Small/Cheap/Reliable/Simple - is it possible ?

[myglaren]

My next door neighbour has one and loves it, mainly as she has a 90 mile commute and it is very cheap to run compared to the Quashquai she dumped in favour of it.
She does say that the ride is harsh in comparison though.
My eldest granddaughter has one too, only had it for about six weeks and loves it but I haven't seen her to find out all the "fores and againsts".

[Pshemsky]

Thank you guys for all replies.
I just find out about tax different rules about tax rate (vehicles before and after march 2001) - well, you learn something new every day
I've read all posts and now wondering - do I really want to sell Xantia just to replace it for something which I may not like as much and only to pay a bit less of tax or insurance? Of course there is many things which need to be done to it but as mentioned before I got donor car so plenty of spare parts. Xantia was my first 'real car' which I bought when moved to the UK. I had a few in past few years, but still love the shape and character of this vehicle.
I've decide to stick with Xantia - just make a list of thing which need to be done and slowly start sorting them out one by one.

PS: I love my XM too, but Xantia is daily/winter car and XM will be my summer toy

[GiveMeABreak]

I can't drive in anything that compact - I can drive the C3 - just, on account that the seat height can be raised quite a bit and that it is easy to get in and out of, but I also have the seat all the way back.

[Zelandeth]

I was loaned a C1 when my car was in for work a few years ago. I thought it had an incredibly harsh ride and said so when I handed it back. The bloke behind the counter said that the Mk1 was even harsher and when the service manager had to drive one back to base a few years ago he had a bad back afterwards.

To some extent this is somewhat inevitable with a car this small. We had a VW Up in the household for a while and it was very nearly as jiggly on poor roads as the 107 was. People don't seem to be willing to put up with any degree of body roll these days, so we get cars with ridiculously stiff dampers. On something as light as the 107 that will obviously make things a bit harsh.

The tyres can make a huge difference. Mine was massively better once I ditched the original low rolling resistance rubbish and fitted some decent rubber. The original tyres were terrible in pretty every regard and changing them really did transform the car.

[myglaren]

I was loaned a C1 when my car was in for work a few years ago. I thought it had an incredibly harsh ride and said so when I handed it back. The bloke behind the counter said that the Mk1 was even harsher and when the service manager had to drive one back to base a few years ago he had a bad back afterwards.

To some extent this is somewhat inevitable with a car this small. We had a VW Up in the household for a while and it was very nearly as jiggly on poor roads as the 107 was. People don't seem to be willing to put up with any degree of body roll these days, so we get cars with ridiculously stiff dampers. On something as light as the 107 that will obviously make things a bit harsh.

The tyres can make a huge difference. Mine was massively better once I ditched the original low rolling resistance rubbish and fitted some decent rubber. The original tyres were terrible in pretty every regard and changing them really did transform the car.

Was out in my daughter's Megane earlier and while it is "OK" I found the steering heavy and twitchy and the ride fairly harsh.
Same journey an hour later in the C5 and far more comfortable and and relaxed, also more sure-footed.

[Richard_C]

Visa! 17RD ideal, fast, very soft and comfortable, might be a bit old and rust-buckety by now though.

Had a C1 for a while, fine for 2, (very) occasional 4. Mine was on a 13 plate and they upped the gear ratios to get to the magic 99g CO2, older ones were just over 100 so not tax free. I think that was the only engineering change, you had to stir the gears a bit but it went well enough. Easily diy fixable for most things, yes it was harsh. Went to garden centre for 2 bags of compost, put them in the boot, left them there for a month or so because it was quieter and nicer to drive. FUN. Best thing was heading into car park spaces and not having to think about it. Boot is tiny, your supermarket shopping wont fall over. Wouldn't want many hours in it in one go. Seats remarkably comfortable for me. Good support.

[RichardW]

Visa! 17RD ideal, fast, very soft and comfortable, might be a bit old and rust-buckety by now though.

Might be a challenge, only 4 still licensed!!