Thread: Small Runabout Car

Just been through a similar process of wanting a backup vehicle for me which my son could use to learn to drive. Did not want the smaller sized cars mentioned as still needed the option of towing a light trailer/boat if required.
A complication was it needed to be manual as wanted the boy to learn in one. Old fashioned I know, but it's just one of those life skills I think kids should have. Manual cars are getting harder to find! Just bought a 2002 Honda CRV, very clean NZ new example with just under 160k on the clock. Looked at the RAV 4s but manual versions of those are going for silly money, often with very high Ks.

Originally Posted by makka

Avoid all the small Nissan's, they rust bad

I am going to disaree. Our Nissan March (auto not cvt) is a 2004 and we have been using it now for 14 years. Barely had to do anything. Rust has never been an issue with ours- I have had a front suspension bush done and a wheel straightened from a particulary deep pothole...but that would have happened no matter what the car.was ( the ca in front of us was a ute and he did not come out of it unharmed either ....) I would trade it as we have had it a while but the mrs really doesn't want to replace it. Its surprisingly large inside for the size of the car and my only 'dislike' is that it gets better fuel milage than my motorcycle......

We looked at the swift when we got it and it was too difficult for adults to clamber in and out (elderly parents etc...) Too low and almost all were two door. 5 door hatch won that easily.

As for the gearbox....we took it in for a srvice at an auto transmission place and was asking questions about maintenance that I can do and found out the owner of the gearbox place was impressed enough with these that he had bought one for his own daughter to drive....

I would have no problem at all getting another one in the future and would recommend them based on my own experience with them.


I would add that rust is a universal problem with cars that are usually not looked after like they should be......rust usally starts where damage has unsealed the steel.....

One thing I would suggest is avoid anything older than 2000...6 month wof get old FAST......My small fleet has date os '85, '89, '96,'97 and 2004 (the nissan) though the 85 and 97 are only on the road for 6 months on 6 months off....

Originally Posted by Got-ya

Just been through a similar process of wanting a backup vehicle for me which my son could use to learn to drive. Did not want the smaller sized cars mentioned as still needed the option of towing a light trailer/boat if required.
A complication was it needed to be manual as wanted the boy to learn in one. Old fashioned I know, but it's just one of those life skills I think kids should have. Manual cars are getting harder to find! Just bought a 2002 Honda CRV, very clean NZ new example with just under 160k on the clock. Looked at the RAV 4s but manual versions of those are going for silly money, often with very high Ks.

Mini-SUV's in manual are in high demand by the white snail set, dragging them behind the motor homes...

Fair point on the 6-month WOF - the other point is older vehicles are starting to have a bit of an issue with supply of some parts as our dismantling industry is winding down due to the increasing numbers of crushers exporting complete but flat to China for steel recovery.

Any advice on auto vs manual in the suzuki swift? Or is it just personal preference

Originally Posted by stagstalker

Any advice on auto vs manual in the suzuki swift? Or is it just personal preference

Get an auto....we had a manual...shat first gear at 80,000k.
Apparently it's common.

Its got 4 more

Originally Posted by blip

Its got 4 more

But only one clutch

wouldn't recommend an auto fit. but a manual fit with vtec would be great fun.

The missus drives a yaris which is great. At 4k you'd be looking at an early 2000's one which are bulletproof.

I’d say most of you fellas would spend a shitload more on a rifle or two.

I buy corollas for my work cars. Ive literally done about 400,000 in them. Never had a break down that I couldnt get home from.

You can get a good one for about 2.5k. Manual.

I usually do a bit of a make over. New radiator and water pump etc. plugs, leads, belts, fuel filter etc etc

Anything that I think needs changing. Keep the servicing up and they just keep going and going. Cheap to insure

Originally Posted by stagstalker

Any advice on auto vs manual in the suzuki swift? Or is it just personal preference

The 1.3L manual is the one to avoid, I believe the 1.5's are a different gearbox. I had a 2009 1.3 , gearbox starting making noises at about 95000kms and looking around online it seems common for them to lunch themselves so traded it in.
1.5 manuals and all Autos seem pretty trouble free

Go manual, small cars with small engines are so much better in manual

Originally Posted by veitnamcam

Get an auto....we had a manual...shat first gear at 80,000k.
Apparently it's common.

Was it a 1.3L engine?

Originally Posted by Got-ya

Just been through a similar process of wanting a backup vehicle for me which my son could use to learn to drive. Did not want the smaller sized cars mentioned as still needed the option of towing a light trailer/boat if required.
A complication was it needed to be manual as wanted the boy to learn in one. Old fashioned I know, but it's just one of those life skills I think kids should have. Manual cars are getting harder to find! Just bought a 2002 Honda CRV, very clean NZ new example with just under 160k on the clock. Looked at the RAV 4s but manual versions of those are going for silly money, often with very high Ks.

And here in lies the crux of the problem, so many people say they want their kids to learn manual yet are not prepared to buy one hence why they are getting so hard to find.