To big car or to little car? that is the question....

D3TTOL · Apr 24, 2017

Hello peepoles

I have a little dilemma.
My Fiance has a lemon of a car that was sold to her by her family... a whole story and opinions to that but I'm not getting into that.
Its a Toyota Tazz and generally they are actually very tough and pretty good cars but her one has been seriously damaged and I am no way in hell even going to attempt to fix it. Not because I don't want to help but because I associate the car with the family members that sold the piece of crap to her(clearly knowing that it was fcked up).

So to the actual point.
I want to get rid of it and get another car, a better one.

So my issue is that I ride a 1000cc motorcycle and the performance cannot be matched by,I would say, 90% of cars on the road.
I only use a car to do shopping and when my fiance wants to go somewhere and she DOESN'T want to go on the bike... then I have to drive and her lemon is soo bad with performance that I'm surprised that I'm not bald yet from pulling my hair out, It struggled to overtake a car doing less than 40kph......

So my immediate thought was "Okay, lets get a chevy spark, Honda Brio,Suzuki Swift or any of those little cars" as it will primarily be used by my fiance who picks children up and takes them places. Which would make sense and would be easy to deal with financially.

BUT... and this is where the main problems comes in....
1.The performance will probably still irritate me since I ride a bike as my main means of transport.
2.I will be paying for it regardless of which car I eventually decide on.
3.Why should I pay for a car that is possibly going to irritate me?
4.Is a little car like that going to be irritating? I'm not expecting motorcycle/supercar performance but is it going to struggle overtaking at realistic speeds 40kph/60kph/80khp?(maybe people with little cars could give their opinions?)
5.Is a bigger engine car like a 1.6,1.8,2.0 car going to be expensive to maintain? and is going higher milage going to give problems on said bigger cars?
6.Am I just expecting all smaller cars to be complete rubbish? My mother bought a 1.3 a couple years ago and I dislike it a lot, My fiance's tazz is slow as hell and breaking and the 1.3 corolla I drive (maybe 1 once a month) isn't fast but it can at least overtake other cars in normal situations.
7.Some of her family will pressure her to take them on trips in her "Nice new" car or loan the car to them for the weekend or holiday etc etc... Which I will not stand for since I will be the one paying for it.

Should I just shut up and get a little car(Which makes sense)? or get a car that I would be happy with as well even if I won't be driving it often at all?

Areola Grande · Apr 24, 2017

What is your budget? New or used?

The Tazz is an old car, modern cars with that size engine do perform better. You could go for the models you mentioned. Even an Accent would be fine. I hired one over December (also ride a bike) and it would have happily done 180 - theoretically anyway - on the way back from Cape Town, if I'd been one of those drivers who speeds, which obviously I am not.

Performance of modern cars is quite different to the oldies. Unless you go for a Go or something, but that can't be considered a modern car so it doesn't count.

Toxxyc · Apr 24, 2017

If you don't have a big car in the family yet, get one.

Toxxyc · Apr 24, 2017

UrBaN said:
Unless you go for a Go or something, but that can't be considered a modern car so it doesn't count.

If you want someone to die, you stick 'em in a Datsun Go.

Areola Grande · Apr 24, 2017

Presactly.

Key questions are going to be Budget and whether you want new or second hand. Also, where do you live?

Ravin' · Apr 24, 2017

Maintenance and longevity will be better on a 1.6 - 2.0 than on a 1.0, 1.2 etc. Main reason is you don't have to rev the 1.6 as high as you do with a small engine unless it's turbocharged in the small engine, which is not the case with the cars listed. But, the point shouldn't be much of a concern with modern cars, unless you're unfortunate enough to get a bad sample.

I despise small engine cars unless turbocharged. Even though I drive a 1.1 Fiat Uno

I do however own a 2012 Mazda 3 1.6, and ahhh what a dream she is to drive.

Edit: Opposing a little car, you don't have to go out and buy a 5.0 V8 mustang, but a nice 1.6 Fiesta or Focus or Mazda or Corsa or something will do nicely

g0l1athrulz · Apr 24, 2017

My wife has a 08 1.2 i10, i drive a 02 wrx, the i10 is perfectly fine in town, ive done 170kmh on gps with it, its nippy(for a 1.2) in town, it wll depends on you tho, i prefer driving the i10 in town, and the wrx on longer trips, the i10 we have does 140 comfortably on the open road, yet on long trips my 08 impreza 2.0r gives same fuel consumption, in town the i10 wins consumption

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D3TTOL · Apr 24, 2017

Toxxyc338 said:
If you don't have a big car in the family yet, get one.

