Advice on buying a hatchback

sl1m said:
Either, both are under consideration at the moment.
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The old one must be very cheap if you get it, it's a stripped out Fiesta that does not offer much but it's still a decent car. Nothing more than R79k

The new one has a better engine but it has an odd shape, it's short in length but has very high body.

Being a Ford means it could be very reliable or you could find yourself with baffling issues that seems to stump even the dealer, make sure you get a warranty and make sure it cover the important stuff like those electronic modules, a colleague had some mudule fail which would would do so intermittently leaving him stuck on the side of the road, he would be towed home and next day the car would drive as if nothing happened, he has the 2016 model.
 
sl1m said:
Thanks for the recommendations all

Can I ask - what do you think about:
A) Ford Figo
B) Suzuki Swift
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I travel Jhb to Pta every day so no point in an expensive big black hole.

I brought a new Suzuki Swift GL.

I have never been happier with a vehicle purchase. I topped up the maintenance plan.

I send it on the highway, early morning and cruise back to Pta in the pm and average 18.5 km per liter.

Fair radio/cd with aux and steering controls. Bluetooth aswell.

A great value for money vehicle.

Oh and it handles great and stops quickly with ABS.
 
Hemi300c said:
I travel Jhb to Pta every day so no point in an expensive big black hole.

I brought a new Suzuki Swift GL.

I have never been happier with a vehicle purchase. I topped up the maintenance plan.

I send it on the highway, early morning and cruise back to Pta in the pm and average 18.5 km per liter.

Fair radio/cd with aux and steering controls. Bluetooth aswell.

A great value for money vehicle.

Oh and it handles great and stops quickly with ABS.
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I'm quite interested in the swift, so if you don't mind, some follow up questions:
1) You say you bought it new - since it has Bluetooth I'm guessing its either the 2020 or 2019 model - what motivated you to get it new instead of second hand?
2) How was your dealer? Have you had it serviced yet, was it a hassle or not?
3) If your comfortable to say, how much did you pay?
 
I bought my 18 year old a 1500 Jazz, her first car. It’s 10 years old.
Her mom just bought a new Suzuki. The Suzuki is lighter of fuel but is smaller inside. The Jazz is older but way more spacious and powerful and actually safer.

If you are loaded and behind a truck, you will get put of there safely as you can open the taps and blitz off.
The Suzuki not so much, you will be sucking exhaust fumes. 1200cc motors are so common today, but I’d stay away. My mom has the cute and small1200 brio and it’s really a city car, not bad on long trips, but not fun when loaded, unless you are into buzzing the engine all day into rowing a gearbox.

I say power to the people.
Buy what you like, but have some power in reserve.

My sister in law has the i20 hill detector, it’s scary for her getting to varsity. Trucks are faster than her and she is already so nervous.

You might also want to try the Turbo 1000cc Fiesta. Now that is fun, it’s almost unbelievable how fast it gets up and goes. All from a engine block with the footprint of an A4 page.
 
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battmann said:
I bought my 18 year old a 1500 Jazz, first car. It’s 10 years old.
Her mom bought a new Suzuki. The Suzuki is lighter of fuel but is smaller inside. The Jazz is way more spacious and powerful and actually safer. If you are loaded and behind a truck, you will get put of there safely as you can open the taps and off you go. The Suzuki not so much, you will be sucking exhaust fumes. 1200cc motors are so common today, but I’d stay away. My mom has the cute and small1200 brio and it’s really a city car, not bad on long trips, but not fun when loaded, unless you are into buzzing the engine all day into rowing a gearbox.
I say power to the people. But what you like but have some power in reserve. My sister in law has the i20 hill detector, it’s scary for her getting to varsity. Trucks are faster than her.
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The smallness is actually a plus for me (because I'm migrating from a classic Mini), 99% of the time only going to be driving around Joburg so the important things is more the "city feel" than the "motorway feel".
But I hear you, thanks
 
battmann said:
I bought my 18 year old a 1500 Jazz, her first car. It’s 10 years old.
Her mom just bought a new Suzuki. The Suzuki is lighter of fuel but is smaller inside. The Jazz is older but way more spacious and powerful and actually safer.

If you are loaded and behind a truck, you will get put of there safely as you can open the taps and blitz off.
The Suzuki not so much, you will be sucking exhaust fumes. 1200cc motors are so common today, but I’d stay away. My mom has the cute and small1200 brio and it’s really a city car, not bad on long trips, but not fun when loaded, unless you are into buzzing the engine all day into rowing a gearbox.

