’s a 2012 and cost us about 32p in maintenance in all that time. It’s remarkable.

It’s our second car now for running kids about and stuff but it’s been up and down the country, loaded up, 3 bikes on the tow bar rack. I absolutely love it.

I’d recommend an auto, having managed to persuade my mum to go in that direction after several years of trying:

“But they’re for OLD people…”

“Yes mum, and just how old are you?”

Also recommend a Jazz, but they’re not exactly relaxing at long distances and I can’t think an auto box would be a great match for the engine which does need some encouragement to move it along.

But I don’t hang about in mine and average 51+ mpg. It’s brilliant at carrying stuff. Doors are light. Several million old folks can’t be wrong.

I’d also highly recommend some cross climate rubber which are way better for 90% of the year than motorway tyres.

We’ve got a V40, it’s a bit low and an 80 year old might struggle to get in/out easily.  Ours is an R Design so it might have deeper/bolstered seats compared to the normal one, not sure if they are the same.

It broke down recently so we also have a Ford Fusion at the moment. It’s like a Fiesta estate, higher seat position, and now boot lip so easy to lob the shopping (and bike) in.  But it sounds like it might be a bit dull for your mum!

At this age I suggest getting something that’ll last a long time. Getting used to a new car is difficult for someone who’s still driving well in their mid 80s.

I’ve noticed my neighbours Jazz bodywork is rotting quite badly round the fuel filler cap area, it’s not a mega old one either.

Where did she leave it?

Another Panda. They’re great wee things. I’m with her on the ‘I don’t care how good they are, I don’t want anything Asian on my driveway’ thing as well. The tall Polos in funky colours would probably suit as well. Dune? Cross? Something like that.

Aygo – my Mum and a few of her pals have them.

At this age I suggest getting something that’ll last a long time.

Reminds me when I took my 95 y/o granny to buy a TV and the Salesman was doing the hard sell on the 5-year warranty – “what makes you think I’ll be able to take advantage of this” was her reply.

What would you get your mum that matched that criteria?

A Mazda2 (unless there’s something about her needs that I’m not understanding).

Why does she want/need a new car? With a £3k budget you’re very probably better off with the devil you know, because you could be buying an absolute lemon.

When my aunt faced a similar situation, we went for a Honda Civic. Its size felt just right—not too big, not too small. Plus, it’s renowned for reliability. She’s been cruising around happily ever since. Maybe give it a test drive?

How is her mobility?
You mention she is considering a Leon. I have one. My parents are around 80-ish. One over, one under.
They struggle to get in & out of it a little bit as it’s quite low.

Has she considered something that is a little higher? Ford Ecosport? Nissan Juke? Something that doesn’t require you to sit down to get into it.

I would struggle to recommend one, as the one we had was unreliable but the Citroen C3 Picasso might be worth a look. Great visibility, boxy so easy to drive & manoeuvre. Compact, but plenty of space. Lots of glass so good visibility. Quite elevated, so easy to get in & out of.