What small automatic with some character?

[Bellatrix]

Nissan Juke 1.6
Seat Ibiza 1.2 or 1.4 tsi dsg
Renault Clio
Alfa Mito
Mini
Citroen DS3
Mazda 3 sport

[ali355]

rallycross said:

Get her to test drive a Swift 1.5 auto.
They drive really well and have amazing reliability and are good value vs the usual choice of Jazz/Polo/etc.

Nothing fancy about them it's just an old fashioned 4 speed auto, after an old Golf it will seem very good to drive.

Got to agree, have had one of these for the wife for four and a half years now, and its well put together, not bad on petrol, great around town and pretty tolerable on the odd motorway jaunt. It has taken numerous low speed bumps and scrapes and still drives very well, my son has done his best to destroy the interior (special order leather/alcantara jobby) and it still looks good when I can be bothered to clean it.
In four years I think its had a couple of suspension bushes and a set of tyres. Cheap to insure (£320 fully comp protected) and a 140 odd a year to service. We bought it second hand with one owner who had done about 9000 miles and have put 25-30k miles on it in four and a half years.

[HereBeMonsters]

Jazz Hybrid.

The flappy paddle box actually changes down (or up) when you want it to, and it's reasonably nippy. M-i-L loves hers, bought on the strength of how much my wife and I love our Insight.

[Snollygoster]

A CVT Jazz is the small auto of choice; and rightly so.

Wouldn't want to inherit it, but you shouldn't be thinking like that really

[Prawo Jazdy]

I had a current Volvo V40 Auto as a courtesy car. It was pretty good. SE Lux trim I think, as it had leather and a reasonable amount of additions. I'm not sure about character, but as a diesel hatchback I was quite impressed.

[Shaw Tarse]

Does the Jazz have character?

[digger the goat]

How about a Figaro ??

[Bill]

The Jazz is on the list to try but it doesn't strike me as having much in the way of character.

[HereBeMonsters]

Bill said:

The Jazz is on the list to try but it doesn't strike me as having much in the way of character.

The Hybrid really peps it up, and the flappy paddle CVT box is excellent. Actually good fun to drive. Cockpit looks ace as well.

Unless you mean the old British Leyland version of "character", such as "stuff keeps breaking". In which case, no the Jazz won't do that. Thankfully.

[Bill]

She had enough of that during my dad's "buy British" phase

[Snollygoster]

Shaw Tarse said:

Does the Jazz have character?

Just to awkward and all; the definition of character is "the mental and moral qualities distinctive to an individual". I would say it's very distinctive, little else on the road like it.

And if that's not enough to sway you, you can't say this little thing doesn't have character.

[Shaw Tarse]

Mum's got a manual Jazz, it's not exciting to drive, but really practical.
Doesn't break down.
Did I mention practical?

[saaby93]

c'mon



http://www.fitfreak.net/forums/2nd-generation-ge8-...
They have a bit of character

Did someone say practical too?

Edited by saaby93 on Thursday 18th September 18:16

[Bill]

That's the thing. I've talked her out of changing the Golf a few times over the years on the grounds that there's nothing wrong with it. She likes it, it doesn't break down, it does everything she needs etc etc. Which is all well and good, but a bit dull and worthy.

Like the Jazz.

[Shaw Tarse]

Get the Jazz, really practical

[va1o]

Another Golf is probably the answer to be fair! The latest generation cars with the DSG 'box are a great drive. My Mk5 GTI is the most entertaining and characterful hatchback I've ever owned but really any of them are a good buy.

If you want something a bit smaller the facelift Polo or Audi A1 with a few toys could be worth a look.

Avoid the Up as the ASG auto 'box is st.

[BMWE34FAN]

Kia Soul 1.6 CRDI Automatic. My Dad has one and its been fantastically reliable. It's actually quite a relaxed drive and the car looks quite funky! You can get all special edition models too, his is only a "2" but its still got Bluetooth etc. Definately take a look.

[HereBeMonsters]

Bill said:

That's the thing. I've talked her out of changing the Golf a few times over the years on the grounds that there's nothing wrong with it. She likes it, it doesn't break down, it does everything she needs etc etc. Which is all well and good, but a bit dull and worthy.

Like the Jazz.

Honestly. Put the hybrid Jazz into Sports mode on the gearbox, then chuck it down a country lane using the paddle shift.

Sure, it's not as fun as a proper sports car or hot hatch, but certainly brings a smile to your face. It reminds of the slightly underpowered Fiestas and Clios we used to drive when we were 17, only with more grip...

[Deerfoot]

Another vote for the Jazz. My wife has one and it's a great little package.

When I've borrowed it I'm always impressed by it.

[danp]

My father had a manual Jazz which was excellent, but I didn't think that either of the autos in it (i-shift and CVT) were that well thought of.

The new one sounds even better, not sure when it's out, sounds like it should have been here by now:

http://www.carmagazine.co.uk/News/Search-Results/F...

Edit: sounds like next summer for the new one:

http://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/paris-motor-show...

Edited by danp on Thursday 18th September 20:46