What small automatic with some character?

[Bonefish Blues]

I don't think we've had an A1 mentioned yet, have we?

[va1o]

Bonefish Blues said:

I don't think we've had an A1 mentioned yet, have we?

I think I mentioned it but yes would be a good choice with the S-Tronic (DSG) 'box and a few toys

[Bonefish Blues]

va1o said:

Bonefish Blues said:

I don't think we've had an A1 mentioned yet, have we?

I think I mentioned it but yes would be a good choice with the S-Tronic (DSG) 'box and a few toys

Nothing more annoying than people who don't read the thread eh - second only to those who do read the fecking thing, just not properly

[LuS1fer]

My 75 year old mother had this issue and wanted to downsize from her Galaxy.
She looked at just about everything but, buying new, an auto is punitively expensive (something like a £1500 option).
We finally found a one year old, almost new Ford Focus 1.6 with the Powershift gearbox in Mars Red.
She loves it.

[Bill]

Had a chat with her over the weekend and tried to narrow requirements down. She's always had practical cars but now has little need apart from rear seats potentially, she doesn't want a convertible and got quite excited at the idea of a coupe. She's also quite happy with the idea of buying used. She doesn't want anything bigger than the Golf, and loves how comfortable the seat is.

TT??

So, how reliable is the VAG DSG box? IIRC I've seen grumbles about the early ones but have no idea.

ETA She also said there's no hurry as she's just arranged travel insurance for a holiday and they threw in RAC cover

Edited by Bill on Monday 22 September 11:06

[bobfett]

Another vote for the auto swift. Very easy to get in and out of and a proper torque convertor auto, which seem popular with the older generation.

Should be plenty available at any price point; older secondhand 1.5 of the older version, secondhand 1.2 of the new one or new 1.2 on VAT free and 0% finance.

Honourable mention to the Yaris auto; family friend reckoned his Verso (the old, yaris based one with the side opening boot) was the best car he'd ever owned. Kept it for over a decade.

Edited by bobfett on Monday 22 September 11:14

[dozydavenport]

My dad just had the same kind of thing with my nan, My grandad passed away and she couldn't get along with either of his cars ('02 Merc CLK240) and ('01 vauxhall omega 2.2) so dad sold both the cars and got good deals with them both, enough to buy nan a '56 reg vauxhall corsa 1.4 auto, I know people slag these off all the time but I have a 2014 1.2 corsa and she has hers, she loves the auto box in it.
Dad also said he likes driving it, he said the gear change is almost as smooth as the one in his 7 series!
Worth a look?

[Bonefish Blues]

If we're thinking TTs, how about an SLK? Best of both worlds with the folding tintop roof, I'd have thought.

[HereBeMonsters]

Bill said:

Had a chat with her over the weekend and tried to narrow requirements down. She's always had practical cars but now has little need apart from rear seats potentially, she doesn't want a convertible and got quite excited at the idea of a coupe. She's also quite happy with the idea of buying used. She doesn't want anything bigger than the Golf, and loves how comfortable the seat is.

TT??

So, how reliable is the VAG DSG box? IIRC I've seen grumbles about the early ones but have no idea.

ETA She also said there's no hurry as she's just arranged travel insurance for a holiday and they threw in RAC cover

Edited by Bill on Monday 22 September 11:06

Or a Scirocco, obvs.

[Asterix]

Bill said:

Cheers all, very useful. I was going to suggest the Mini but won't push it now. The Fiat 500, Jazz, Golf/Polo/Beetle are in the mix, and I'm going to suggest the Yeti too as they're funky and might be easier on her arthritic knees.

I thought it was the runflats the Mini comes with rather than the actual car itself.

[DUMBO100]

I would recommend the VW Polo DSG or The Honda Jazz but I recently purchased a VW High Up for a Granny and I actually like it a lot. The gearbox is crap but it's small city car and it does the job and the car is enjoyable to drive

[DUMBO100]

Yes, a Granny, any old Granny...

[Bonefish Blues]

DUMBO100 said:

I would recommend the VW Polo DSG or The Honda Jazz but I recently purchased a VW High Up for a Granny and I actually like it a lot. The gearbox is crap but it's small city car and it does the job and the car is enjoyable to drive

You are Wayne Rooney AICMFP