Which Forfour for me?

[Dazed & Confused]

Hi,

Due to an incoming addition to to our family, we're looking for a small city car with 5 doors, but with enough space and grunt to occasionally be used for 3 hour motorway trips - 3 up with luggage.

We really like the Forfour in blue over silver, but before we test drive, we wondered which model will suit us best. It will be low mileage, mainly city driving.

The diesels seem to sell for a premium - is the extra mpg worth it for 6000 miles a year?

Are the diesels simply better than the 1.5 (not Brabus) petrols?

Is the auto-box worth having if it's mainly city driving?

Can you easily fit in two adults, a baby in a rear facing seat and all their luggage in for a week's holiday?

Help!

Thanks!

[Sam]

Re: Which Forfour for me?

diesel would be good then, i have loaded ours with three people, two small dogs and a lot of servicing things, plus you can always get a roof box

but to be honest all forfours dont seem to have many problems just the throttle body at times, you will probs find the semi auto would be extra as well

[wemorgan]

Re: Which Forfour for me?

The non-turbo petrol will have a different driving feel when compared to the turbo diesel. (I'm presuming the diesel is turbo charged?)
So I'd drive both first to be sure you're happy with the petrol version.

If you have a fixed budget, then simply you'd have to buy an older or higher mileage diesel comapered to the petrol. In this situation even at 6k miles it would save you money. That is, assuming the diesel has no greater running repair costs than the petrol.

With petrol and diesel prices as they are, the diesel version will save you roughly 10-15% in fuel costs.

As ever, it's horses for courses.

[Ferrina]

Re: Which Forfour for me?

Hi there,
Well for me the manual 1.5CDi is the best of the bunch. Easy to drive, quiet, cruises at 80 all day long, very torquey in 2nd/3rd gear and returns 50mpg. 1.3 and 1.5 petrols are very good cars and perform well and return good mpg and the semi-auto boxes are really good. I did a 500 round trip to get my car and still loving it!! Have a look on www.forfourowner.com

[H Palmer]

Re: Which Forfour for me?

Hey hey!

Just adding to what has been said... forfours are practical and will easily get a family on holiday (dump a roof box on for extra storage).

Engine wise, 1.3 is the best all rounder. MPG is good, performance good. I have the 1.3 Softouch (auto) and can achieve an average of 50mpg and up to 57mpg being good.

I have just done a run through the Central London and the softouch is great, you have auto or manual mode to choose from which makes city driving a doddle.

Model wise... 95CDi Softouch Passion is the one to aim for, be warned a good spec CDi Passion will be expensive with the auto box.

The softouch gearbox is the most economical choice to make and shaves a bit off the 0-62 time

[lalli_d1]

Re: Which Forfour for me?

how is the auto more economical than the manual? iv always found that the autos stay in a lower gear where as in a manual you can be in a higher gear at the same speed

[H Palmer]

Re: Which Forfour for me?

how is the auto more economical than the manual? iv always found that the autos stay in a lower gear where as in a manual you can be in a higher gear at the same speed

The manual has 5 gears the auto has 6, well 5 plus overdrive. And with an update the gearbox sits the same either in manual or auto.

[lalli_d1]

Re: Which Forfour for me?

ahh thanks for that!

[babelfish]

Re: Which Forfour for me?

Congratulations on your upcoming addition to the family.

We have a forfour 1.5 Diesel (95 hp) passion and it serves the three of us (Me, Andrea and nearly 6 month old Lachlan) very well. We use it for regular trips to visit Andreas family in Birmingham from Northumberland (approx 450 mile round trip). Plenty of space for all our luggage plus the many and varied extra bits you need for a little one. Usually fit both the buggy and a mid sized suitcase in the boot both standing upright, with other stuff packed around the edges, and use made of the rear passenger footwells.
FYI we have a Baby Jogger City Mini Buggy, which has a one hand quick fold, and goes down quite small, plus wheels are quick release if needed, though we rarely need it. We also have a Concord Ultimax seat fitted in the rear which is suitable from Birth to about 4 years(18kg). Plenty of room getting Lachlan in and out, plus the quite stubby rear doors can be fully opened in some of the tighter car parking spaces. Cannot rate these two products highly enough.
As has been and will be said, aim for the passion spec models as these had most of what you require as standard from the factory, and 1.3 (my sis has one and has been used for trips to see her other halfs family in essex from northumberland) or 1.5 petrol or either of the diesels especially the 95hp as it is a hoot to drive.

[MrPoo]

Re: Which Forfour for me?

I'd advise you to check out the boot size, ideally with the pram with you........

[StevRS]

Re: Which Forfour for me?

Personally I'd take the diesel over a small petrol any day. Whilst on paper the petrol might perform adequately, in real life the diesel will wipe the floor with it. I'd also go for a manual, but then I've never liked Smart's attempt at a neither-auto-nor-manual box...

[babelfish]

Re: Which Forfour for me?

I'd advise you to check out the boot size, ideally with the pram with you........

Precisely the reason we went for the Baby Jogger City Mini as it fits comfortably in the boot of both the forfour and the fortwo without the need to dissamble it, just a one hand quick fold and go.

[MrPoo]

Re: Which Forfour for me?

Precisely the reason we went for the Baby Jogger City Mini as it fits comfortably in the boot of both the forfour and the fortwo without the need to dissamble it, just a one hand quick fold and go.

Yeah, but if they've already got a bigger pram.....

Saying that, I may have found a pram that will fit in a roadster

[Messerschmitt Owner]

Re: Which Forfour for me?

Yeah, but if they've already got a bigger pram.....

Saying that, I may have found a pram that will fit in a roadster

I have one that fits in the boot of my roadster already - almost any stroller-type pram will fit! The three-in-one baby carriages are a bit more of a struggle though!

[ZorroReturns]

Re: Which Forfour for me?

The diesels seem to sell for a premium - is the extra mpg worth it for 6000 miles a year?

Are the diesels simply better than the 1.5 (not Brabus) petrols?

For 6,000miles per year a CDi is not worth any extra premium for you!

You would get better value either looking at the 1.3 or the 1.5 petrol (non turbo) models.

The forfour is outstanding value on the used market, its built well, has plenty of passenger space (but a fairly small boot) and has proven to be very reliable.

Many cars ordered by Merc dealers where packed with options, take your time and look for the right colour and spec. But honestly buying a CDi forfour will not pay you back.

Let us know what cars you have seen so far on the shopping list