Editor’s top City car picks this month:
2006 Toyota Aygo
Having lost 9-12% of its value every year for the first three years is now an exciting option for anyone looking to buy a city car with Japanese reliability. Cars that were nearly £10,000 new can be had for around £5,000 with only 20,000 miles on the clock.
2007 Volkswagen Fox
A two year old Fox, the wide but stumpy entry-level Volkswagen means you are buying a car that started life at around £9,000 but only paying between £5,000 and £6,000. The best bit is the price hardly falls after this – annual depreciation is under 5%.
James Ruppert’s Bangers & Bargains
Small car: Toyota Yaris
There is a lot to like and even love about the Yaris and don't forget it was voted car of the year in 1999 and ten years later it qualifies as Britain’s top small Banger. Now what defines the supermini is the way that it is packaged and the Yaris is supremely practical. By providing relatively upright seating positions and a sliding rear seat, passenger space is not a problem despite the fact that the Yaris is so compact. Indeed the Yaris lets you choose between passenger and luggage accommodation, which is the way it is in the real world. That upright position means that the driving position is almost MPV like and the central dashboard layout also means excellent space up front. When it comes to cubbyhole quotient you are spoilt for choice, there is a space for every nick-nack. The boot may be small but there is a low loading lip and is well-shaped. Inside the only downside is the cheap plastics that abound, however it is all screwed together very well whilst some find the digital speedo hard to read.
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Bombing around town the 1.0 is fine, outside of the City limits a1.3 is the best all-round power option. The Variable Valve technology means that the engine is eager and economical.