Which cars are usually automatics?

[mikeyr]

So I'm trying to hunt down a cheap automatic (and by cheap I mean something reliable with at least 3 months MOT for under £800). Sounds easy enough to find what's on offer you'd think - what with the internet n' all.

But only Autotrader consistently has adverts labelled up with the correct transmission. Ebay therefore requires 3 searches... an initial one with the "Automatic" filter ticked, then 2 other generic search for the words "auto" and "automatic". And this only searches the advert title, not the whole advert.

Certain search engines (and I'm looking at you here Pistonheads Classifieds!) don't even offer a transmission filter...

So, I've been manually searching through ads for Mercs, Volvos and Rovers because these are the most likely candidates to be automatics.

Other than Lexuseseseses/Lexii ( what IS the plural for Lexus?) are there any other makes of cars that are typically automatics?

[Baryonyx]

There are plenty of automatic BMW's around too, especially when you look further up the price list. I'd love a manual 7 Series but for some reason the automatic is considered the premium choice there!

many Jaguars are automatic too, look at the S Type.

[alcovrugbyfan]

Jag XJ?

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2687062.htm

[freakynessless]

As above, my money would be on some sort of Jaaaaaag. Probably something early-mid ninties on that budget.

[bigdods]

Vauxhall Omega ? got for the 2.5 or 3.0 v6 plenty of older ones about in reasonable nick for that sort of money. www.omegaowners.com excellent forum for advice on buying and they also have a couple of mechanics who will do cambelt changes, servicing etc at much lower prices than a garage.

Autos are the norm in hese motors, its unusual to find a manual unless its the MV6 model which came with manual as standard I believe.

[Uhura fighter]

Honda.

[alcovrugbyfan]

bigdods said:

Vauxhall Omega ? got for the 2.5 or 3.0 v6 plenty of older ones about in reasonable nick for that sort of money. www.omegaowners.com excellent forum for advice on buying and they also have a couple of mechanics who will do cambelt changes, servicing etc at much lower prices than a garage.

Autos are the norm in hese motors, its unusual to find a manual unless its the MV6 model which came with manual as standard I believe.

Omega is a good call.

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2759947.htm

[VladD]

Baryonyx said:

There are plenty of automatic BMW's around too, especially when you look further up the price list. I'd love a manual 7 Series but for some reason the automatic is considered the premium choice there!

many Jaguars are automatic too, look at the S Type.

I second the S-Type. Lovely cars.

[Matt UK]

Head to the bargain barges thread.

[SD1992]

Baryonyx said:

There are plenty of automatic BMW's around too, especially when you look further up the price list. I'd love a manual 7 Series but for some reason the automatic is considered the premium choice there!

This pretty much!

Why are all the 7 series automatics anyway? I know they did a manual one, but I have only ever seen one on autotrader than that was a few months ago. Does everyone want an auto these days??

[BoRED S2upid]

Mercs. Lots of Auto's.

[chrisispringles]

You could probably get a tidy automatic Volvo 850 for that.

[SlimRick]

[Matt UK]

SD1992 said:

This pretty much!

Why are all the 7 series automatics anyway? I know they did a manual one, but I have only ever seen one on autotrader than that was a few months ago. Does everyone want an auto these days??

A manual 7 series?

Pretty sure it has never been offered as a manual - shirley a conversion?

Edited by Matt UK on Tuesday 24th May 13:45

[excel monkey]

You're already on the right lines looking at Mercs.

Most big Jap cars will be auto as well (Nissan QX, Honda Legend, Toyota Camry, Mazda Xedos), although they won't be as common on the used market.

[RemainAllHoof]

mikeyr said:

what IS the plural for Lexus?

"Lexii" but you ought to call them "Lexuses" to avoid being called Alan Partridge...

[SD1992]

Matt UK said:

A manual 7 series?

Pretty sure it has never been offered as a manual - shirley a conversion?

Edited by Matt UK on Tuesday 24th May 13:45

Up until the E38 they were offered with a manual gearbox:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BMW_7_Series

Only ever seen one E38 manual

Maybe they weren't offered in the UK and that is why I have hardly seen any...?

[g3org3y]

£800 - BMW E34 525i auto?

[Caruso]

Mercedes 190E.

[mikeyr]

Good stuff guys - Honda's might be worth a look, forgot about Legends and other such barges. Car will only be sticking around for a couple of months until my Achilles is recovered enough to commute on the bike again.

So far I've actually been to see 2 Volvos. First one was a V40 T4 which had a "full service history" apparently. But when I turned up the FSH lasted all the way up until April 07 and it hadn't been serviced since. When the whole steering column vibrated when the engine started I knew it was not a good-un!

Second one was a V70 2.5 CD which was only up for £500. However despite apparently "driving superbly" the ABS light stayed on and the autobox wouldn't kick down. It also had "MOT's and bills" - this turned out to be bills from 2006.

The joys of car buying eh -thanks for all the suggestions, I'll look through them all and hopefully find something down my way (Hampshire).

PS: is it crazy to contemplate bargain basement Mercs but then rule out Jags as being too unreliable and expensive?