Maybe it was lost in translation but I don't have any children of my own and nor do I plan on getting any. So a "big" family car will never be needed.

UrBaN said:
Presactly.

Key questions are going to be Budget and whether you want new or second hand. Also, where do you live?

My budget is sort of between R100K and R200K but focusing on the R150-ish mark
I couldn't be bothered if it's new or second hand, Both my bikes are second hand and they are fine.Though with that being said, you can get a bit more on the second hand market. I will just demand a checkup at one of them car checkup places.

I'm in JHB, Roodepoort. Close to clearwater mall.

I have looked at Swifts, i10s,chevy sparks and a friend suggested the Honda Brio as his family owns 2, Even invited me to take one for a little spin which I'll do if I decide on a dinky car.

I'm not looking for Focus ST or M3 performance, just something that can do 120 comfortably with a little bit more to give like maybe 160 so that the engine isn't screaming at 120.

D3TTOL · Apr 24, 2017

Ravin' said:
Maintenance and longevity will be better on a 1.6 - 2.0 than on a 1.0, 1.2 etc. Main reason is you don't have to rev the 1.6 as high as you do with a small engine unless it's turbocharged in the small engine, which is not the case with the cars listed. But, the point shouldn't be much of a concern with modern cars, unless you're unfortunate enough to get a bad sample.

I despise small engine cars unless turbocharged. Even though I drive a 1.1 Fiat Uno I do however own a 2012 Mazda 3 1.6, and ahhh what a dream she is to drive.

Edit: Opposing a little car, you don't have to go out and buy a 5.0 V8 mustang, but a nice 1.6 Fiesta or Focus or Mazda or Corsa or something will do nicely

I also think that a bigger engine car will last a bit longer but they start reaching into a bracket I can't really afford if i'm looking at getting new, second hand I'm looking at cars with anything between 20K to close to 100K depending on what it is.

I gave a glance at a 1.6 Mazda 3 and I do like it quite a bit, even the way it looks appeals to me. But damn they are expensive for jap cars.

Kay150 · Apr 24, 2017

D3TTOL said:
Maybe it was lost in translation but I don't have any children of my own and nor do I plan on getting any. So a "big" family car will never be needed.

My budget is sort of between R100K and R200K but focusing on the R150-ish mark
I couldn't be bothered if it's new or second hand, Both my bikes are second hand and they are fine.Though with that being said, you can get a bit more on the second hand market. I will just demand a checkup at one of them car checkup places.

I'm in JHB, Roodepoort. Close to clearwater mall.

I have looked at Swifts, i10s,chevy sparks and a friend suggested the Honda Brio as his family owns 2, Even invited me to take one for a little spin which I'll do if I decide on a dinky car.

I'm not looking for Focus ST or M3 performance, just something that can do 120 comfortably with a little bit more to give like maybe 160 so that the engine isn't screaming at 120.

Bro your budget allows you to get a good car... why not look towards a Polo 1.2tsi. I drove my friend's sister's and you would never guess it's a 1.2. Also, For around 150k you can get one with a maintenance plan as well.

Ravin' · Apr 24, 2017

D3TTOL said:
Maybe it was lost in translation but I don't have any children of my own and nor do I plan on getting any. So a "big" family car will never be needed.

My budget is sort of between R100K and R200K but focusing on the R150-ish mark
I couldn't be bothered if it's new or second hand, Both my bikes are second hand and they are fine.Though with that being said, you can get a bit more on the second hand market. I will just demand a checkup at one of them car checkup places.

I'm in JHB, Roodepoort. Close to clearwater mall.

I have looked at Swifts, i10s,chevy sparks and a friend suggested the Honda Brio as his family owns 2, Even invited me to take one for a little spin which I'll do if I decide on a dinky car.

I'm not looking for Focus ST or M3 performance, just something that can do 120 comfortably with a little bit more to give like maybe 160 so that the engine isn't screaming at 120.

If that's your budget then I would 100% say go with a decent mid-sized car, 1.6 or above. (Ford Focus, Mazda 3, Honda Civic, Hyundai Elantra) You can get decent 2012+ models under 90k kms for under R200k

Ravin' · Apr 24, 2017

D3TTOL said:
I also think that a bigger engine car will last a bit longer but they start reaching into a bracket I can't really afford if i'm looking at getting new, second hand I'm looking at cars with anything between 20K to close to 100K depending on what it is.

I gave a glance at a 1.6 Mazda 3 and I do like it quite a bit, even the way it looks appeals to me. But damn they are expensive for jap cars.

