public transport strike? Then a cheap car!
Life is not getting any cheaper and with all the strikes of recent times, you can trust public transport less and less. In short: it is time for an occasion from the budget corner. Requirements: it must transport you, your passengers and your luggage dry from A to B, be reliable and not too expensive to maintain – so no heavyweight! If the clock has preferably not yet gone round, the asking price is not above 6 grand and the four-wheeler is delivered with a guarantee, we are already very satisfied.
When it comes to budget brands, Dacia quickly emerges, replacing Skoda. Nevertheless, the Czech brand also fits on your shortlist, as does, for example, the Japanese Suzuki. And don’t forget the disappeared Chevrolet and Daihatsu brands. In which car will we drive past all the bus stops laughing?
Dacia Sandero, nice and bare inside!
Dacia Sandero 1.2-16V – 2012 – 59,559 kilometers – €5,250
If we look purely at the essence of driving – getting you dry from A to B – then this Dacia Sandero fully meets that. In 2012, the list price was a mere €8,135 – come and die these days! The 69-TXG-6 was therefore the entry-level model of the Sandero series. That means: no central locking or electric windows. Power steering is also missing, as is air conditioning, cruise control, an adjustable steering wheel or metallic paint. At the time, two airbags only earned three stars in the EuroNCAP crash test. The radio is aftermarket. In short: for delicacies, driving and safety aids you have to go elsewhere. Perhaps that is why this occasion has already worn out three owners?
Dacia Sandero, quite spacious, it is therefore a B-segmenter in terms of size.
Sandero has run less than 60,000 kilometers
Those owners jointly drove less than 60,000 kilometers. This brings us to the big plus of this white Romanian: despite the virgin mileage, the Sandero is the cheapest of the three and it is available at the brand dealer. That gives confidence, at least more than public transport.
If we had to describe this occasion in one word, it would be ‘neat’: the design is neither sparkling nor repulsive. The materials used are satisfactory, the seating comfort and the motor performance of the Renault engine do the same, without overshooting in a positive or negative sense. Switching is via a five-speed gearbox that feels a bit rubbery, the driving characteristics are not challenging, but just acceptable.
B-segmenter with price of an A-segmenter
In fact, the Sandero is a B-segmenter for the price of an A-segmenter, and that price had to come from somewhere. With that in mind, it is nice to hear that the Sandero has the largest luggage compartment and can tow a trailer of 1,100 kilos. Also useful is that the doors open wide and provide access to a cabin with enough space for a small family with ditto budget for running costs. Dacia may no longer be as cult as it used to be, this basic Sandero comes pretty close to that and therefore deserves a fourth owner. You?
Signaling
Brand Dacia
TypeSandero 1.2-16V
Construction year April 2012
Mileage 59,559
Asking price €5,250
Where to buy? Renault and Dacia dealer Schoon BV, Stadskanaal
Technical data
engine 4-cyl. in-line, 1,149 cc
max. assets 55 kW/75 hp at 5,500 rpm
max. couple 107 Nm at 4,250 rpm
Luggage room 320 l/1,200 l
max. trailer braked 1,100 kilograms
Avg. consumption 1 in 16.9
0-100km/h 13.6s
Top speed 160km/h
All data according to factory specifications
Daihatsu Sirion 2 1.0-12V Slim – 2011 – 96,561 kilometers – €5,950
Do you find Dacia in general and such an entry-level Sandero a bit too budgetary? Then look at an affordable vanished brand. Like Daihatsu. That only built its – especially compact – cars in Japan, which worsened the competitive position in Europe due to transport and exchange rate differences. Result: exit Daihatsu. It was not the four-wheelers, as proven Toyota technology was used, among other things.
Only had one owner and Toyota technology
Example: this Daihatsu Sirion 2. Although our model is older, more expensive and more experienced than the Sandero in terms of odometer reading, it has only had one owner and that says something. He/she will surely have been pleased with it. Certainly in terms of maintenance costs. We already mentioned Toyota technology, the light carriage (the Aveo is just 170 kilos heavier) and the lowest consumption do the rest. However, the Japanese is a size smaller than the other two; it saves about 40 centimeters in length.
