Automatic for the girlfriend

[ArtVandelay]

My girlfriend is close to passing her test in a manual car but has decided that she'd prefer an automatic once she has passed.

I currently have a current shape Citroen C1 with her on the insurance on her provisional license. Unfortunately she hates driving it (it is gutless in all honesty) and it was bought prior to us getting a dog, so it's not the ideal size.

I had thought a Polo GTI would be a good option, with the DSG box and some great 3yr lease deals available, however she wasn't a fan of it and it could perhaps be a touch bigger for the dog too. She actually loved the VW Touran for its driving position however an automatic one of these is coming up to be a bit too expensive unfortunately. I've also test driven a Fiat 500X and hated it, awful thing to drive.

Any recommendations for a smaller SUV with an autobox that won't break the bank? I've suggested we pay half each for it and would prefer a lease deal. Looking around £250-£300 all in. Parking sensors would definitely be a bonus too.

[2 sMoKiN bArReLs]

Have you looked at the Suzuki SX4-cross?

https://cars.suzuki.co.uk/new-cars/new-sx4-s-cross...

[mikey P 500]

Sounds like a Nissan Juke, i know several people (mostly female) who like theirs for being fairly small but high up 4x4 looks.

[seadragon]

I would 2nd the Juke. I am a VW guy, but only similar car in the VW range would be the Tiguan (Touran too big) or maybe the Seat Ateca. The Ateca is fairly big, but reviews on it very good and apparently it drives very well.

Juke no too big, enough space for a dog or 2, good driving position, not bad handling, quirky. My partners daughter is 23 and getting a lease deal on a Juke (Tekna spec).

Edited by seadragon on Thursday 3rd August 09:13

Edited by seadragon on Thursday 3rd August 09:14

[rsbmw]

If you don't like the Juke, then look at the Cashcow (or the Renault equivalents)

[arfur]

My other half is learning to drive. We bought her a Juke on a 12 plate. CVT auto 1.6

Can't actually knock it ... perfectly good car

[ZX10R NIN]

Ford Kuga

Kia Sportage

[Disastrous]

The thread title just made me think of REM wracking their brains for that elusive album title.

"Automatic for the...Dog? No...Girlfriend...? No...That's not it either..."

etc

Sorry, no help at all but made me laugh out loud to myself.

[Deerfoot]

Yeti?

[MorganP104]

Disastrous said:

The thread title just made me think of REM wracking their brains for that elusive album title.

"Automatic for the...Dog? No...Girlfriend...? No...That's not it either..."

etc

Sorry, no help at all but made me laugh out loud to myself.

Me too!

Car-wise, she might want to look at the new pajama mama car, the Vauxhall Crossland X (which sounds like an industrial shredding machine to me, but there we go).

They're too new to get driver opinions, but dealers will have some to try out. If you both like driving it, why not?

[dave_s13]

Do you really want to be associated with "pyjama mamas"?

What a terrible ad campaign.

"Hey look, come and buy this product and you too can be just like the chav underclass!"

It may well be a perfectly good car, although being a Vauxhall, probably not.

[MorganP104]

dave_s13 said:

It may well be a perfectly good car, although being a Vauxhall, probably not.

It will almost certainly be an adequate method of transporting people from one place to another in a speedier fashion than walking the same journey.

I do like a bit of "damning with faint praise".

[DoubleD]

If you can cope with the look of it then as others have said the Nissan Joke is probably your best bet.

[SwissJonese]

1 Series BWM has a proper Auto. Also any Merc also should be on the list as still using torque converter autos.

[Ursicles]

Vauxhall Moka.

I hate vauxhalls, but had this for a hire car for a week and as much as i wanted to hate it, it was a really competent little car! I was really rather impressed.

[Pica-Pica]

DoubleD said:

If you can cope with the look of it then as others have said the Nissan Joke is probably your best bet.

Nissan Joke? I thought it was the Nissan Puke. The reverse Tardis, big on the outside, small on the inside.

[Willy Nilly]

Does she have a preference on the type of auto box she wants?

[Monkeylegend]

Ursicles said:

Vauxhall Moka.

I hate vauxhalls, but had this for a hire car for a week and as much as i wanted to hate it, it was a really competent little car! I was really rather impressed.

Same here, had one for a week last year in Spain and was rather taken with it.

[CYMR0]

ArtVandelay said:

Any recommendations for a smaller SUV with an autobox that won't break the bank? I've suggested we pay half each for it and would prefer a lease deal. Looking around £250-£300 all in. Parking sensors would definitely be a bonus too.

Tiguan SE can be had for about £230 inc. VAT - just over your budget of £300 (which is £225 on a 9+23). Lots of options.

Fleetprices.co.uk has the SEAT Ateca for £210.

[steve-5snwi]

Am i the only one who thinks just passing their test then straight into a brand new lease car with the potential for dehire damage is a bad idea ?

How about a B Max or Ecosport thing?