I say power to the people.
Buy what you like, but have some power in reserve.

My sister in law has the i20 hill detector, it’s scary for her getting to varsity. Trucks are faster than her and she is already so nervous.

You might also want to try the Turbo 1000cc Fiesta. Now that is fun, it’s almost unbelievable how fast it gets up and goes. All from a engine block with the footprint of an A4 page.
Click to expand...
Power is nice but if you don't have it you just have to find a way to work with what you have, I think trucks being faster than her points to her driving skills and improper use of gears, even the 61kW, 115Nm i20 engine should be adequate to get out of any stick situation on steep hills and merging into lanes.
 
sl1m said:
The smallness is actually a plus for me (because I'm migrating from a classic Mini), 99% of the time only going to be driving around Joburg so the important things is more the "city feel" than the "motorway feel".
But I hear you, thanks
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Then the Swift should be perfect for you, plus being their best selling car means they will hold their resale value better than other Suzuki models.
 
Dont get a Yaris, please. I had one as a Rental after an accident with My Fiesta. The Yaris probably the worst car I have ever driven.
 
thechamp said:
Power is nice but if you don't have it you just have to find a way to work with what you have, I think trucks being faster than her points to her driving skills and improper use of gears, even the 61kW, 115Nm i20 engine should be adequate to get out of any stick situation on steep hills and merging into lanes.
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Had the sh!tbox i20 for a week as rental and you truly have to drive it as a rental to get somewhere. From standing start going through the gears the 61kW feels adequate, but the clock suggest otherwise. In gear acceleration is hopeless below the torque curve, you need to keep the revs up. Not the typical driving style of a female.
I'm truly shocked at what R260 000 buys you these days.
1.2 NA engine
5 speed gearbox
2 airbags
plastic tub with rattles everywhere

OP, left field recommendation but also have a look at the Fiat Panda.
Demo models from R150k-R160k available.
 
sl1m said:
I'll look into those thanks. I am looking for a hatch specifically yes - driving my sister's Yaris already feels like a 4x4 to me compared to my mini, so smaller is better :D
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What in actual ****?

Nothing in that sentence makes any sense.
 
A3@MBB said:
Had the sh!tbox i20 for a week as rental and you truly have to drive it as a rental to get somewhere. From standing start going through the gears the 61kW feels adequate, but the clock suggest otherwise. In gear acceleration is hopeless below the torque curve, you need to keep the revs up. Not the typical driving style of a female.
I'm truly shocked at what R260 000 buys you these days.
1.2 NA engine
5 speed gearbox
2 airbags
plastic tub with rattles everywhere

OP, left field recommendation but also have a look at the Fiat Panda.
Demo models from R150k-R160k available.
Click to expand...
That's why buying new is one of the most ridiculous things you can do these days. There's just no value for money in the low end of the car market, overpriced mediocrity everywhere you look.
 
sl1m said:
I'm quite interested in the swift, so if you don't mind, some follow up questions:
1) You say you bought it new - since it has Bluetooth I'm guessing its either the 2020 or 2019 model - what motivated you to get it new instead of second hand?
2) How was your dealer? Have you had it serviced yet, was it a hassle or not?
3) If your comfortable to say, how much did you p
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1) Bought new Jan 31st 2019
2) Bought new because they didn't have demo models and also the std maintanance plan is 30 000km and buying demo/second hand would mean it would be used up or a major chunk used.
3) Bought from Suzuki Bryanston great service
4) New price was R175k+-, I paid R169k and added maintanance of R8500 up to 60 000km
5) Had 15 000/30 000 and 45 000 services done and very impressed with their service
 
pinball wizard said:
What in actual ****?

Nothing in that sentence makes any sense.
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Lol I mean it feels too big for me, not a major deal I'm sure I'd get used to it over time.

Hemi300c said:
1) Bought new Jan 31st 2019
2) Bought new because they didn't have demo models and also the std maintanance plan is 30 000km and buying demo/second hand would mean it would be used up or a major chunk used.
3) Bought from Suzuki Bryanston great service
4) New price was R175k+-, I paid R169k and added maintanance of R8500 up to 60 000km
5) Had 15 000/30 000 and 45 000 services done and very impressed with their service
Click to expand...
Thanks, I think a swift is probably top of the pile for me atm.
 
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