Comforting thoughts?

I have had a Citroen C1 for the last year, but am now looking for a slight upgrade that will provide a more comfortable ride without burning a hole in my pocket. I have been looking at the new Ka and Clio. What are your thoughts regarding running costs, value for money etc? Are there any others you would recommend considering?

Asked on 31 July 2010 by AK, via email

Answered by Honest John
The Ka and the FIAT 500 are the same under the skin, but the 500 has much better residuals because of the way it looks. I’m currently getting 55.9mpg from a 1.2 petrol. The Ka doesn't look special. But Kas are being heavily discounted, so that might swing the balance in its favour: www.bristolstreet.co.uk/page/ford_offers.htm The smallest car with good ride quality is the Chevrolet Spark. Test and
video (in the snow): www.honestjohn.co.uk/news/road-tests/chevrolet/che...t . The Clio Eco 2 diesel is 99g/km and will run down to 1,000rpm so promises outstanding economy. I got 59mpg ‘eco driving’ in Paris traffic.
Dear Honest John,

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