Nothing wrong with Japanese cars bud; Toyota, Mazda are excellent cars.

Kay150 · Apr 24, 2017

My GF is also looking for a nice cheap car, she's set on a Chevvy Spark - now that thing is BORING, revving to 5k rpm feels like the engine is struggling. Im trying to get her into a Polo... I promise you those 1.2tsi engines are really well engineered.
Maybe go and test drive one

Killer_Inc Mods · Apr 24, 2017

Just my 2c, anything from the ford to renault in the 1.4 class of the last 2/3 years will give you a comfortable ride, drove my sisters 1.4 a/t 2016 fiesta and it was nippy and doing 140km/h very comfortably on the highway.

D3TTOL · Apr 24, 2017

Kay150 said:
Bro your budget allows you to get a good car... why not look towards a Polo 1.2tsi. I drove my friend's sister's and you would never guess it's a 1.2. Also, For around 150k you can get one with a maintenance plan as well.

VWs and Toyota are high priority cars for theft arn't they?

D3TTOL · Apr 24, 2017

Ravin' said:
Nothing wrong with Japanese cars bud; Toyota, Mazda are excellent cars.

Nothing wrong with them at all, I agree 100%. I somewhat prefer them.
I was singling Mazda out. I have never owned one. They are a little pricier than toyota and nissan, Not as much as Honda but Honda has the super build quality/reliability reputation.

FilD · Apr 24, 2017

Buy my Alfa Mito plz 😂

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D3TTOL · Apr 24, 2017

Kay150 said:
My GF is also looking for a nice cheap car, she's set on a Chevvy Spark - now that thing is BORING, revving to 5k rpm feels like the engine is struggling. Im trying to get her into a Polo... I promise you those 1.2tsi engines are really well engineered.
Maybe go and test drive one

ROFL, I laughed at this quite a bit, My fiance is also set on a spark. I wanted to avoid VW(Personal preference) but I have been wrong with my Bike(Honda, I used to hate them)

Areola Grande · Apr 24, 2017

YGPM

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D3TTOL · Apr 24, 2017

FilD said:
Buy my Alfa Mito plz &#55357;&#56834;

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No!.... I do not want a Alfa..... ever.... way too many problems I have seen with ALL of them xD
They are definitely bought with the heart and not the brain xD

Kay150 · Apr 24, 2017

D3TTOL said:
VWs and Toyota are high priority cars for theft arn't they?

I've also linked that to the fact that those are the 2 best selling cars in SA. I could be wrong though. I get why one would almost instinctively stay clear of those

Ravin' · Apr 24, 2017

D3TTOL said:
Nothing wrong with them at all, I agree 100%. I somewhat prefer them.
I was singling Mazda out. I have never owned one. They are a little pricier than toyota and nissan, Not as much as Honda but Honda has the super build quality/reliability reputation.

You'd be surprised at the prices new Toyotas are going for, but then again, you get a lot more features in a Mazda than in a Toyota, go take a look at all the things you get in the new Mazda 3, quite insane really. Toyota's have always been very, "standard" cars. Stunning mechanics on them though, you don't sommer see a broken down Toyota.

After owning a Mazda, I will easily say that I would buy another without a second thought. That new Mazda 3 makes me cry it's so beautiful

Ravin' · Apr 24, 2017

Kay150 said:
I've also linked that to the fact that those are the 2 best selling cars in SA. I could be wrong though. I get why one would almost instinctively stay clear of those

Insurance ...

FilD · Apr 24, 2017

D3TTOL said:
No!.... I do not want a Alfa..... ever.... way too many problems I have seen with ALL of them xD
They are definitely bought with the heart and not the brain xD

Come on... 1.4 with 114kw not bad. Never had any issues. Only cost the same as a German SUV to service...

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Areola Grande · Apr 24, 2017

I wouldn't go Polo - #1 hijacked car in SA.

SCHUMI4EVER · Apr 24, 2017

Switch the T for a J. Love it when a plan comes together and get on the Jazz.

Areola Grande · Apr 24, 2017

Joyoja Jazz?

SCHUMI4EVER · Apr 24, 2017

UrBaN said:
Joyoja Jazz?

Hahaha. Tazz->Jazz
I didn't say switch all the T's

Areola Grande · Apr 24, 2017

Crouchinglee · Apr 24, 2017

Ive driven the Honda Jazz 1.5 and the Mazda 2 1.5 and i would go with any of them - they are both fun little cars to drive

150 - 200k id rather stretch for a German Diesel (Merc or BMW) your choice

To big car or to little car? that is the question....

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