Help! Small auto car with smooth gearbox

[Petrus1983]

My mum was involved in an accident in which her Audi A1 was written off. I’m searching for another small car for her but maybe not go down the Audi route this time. She’s just tested a Citeron C1 and found the gear change lumpy. What should I be looking at - is the Fiat 500 and better? So basically - a small car with a good auto box. Budget is upto around £12,500 but flexible. TIA

[Canon_Fodder]

How about a Honda Jazz with the CVT?

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202208128...

Edit to add link to an example on AT

[Petrus1983]

Interesting. There’s a few nice examples around the £13k mark.

[SLK55AMG]

Don’t get a Kia Picanto auto, we had one for a day as a courtesy car. It seemed like a manual gearbox with auto added. Weirdest thing ever, it took ages for it to change gear it was painfully clunky as well.

[Krikkit]

Most small cars with automatics are automated manuals, and hence usually rubbish.

As noted Jazz with the CVT is a good choice, the MINI from 2013-on has a proper torque converter auto. Not a tiny car but small enough.

[Petrus1983]

Thanks CF - she’s in Dorset but along those lines certainly seems a good option.

[budgie smuggler]

I had an automatic Fiesta Vignale for a courtesy car recently, the gearbox seemed perfectly fine.

Looks like you can't quite get into the Vignale for that money, but there are a few Titanium specced ones around £10K on autotrader.

[MattyD803]

Recently got a lift in a little 2007 Yaris (Gen II - 1.3 petrol) which had an auto box and it was really quite horrific, even just as a passenger. As mentioned above, it had an 'automated' manual box, but it really was painful waiting for it to find the next gear - I would avoid this type.

Edited by MattyD803 on Thursday 29th September 16:12

[Drezza]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=puVH1Q3AqI4&t=...

Some ideas on here £5k budget

[Brett748]

Yaris Hybrid. My OH has an Auris Hybrid and it couldn't be smoother, drivetrain wise.

[SlowV6]

Brett748 said:

Yaris Hybrid. My OH has an Auris Hybrid and it couldn't be smoother, drivetrain wise.

+1 for the Yaris hybrid.

[Whataguy]

I ran a Yaris hybrid for a year, good cars.

A bit slow above 50mph but nippy at speeds up to that.

Decent amount of space for passengers and luggage too, despite being small on the outside.

Good ride quality as well on the smaller wheels.

Very reliable as they have Prius mechanicals, also they are not subject to the cat being stolen on the Mk1 Yaris hybrid as it's in the engine bay. (I sold my Auris hybrid due to high crime locally and the cat being stuck out the bottom where it's easy to steal despite catlocks and tilt alarms.)

Edited by Whataguy on Thursday 29th September 17:38

[stevemcs]

Yaris (avoid the mutimode manual auto), i10, Picanto, Jazz (avoid the one thats a robotised manual)Suzuki swift.

[ZX10R NIN]

There are a few options.

Clio Signature Nav:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202209089...

GT Line Nav:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202209230...

208 GT Line:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202209149...

The Hyundai i20 in 1.0T SE form is a very good option:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202206307...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202209270...

[SLK55AMG]

stevemcs said:

Yaris (avoid the mutimode manual auto), i10, Picanto, Jazz (avoid the one thats a robotised manual)Suzuki swift.

Sorry but as per my post above the Picanto is an awful gearbox.

[edc]

We had a DSG Seat Arona. Quite a nice little run around type car.

[elanfan]

I’ve got a 1.5 petrol Volvo V40 Auto. Smooth and very nippy. Lovely car and nicer looking Than most small cars.

[stevemcs]

SLK55AMG said:

Sorry but as per my post above the Picanto is an awful gearbox.

I've never had issues with them, they are a proper torque convertor box too.

[SLK55AMG]

stevemcs said:

SLK55AMG said:

Sorry but as per my post above the Picanto is an awful gearbox.

I've never had issues with them, they are a proper torque convertor box too.

Well the one I had as a courtesy car was terrible it took ages to select a gear and you could feel it actually changing almost like a manual so not sure which model it was but it was crap.

[Petrus1983]

elanfan said:

I’ve got a 1.5 petrol Volvo V40 Auto. Smooth and very nippy. Lovely car and nicer looking Than most small cars.

My parents replaced the A1 with a V40 - but that’s still too big. The V40 will stay though as it’s a lovely car.