Help needed buying automatic car

[junglie]

Good morning,

I need to find a car for a nanny that may be coming to work for us. She has an automatic only licence so I need something that works with that constraint.

Some details:

Budget £2500 - 3000 or less
Automatic
Reliable
Base spec must include air con / climate control
Petrol but not concerned about economy
Up to 12,000 miles per year on routine duties but also for her to use as her car when not with us so motorway capable etc.

The issue I have is that I am not the familiar with automatics and, in particular, those with small engines which is what I imagine we will get. I have lots of experience with German brands but not with much else despite the fact that the non-German cars are probably bettter built, more reliable etc!

Some thoughts:

Lexus IS 250
BMW E46 320 / 325 / 330
Volvo S60
Japanese cars but not sure what.

Thank you.

[buggalugs]

Merc A or B Class?

Prius?

[David87]

Japanese stuff is where I'd start my search. Maybe something like a Toyota Avensis?

[stumpage]

I am currently selling my In-Laws car.

Auto
Petrol
A/C
£2K ish
Cheap to run
Ok on a Motorway.
Easy to get kids in and out of.

But..............It's a Ford Fusion.

[Scrump]

Honda jazz auto or Nissan note auto.

The Nissan has a 1.6 petrol with cam chain and a conventional torque converter box.

[Pica-Pica]

Honda Jazz Auto.

[swamp]

Nanny driving 12,000 miles a year?!

I'd be thinking lease vehicle for modern child safety, and diesel.

[Thats What She Said]

Sorry state of affairs if one has to resort to sourcing ones own staff with transport.

Surely you have a man to take care of such things?

[junglie]

Nissan note might be a good shout.

I only buy cam chain engines so that is good.

[junglie]

Thats What She Said said:

Sorry state of affairs if one has to resort to sourcing ones own staff with transport.

Surely you have a man to take care of such things?

I would love to have a chap for this but I have not quite reached that standing in life!

[AlwynMike]

BMW at that price point will be a potential money pit.

Honda Jazz a very good shout.

The cars you have listed are relatively large, is this necessary?

Are you insuring the car for her too? This may make a big difference. Would it need to be declared as business use??? (Employee using your car).

IME, Ford petrol autos can be very thirsty, but I stand to be corrected here.

[junglie]

Thanks for your input.

Size - big enough for my 2 kids but not too small as it needs to fit in scooters, bikes, bags etc. She will also be using it for her own transport when not with us. To that end, it needs to be large enough to be happy carting around kids as well as anything she wants to do.

Insurance - our current au pair is on our insurance as a named driver - that may be a an option but a good point about business use.

Honda Jazz - that is another good option. I bet I’d need just routine maintenance and will go on forever!

BMW - I put those types in as I have owned in the past and know them. You are tight though, they can throw a bill up. I am thinking with heart rather than head based on the few times I might drive it!

[Pica-Pica]

Yes, go through all the car’s usage with the insurer, as well as who owns, who is registered keeper, and who is main driver.
If you plan to use the front passenger seat for a child seat, check that you can turn the front passenger airbag off.

[kieranblenk]

I personally would choose a 5 door car as it'll be easier to lug bikes and scooters than in a saloon boot. Here are some suggestions I would consider..


Honda CRV

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2018...

Mazda 6

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2018...

Nissan Almera Tino

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2018...

Nissan Primera

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2018...

Subaru Legacy

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2018...

Toyota Verso

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2018...

Kia Ceed SW

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2018...

Hyundai Matrix

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2018...

[junglie]

Great suggestions - thank you for providing the links to them. They all look quite fun in their own little way!

I have always had barges so that is what I know; having some guidance on these types of cars is invaluable.

I will have a look at the Subaru Legacy with the 3.0 engine in - 4x4 might be an additional handy feature for the days when it is bad around our little village.

[QuartzDad]

The rear seats in the Note can be moved back and forward so if your kids are young/short you can make the boot pretty big. Tekna spec comes with climate control, seat back tables, bluetooth voice (not music), part leather etc.

We've done 60k in ours in six years including have two 17yo sons no doubt rag it senseless, I've done 200 mile motorway trips without bother, it's only needed servicing and tyres, never let us down, seems indestructible.

[junglie]

They do seem to tick many boxes.

I must make sure I think with head over heart - a 5.0 V8 is not necessary (repeat lots of times)!

[ZX10R NIN]

Lexus IS250

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Vectra Estate (perfect for your usage, reliable too) Low miles

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Saab 9-3

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

All the above will fit bikes/scooters with ease & have space to spare.

The Vectra is a good buy with it's N/A engine they're pretty robust.

[Scrump]

QuartzDad said:

The rear seats in the Note can be moved back and forward so if your kids are young/short you can make the boot pretty big. Tekna spec comes with climate control, seat back tables, bluetooth voice (not music), part leather etc.

We've done 60k in ours in six years including have two 17yo sons no doubt rag it senseless, I've done 200 mile motorway trips without bother, it's only needed servicing and tyres, never let us down, seems indestructible.

Mrs Scrump has a 1.6 auto note tekna and similarly has done 70k miles over 9 years with no issues. It just goes on and on. It has only required normal service items (which I do myself) and a battery in that time. When I was between suitable cars it was used for family holidays with a roof box and it coped admirably.

I said no issues, it did have the common Note issue of a noise from the drivers door lock when locking the car. Solved by pushing the loose pin back into the lock and securing it in place.

[nmd87]

Scrump said:

Honda jazz auto or Nissan note auto.

The Nissan has a 1.6 petrol with cam chain and a conventional torque converter box.

Seconded.

I recently posted this in another thread:

nmd87 said:

We have a Nissan Note Automatic and very happy with it. It's actually my wife's car, but now serves as a family car as we downsized from two cars to one. It replaced another almost identical Note that was written off when my wife was involved in an accident a couple of years ago.

We've had this one since September 2016 and had no problems in that time. Paid £3500 in a private sale for a 59 reg with 25k on the clock - you could probably buy the same car for a bit less now. It's worth buying privately - having bought two of these cars now it doesn't seem to be hard to find them in good condition from private sellers.

We only have one child so far but there would be plenty of space for a baby and toddler in your case. The back seats can be moved forwards/backwards depending on whether you need more boot space or more rear legroom.


Did consider alternatives but discounted them for various reasons:

- Auris has a "multimode" transmission which has mixed reviews - wanted a torque convertor
- Honda Jazz has a similar type of transmission and doesn't seem to offer any advantages over the Note
- Focus is a lot more expensive, not any roomier and more expensive to tax and run (mpg)

Any questions feel free to ask.