What First Car Thread - For My 19-Year-Old Sister

[David87]

Okay, my sister starts her driving lessons tomorrow and my Dad has kindly offered to buy her a car. She therefore has around £5k to spend on something small-ish, strong and as new as possible. Predictably, driving excitement is of no interest, but styling is. Now here's the problem... it has to be an auto! After a few manual lessons some months back with less than good results, an auto-only license is sadly what it has to be!

Her favourite is the VW Beetle, but 1.6 autos seem to be rather rare, with the 2.0 auto much more common, but more expensive to insure. They're probably a bit crap too. My recommendations are the Mini (I believe both the One and Cooper were available with a CVT transmission) and C2 VTR (all of which were semi-autos, if I recall correctly). She didn't like my idea of an old Range Rover, though.

So, PH - any other car ideas?! I have to admit to not even being quite sure what falls under the term 'automatic' with reference to what you can and can't drive under that type of license! I'm assuming it's anything with two pedals, yeah? So proper automatic, CVT, semi-auto and twin-clutch are all good to go?

Cheers!

And no, I can't post pics.

[KieronGSi]

If it's an auto licence then it has to be a fully automatic car.

[Remagel2507]

Micra Autos are not that bad - we have one on the company fleet and its really not as bad as some people would make you think

My Grandma has a VW Polo automatic which is also not a bad little car for what she uses it for

Others I can think of are Vaux Corsa (though that semi auto one is ste), Pug 206 and Clio autos are also quite good for the job from what I've heard

[essexplumber]

How long till someone asks for pics of your sister?


ETA: Ah, should have read to the bottom of your topic.

Edited by essexplumber on Wednesday 21st April 19:12

[300bhp/ton]

Note sure if these are all covered by an auto only licence or even if all are available with non manual transmissions. 

MGF/TF 1.6 CVT
Smart Roadster
MINI Cooper
Daihatsu Copen (do they do an auto??)
Fiat 500
Fiat Panda

[David87]

essexplumber said:

How long till someone asks for pics of your sister?


ETA: Ah, should have read to the bottom of your topic.

Edited by essexplumber on Wednesday 21st April 19:12

This is PH - you have to cover things like that from the outset.

Thanks for the recommendations, guys. It will be a bit rubbish if only proper torque-converter autos are covered under the license - is that the case? I had assumed it was anything with two pedals, but can't find the answer on the internet. No-one seems to want to define what 'automatic' means!

[Vic Cooper]

KieronGSi said:

If it's an auto licence then it has to be a fully automatic car.

Anybody recommended the public transport for her?

Nah, joking. Any budget-year-engine-size limits to recommend a car?

[Super Slo Mo]

David87 said:

Thanks for the recommendations, guys. It will be a bit rubbish if only proper torque-converter autos are covered under the license - is that the case? I had assumed it was anything with two pedals, but can't find the answer on the internet. No-one seems to want to define what 'automatic' means!

I think the definition of 'automatic' will cover DSG, CVT, etc, so your initial assumption would be correct.

[David87]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

I know, I have said this but it didn't go down well. Am pleased DSG etc is permitted - that opens more doors than granny-spec Clio or granny-spec Corsa.

Budget is ~£5k, year is as new as can be, but anything post-2000 or so would do and engine size is kind of dictated by the insurance. Small is good I suppose, because I doubt she'll be burning any rubber.

[Robert060379]

Dodgem?

[s24ng]

get your sis to ask her instructor what the definition is when she goes on her lesson as he/she will know!

I think the new Clio or Corsa are nice, both available in auto trans! Im getting the new astra sri in fully auto (cant put car into 1st,2nd,3rd gear manually) The VW Polo is nice as is the pug 207 (also looked at this for myself)

I can understand why she found driving manual hard,I managed to master it after 43 lessons and passed my test 2weeks ago in one, but due to disability have to get auto.Wish her the best of luck and i hope she finds a suitable car.

[hairyben]

Lots of jap grey import stuff is auto, dunno if insurance will be an issue.

will that retro nissan micra thing come in budget?

[v1paul]

Focus auto? I think they look pretty good.

[Vic Cooper]

Well, I'd say a Handa Jazz seems to be a practical choice. There's a CVT version as well with 7 speed padel shift mode. You can find a 53 reg one under 3 grand. I know, usually girls like Micras, but I don't know, kinda strange for me and hated by most of the men. I took a look on the others, and have to say I'm not very impressed :S

[Vic Cooper]

I can't believe this, but it does worth a call:

http://search.autotrader.co.uk/es-uk/www/cars/HOND...

2007 Jazz for 4.5K with 6000 miles?!

[David87]

Lots of good ideas! Thanks a lot. The Honda Jazz did cross my mind, but didn't think they'd be cheap enough. Seems I was wrong! Again, bit of a grandma image, but I remember them being heaped with praise when they came out, so there must be something there. Perhaps not that black one above, though.

The Smart Roadster is a good suggestion...

[s24ng]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

At first i found remembering what gear i was in a pain and clutch control was a prob, so swaped instructors and found it easier when it was explained to me better. Think that was after 15 lessons and a pregnancy i swapped! Now im worried about going to pick up my auto a bit daunting as i havent ever driven an auto before, my mum says she will give me a shot in hers before hand!

[David87]

I quite agree - safety is where it's at! Smart Roadster is a good PH suggestion, but a bad sister suggestion. I wonder what the instructor will use - I'll report back tomorrow once I've found out.

S24, don't worry about driving an auto for the first time - if you've mastered the manual you'll have no problem at all. Enjoy your new car.

[dtmpower]

KieronGSi said:

If it's an auto licence then it has to be a fully automatic car.

Are you sure about that ? As long as it doesn't have a clutch I would say it will be ok.

I would be surprised if they treat DSG as a manual gearbox.

[ctallchris]

Suzuki Swift?