Alternative to a Corolla

[davidif]

I have been asked by a family member to 'recommend' a Corolla sized car. Most likely not new but lightly used 12/18 months old etc..

Why not a Corolla I hear people say!

Said family member is adamant that she wants a manual transmission.

Any thoughts or suggestions. I am veering towards a Mazda3

[flash22]

2-3 year old cars are still commanding near new prices from main stealers

Toyota and Honda are now mainly hybrid autos, Subaru is nearly there as well

1.2 Corolla ?? Hyundai i30, Mazda 3 or Kia ceed

[Mojo1010]

Mazda 3 is a strong contender. Better off to buy new as one year old cost more than new. As an example, Yaris Design new is 19k

[Yugguy1970]

Kia or Hyundai would be my choice if I was forced to go back to a manual. 🤣

[flash22]

1 hour ago, Mojo1010 said:

Mazda 3 is a strong contender. Better off to buy new as one year old cost more than new. As an example, Yaris Design new is 19k

More like £23-26k new unless its an icon with nothing, still down on what they were 5-6 months ago

[davidif]

Part of the reasoning for favouring the Mazda3 is that it has a 2.0 engine in a low state of tune (presumably) whereas the 1.2 Corolla, Ceed and I30 have much smaller turbo engines. 
Not sure why but I prefer the thought of a 2.0 naturally aspirated engine with 120bhp than a turbo engine with half the capacity with similar power (and maybe a bit more torque)

[Cyker]

GR86?  

Celica 1.8?  

Honda Civic?

Ford Focus?  

Vauxhall Astra?

 

[Mojo1010]

10 hours ago, davidif said:

Part of the reasoning for favouring the Mazda3 is that it has a 2.0 engine in a low state of tune (presumably) whereas the 1.2 Corolla, Ceed and I30 have much smaller turbo engines. 
Not sure why but I prefer the thought of a 2.0 naturally aspirated engine with 120bhp than a turbo engine with half the capacity with similar power (and maybe a bit more torque)

More reliability with a non turbo. Had the i30 diesel auto 65 plates for a few weeks, the steering was vague, not much feedback. Lacking in power, didn't like it at all. 

[FROSTYBALLS]

11 minutes ago, Mojo1010 said:

Had the i30 diesel auto 65 plates for a few weeks

Which would be the previous model.

[Hybrid21]

16 hours ago, davidif said:

I have been asked by a family member to 'recommend' a Corolla sized car. Most likely not new but lightly used 12/18 months old etc..

Why not a Corolla I hear people say!

Said family member is adamant that she wants a manual transmission.

Any thoughts or suggestions. I am veering towards a Mazda3

Long term problem with Mazda is rust underneath David. I had an MX5 and was concerned about the amount of surface rust underneath after about 5 years ☹️

I spoke to local MOT garage and they said every Mazda around that age is the same as they are not undersealed properly.

I would check this out if I was going for a Mazda 👍

 

[Mojo1010]

15 hours ago, flash22 said:

More like £23-26k new unless its an icon with nothing, still down on what they were 5-6 months ago

Never pay list price

 

1 hour ago, FROSTYBALLS said:

Which would be the previous model.

True

[flash22]

personally, i wouldnt touch a Ford or Vauxhall (its a Peugeot)

the Civic is now hybrid only

[Cyker]

The new Civic hybrid has been getting very good reviews; It's mahoosive and I don't think you could call it a compact car any more (I think it's longer than my dad's *Seven seater* Verso!  ), but they've done good work with their series hybrid tech on that thing!

Even Rory 'Redline' Reed managed to get 80mpg out of it briefly in his review, which is saying something for him  

 

4 hours ago, Mojo1010 said:

More reliability with a non turbo. Had the i30 diesel auto 65 plates for a few weeks, the steering was vague, not much feedback. Lacking in power, didn't like it at all. 