Still buy a radio
Inside that is not so noticeable: the Sandero is hardly more spacious, it is mainly Sirion’s luggage space that is tighter. The three-cylinder revs merrily, at higher speeds it can be tiring. The steering is light, in the city the small turning circle is especially noticeable. On the open road, here too, few elevating driving characteristics, but the Sirion 2 will take you everywhere, unlike public transport. The 82-PXG-5 does that in relative luxury. More airbags and an Isofix connection ensure four EuroNCAP stars, while central locking, electric windows all around, power steering, a height-adjustable steering wheel, reading lights, a split-folding rear seat and metallic paint make mobile life just that little bit more pleasant. You do have to sing yourself – there is no radio in the immaculate interior, but there is a fully stamped maintenance booklet. Almost all positives, only we wonder how things will be in the (distant) future in the field of parts and sheet metal now that Daihatsu has said goodbye to Europe.
Signaling
Brand Daihatsu
TypeSirion 2 1.0-12V Slim
Construction year April 2011
Mileage 96,561
Asking price €5,950
Where to buy? Automotive company P. Troost en Zonen BV, Spijkenisse
Technical data
engine 3-cyl. in-line, 998 cc
max. assets 51 kW/69 hp at 6,000 rpm
max. couple 94 Nm at 3,600 rpm
Luggage room 225 l/na
max. trailer braked 750 kilograms
Avg. consumption 1 in 20.0
0-100km/h 13.9s
Top speed 160km/h
All data according to factory specifications
Chevrolet Aveo, quite a fat ass.
Chevrolet Aveo 1.2 LS – 2012 – 110,529 kilometers – €5,900
Once you were ready for a Daewoo, later you had fun with a Chevrolet. Until this brand also disappeared from our market. However, you may still be able to have fun with this Chevrolet Aveo. It is just the youngest, just not the most expensive, but it does have the highest mileage and, like the Sandero, it has had three owners. What’s in return? Well, tastes differ, but with its sturdy front we think the Aveo is the most characterful of the three.
Most airbags
It is also striking that this compact occasion is typically American/South Korean and is packed with goodies: most of our trio’s airbags, ESP and traction control, for example, resulted in five EuroNCAP stars. With, among other things, hill assist, alloy wheels, cruise control, air conditioning, height-adjustable front seats, a height and depth-adjustable steering wheel and a radio / CD player with AUX connection, it seems miles away from the bald Sandero. The materials used on board, especially those of the motorcycle-like instruments, are quite basic, rather coarse. But who cares: here too you are dry. And what’s more: you’re quite generous, especially the legroom in the back is positive.
The Chevrolet Aveo has quite a playful dashboard.
Aveo has the largest engine
The Aveo has the largest engine, and therefore offers the most in terms of power and torque, but due to its significantly higher weight, its performance simply remains in line. However, the engine runs the least rpm of the three and consumption is therefore not too bad. The chassis feels confidence-inspiring and tight, but is not uncomfortable. Together with the quick reactions to your steering movements and the pleasantly tight gearbox (frequent shifting is necessary to drive a bit actively, but the Aveo at least offers this option) there is actually a touch of sportiness. All in all, the Aveo may turn out to be the most mature used car of these three, but we suspect (due to the relatively high vehicle weight, among other things) that the operating costs will also be the highest. And here too an uncertain future in terms of parts supply, sheet metal, etc
Signaling
Brand Chevy
TypeAveo 1.2LS
Construction year June 2012
Mileage 110,529
Asking price €5,900
Where to buy? Piet Has Automobielen BV, Hoorn
Technical data
engine 4-cyl. in-line, 1,229 cc
max. assets 63 kW/86 hp at 5,600 rpm
max. couple 115 Nm at 4,000 rpm
Luggage room 290 l/nb
max. trailer braked 850 kilos
Avg. consumption 1 in 19.6
0-100km/h 13.6s
Top speed 183 km/h
All data according to factory specifications
Which budget opportunity suits you?
In summary: of these three occasions, the Dacia Sandero is the most stingy, but the Scrooge McDucks of this world will be delighted with it! The Daihatsu Sirion 2 offers more luxury, less space, is also cheap to drive, but has a somewhat uncertain future. That also applies (maybe even more so) to the Chevrolet Aveo. Its appearance has the most character and equipment and driving characteristics are at the highest level, but it will probably be the most expensive to maintain. What’s your choice?
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– Thanks for information from Autoweek.nl