What small automatic with some character?

[Bill]

My mum (you can tell this is going to be worth reading, can't you? ) is looking to replace her 15 year old Golf automatic and before she goes out and gets another Golf I thought I'd ask here.

She mostly does shortish local trips with the odd long motorway journey, and doesn't need fast. She's got used to a wheezy 1.6 mated to a lazy gearbox in a stodgy old bus...

I've discounted plug in hybrids as unnecessary, and there's no point her getting a diesel.

So what's out there? What's good, what's not? It's not a segment I have any knowledge about so any advice will he helpful.

(And as she's almost 70 and had a few health issues this year, it could do with being something you wouldn't mind inheriting. )

[Bill]

Not the beetle, although I'm wondering about a Cactus or Cube which aren't that dissimilar in concept. Not keen on the 1 series for nor real reason aside from reduced practicality due to the rwd. I'd cheerfully have a 130, but she won't.

TBH I'm not sure what after, but I'm hoping someone will come up with a suggestion with a gem of an (small ) engine. Or something.

[Bill]

Gandahar said:

That has to be one of the most self centered sentences I have read on here in a long time.

Hope she gets a LaFerrari and then donates it to charity .... whilst you get the clapped out Kia Rio from 1986.

Oh shush, I'll grant you it's morbid but I'm just being realistic. Her last car has done her 15 years, and with the best will in the world she is unlikely to see 85. Twice this year we've thought she was unlikely to leave hospital and that has very much brought her mortality to the forefront.

[Bill]

What's the Fiat 500 like on the motorway? My abiding memory of a small car is being blown round by passing cars and not having the power to pull out unless I could see nothing coming for miles. But that was an old, knackered 106.

[Bill]

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

[Bill]

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

[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.

[Bill]

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.

[Bill]

Just thinking ahead, if she doesn't want to go as small as a supermini (She had estates when we were kids, including a V6 Granada at one point.) what are people's views of the Golf's auto competitors?

[Bill]

saaby93 said:

Auris hybrid estate

What was wrong with the Yeti?

I haven't mentioned the Yeti yet, just thinking of other options if she finds the Jazz too small. She doesn't need anything bigger than a Golf though.

[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