My brother has one of those and doesn't like it either; It's what I would consider a 'normal' diesel. The problem is we were badly spoilt by the Yaris 1.4 D4D's we both had and thought that was how modern diesels are. It turns out a nippy high-revving diesel with a close-ratio gearbox is not actually normal  

He doesn't mind it for motorway cruises as that's where it works best, but absolutely hates it in town as it's so sluggish compared to the D4D, and he doesn't have all the gear options the D4D had - Because the D4D had such close ratios, you could be in e.g. 2nd, 3rd or 4th at e.g. 30mph for power, flexibility or economy. The i30 diesel lump has much longer ratios so you can only be in one gear for a given speed with very little overlap, as the gear below would be red-line and the gear above would be stall  

The worst thing is my Mk4 still gets better mpg than his does in town or motorway  (Although the i30 is a damned lot more comfortable... )

 

4 hours ago, Hybrid21 said:

Long term problem with Mazda is rust underneath David. I had an MX5 and was concerned about the amount of surface rust underneath after about 5 years ☹️

I spoke to local MOT garage and they said every Mazda around that age is the same as they are not undersealed properly.

I would check this out if I was going for a Mazda 👍

 

This is an issue on some older Toyotas too; TBH it's always a good idea to look underneath any prospective car purchase with a torch to see what they're like rust-wise, esp. around the front and rear subframes and chassis rails!

(Why is chassis pronounced shassy? That word has always bugged my OCD...)

[Rhymes with Paris]

I'm guessing it's because the word is derived from French , with a silent s.

Maybe a bit like "merci beaucoup"with a silent p.

 

 

[Yugguy1970]

The civic is as long and as wide as a Rav4.  

My little soap box, I was behind an rs4 estate today.  It was longer, wider than me, and probably does a third of the mpg I do.  But I'm the one "ruining the planet"?

 

[Cyker]

I had a similar complaint when I had to get rid of my Mk1 D4D because of the KHAAAAAN! and his ULEZ, yet people with 3L v6 SUVs were and continue to be absolutely okay.

 

[flash22]

Cars are getting fatter, the Mk4 Yaris is the size of an Auris

[AJones]

On 3/3/2023 at 4:36 PM, davidif said:

Why not a Corolla I hear people say!

Said family member is adamant that she wants a manual transmission.

Any thoughts or suggestions.

Has the family member been for a relaxed drive in a hybrid or EV to see how they get on with an automatic? If not, why not find a quiet area where the learner drivers usually go and let them try driving around a bit in your hybrid to see how they get on.

[davidif]

20 hours ago, AJones said:

Has the family member been for a relaxed drive in a hybrid or EV to see how they get on with an automatic? If not, why not find a quiet area where the learner drivers usually go and let them try driving around a bit in your hybrid to see how they get on.

She's an older lady who feels that she wouldn't adapt easily.

[Yugguy1970]

My wife was a little like that, resisted going to auto for a long time.  About 5 minutes into driving the Yaris she decided she'd never go back to manual. 😀

[davidif]

To update this, my elderly relative test drove and subsequently bought a Mazda CX-3 on Saturday.

It appears to be quite a simple car by todays standards, no turbo or hybrid drivetrain. Although I've got a feeling that it may be direct injection.

She's happy which is the important thing.

 

[Hybrid21]

When I look at my 1987 Golf GTi it looks so tiny, even in my garage 😃

[davidif]

22 hours ago, Hybrid21 said:

When I look at my 1987 Golf GTi it looks so tiny, even in my garage 😃

I had a a Mk2 GTI in the early 1990's ( a 'big bumper' 16v) remember it fondly.

 

[Hybrid21]

17 hours ago, davidif said:

I had a a Mk2 GTI in the early 1990's ( a 'big bumper' 16v) remember it fondly.

 

Hi David, mine is a small bumper, but unfortunately just a standard 8valve

 

😕

[davidif]

6 hours ago, Hybrid21 said:

Hi David, mine is a small bumper, but unfortunately just a standard 8valve

 

😕

Mine was blue (I seem to remember it being Helios Blue?)

That interior certainly brings back the memories, thank you for sharing this.