Small, cheap, reliable

[ScoobyChris]

This time last year, my good lady decided she wanted to get back driving again and wanted a small, cheap and reliable car. Cue lots of scouring AT and we found a great 107 with an outstanding MOT history (only 1 failure and that was due to a numberplate bulb). It's been a great car and just cost us fuel, and even then not very much of that.

However, she has decided that she doesn't really like driving manual cars and would like to replace it with an automatic. I initially steered away from auto's to fullfil the reliable criteria, but maybe I am just overly cautious as I've not had a great deal of experience with them in small cars, so thought I would open it up to the wise people of PH. Any recommendations, or cars to avoid?

Criteria are:
- Auto
- Budget max around 2k
- Must be an Auto
- Small/smallish car (Focus sized probably biggest she'd consider)
- Cheap to tax/run/insure
- Reliable
- Petrol (annual mileage will be a few thousand at most)
- 4/5 seats
- Did I mention it has to be an auto?

Thanks, Chris

[How u doing]

Small, cheap, reliable, my goto is a 107/C1/Aygo

We've had a few, I rate them but no experience of the autos.

[Om]

If you can find auto versions at your budget I would think you can't go too far wrong with a Jazz or a Yaris or possibly a Suzuki Swift?

One other that stood out when I was idly looking last year was the Nissan Note. Small but roomy, appear reliable, pretty well built and most importantly there are loads of autos around to choose from. Often come from the one careful elderly owner brigade so can be well serviced/looked after.

[biggbn]

Kia or Hyundai. If you buy one with a full history it will have had all warranty work done as and when (not that they need any/much). A c'eed is about focus size, has an old fashioned torque converter auto and should be in budget. Picanto etc equally indestructible

[ScoobyChris]

Thanks for the suggestions and it sounds like I'm not on a unicorn hunt after all

Note is a good suggestion - having been in one a few times, I agree that they are well made and the gearbox works nicely with the 1.6 engine, and hadn't realised they came in budget.

Chris

[imck]

Pre-2005 Yaris 1.3 with TC Box. Avoid the MMT Box.

Just in the process of selling ours as Mrs now WFH.
Has had a few Age related Repairs. Shocks, Exhaust, Brake Pipes. Nothing too expensive though.

I love driving it.
Back Seat slides to give either reasonable Rear Passenger room or bigger Boot.

Note is a good shout and often gets recommended for your needs.

[RizzoTheRat]

Not tried the auto, but the Honda Jazz is definitely worth a look. Fiesta sized on the outside, yet capable of fitting 6' adults in the back, and fold the seats down to turn it in to the tardis. My wife's one never went wrong, servicing costs are cheap, and very economical.

[BroadsRS6]

Jazz every time.

[Sheepshanks]

For Jazz need to avoid early (2009 to 2011) mk2 autos has they had iShift automated manual. Later ones went back to CVT but might be too dear. Mk1's are getting old now and old Jazz's aren't without problems, including with the CVT gearbox.

[Ratae]

Citigo/Up/Mii with the ASG autobox, I love my manual Citigo as a runaround

[biggbn]

Ratae said:

Citigo/Up/Mii with the ASG autobox, I love my manual Citigo as a runaround

2k budget...

[anonymous-user]

Sheepshanks said:

For Jazz need to avoid early (2009 to 2011) mk2 autos has they had iShift automated manual. Later ones went back to CVT but might be too dear. Mk1's are getting old now and old Jazz's aren't without problems, including with the CVT gearbox.

This, plus you have the added fun of potentially having the catalytic converter stolen and the O2 sensor ripped off.

I don't know what the answer to this is, my issue with the torque converter gearboxes in older Japanese cars is they tend to be the ancient and slow four speeders.

[Sheepshanks]

Joey Deacon said:

This, plus you have the added fun of potentially having the catalytic converter stolen and the O2 sensor ripped off.

I'd forgotten about that - it's practically epidemic on mk1's apparantly.

[biggbn]

Left field option, Mitsubishi i car. I properly love these, deceptively spacious, smooth if archaic four speed auto, 660cc rear engine with a turbo...what's not to like?

[RizzoTheRat]

Sheepshanks said:

For Jazz need to avoid early (2009 to 2011) mk2 autos has they had iShift automated manual. Later ones went back to CVT but might be too dear. Mk1's are getting old now and old Jazz's aren't without problems, including with the CVT gearbox.

What's the issue with the iShift? Are they unreliable or is this a bit of PH view that they're a bit slow and mean an extra few tenths on your quarter of a mile time? No disreespec tot ScoobyChris's mrs but I'm guessing if she's looking at a small automatic in the £2k range, performance and smoothness of the gearshifting isn't a priority.

[stevemcs]

iShift is manual box with auto selection and is complex and not reliable.

[Sheepshanks]

stevemcs said:

iShift is manual box with auto selection and is complex and not reliable.

….hence Honda dropped it and went back to CVT.

[ZX10R NIN]

If you don't mind a Cat C (get it inspected haggle hard & you could land a nice car for the OH) then this Astra has the potential to be a good buy. With an N/A engine & conventional auto, they're a reliable pick.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202106234...

Astra Design

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202105232...

SRI

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202106023...

Clio Initiale

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202105273...

Dynamique S

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202106284...

IS200 SE

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202105112...

207 SE Premium

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202106193...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202106183...

All the above have conventional auto's with N/A engines.

[ScoobyChris]

RizzoTheRat said:

What's the issue with the iShift? Are they unreliable or is this a bit of PH view that they're a bit slow and mean an extra few tenths on your quarter of a mile time? No disreespec tot ScoobyChris's mrs but I'm guessing if she's looking at a small automatic in the £2k range, performance and smoothness of the gearshifting isn't a priority.

Yes, it’s purely white goods motoring so as long as it works (and it’s an auto) she will be over the moon!

Chris

[ScoobyChris]

ZX10R NIN said:

If you don't mind a Cat C (get it inspected haggle hard & you could land a nice car for the OH) then this Astra has the potential to be a good buy. With an N/A engine & conventional auto, they're a reliable pick.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202106234...

Astra Design

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202105232...

SRI

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202106023...

Clio Initiale

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202105273...

Dynamique S

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202106284...

IS200 SE

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202105112...

207 SE Premium

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202106193...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202106183...

All the above have conventional auto's with N/A engines.

Thanks - some great suggestions I hadn’t considered!

Chris