Ask the expert: Which £2,000 small car delivers the most driving pleasure?
Dear Alex,
I drive a nice, safe Skoda Kamiq automatic. But I wish to buy a small car with a manual gearbox to drive to Switzerland and Scotland, to recreate driving memories from the 1980s in a Mini Metro and Citroën AX, when I was in my 20s. It obviously needs to be reliable, although outright performance is not important. What should I get for £2,000?
– DH
Dear DH,
At this price, reliability is largely dictated by provenance, rather than brand. So it pays to buy chiefly on condition, history and length of MOT rather than aiming for a particular model.
Having said that, the most reliable choice for that money would be a first-generation Toyota Yaris (1999-2005). I love these cars – cute, characterful and dependable.
Your budget should get you a good one, although I'd recommend a 1.3-litre engine rather than a 1.0 for motorway driving. I found a 2003 T3 with only 54,000 miles and a year's MOT for £2,000.
The Yaris should be enjoyable to drive, particularly compared with your Kamiq, but there are also more entertaining options within your budget.
I'm thinking in particular of the original Ford Ka, renowned for its brilliant chassis, which was produced from 1996 to 2007. It will be less refined on a motorway than the Yaris, but more entertaining when you reach twisting roads.
The Ka's mechanicals are hardy, but almost any example will have some sort of rust, so check it carefully. The 1.6-litre SportKa is immense fun; little else offers as many smiles for your cash. However, its rarity means you will probably have to settle for the standard 1.3, which is still a joy to drive. I found a 2005 Luxury, with leather seats, air conditioning, a long MOT, a full history and a very reasonable 77,000 miles, for £1,500.
My final suggestion is a Suzuki Swift, the generation produced from 2004-10. Your budget probably won't quite get you into the marvellous 1.6-litre Sport, which would be ideal, but a standard Swift in 1.5-litre form gets close.
They're great fun to drive and while they feel a little tinny, they're dependable. A 1.5 GLX with a full history, a year's MOT and 99,000 miles for £1,995 should be the ideal partner for your road trip.
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