Help picking small automatic for new driver
Discussion
Hi PHers,
my friend is due to pass her driving test soon and would like a small city car/ supermini. No interest in cars; it just needs to be reliable and automatic. Preferably petrol. Annual mileage likely to be up to 10k per year. She's in her 30s, so insurance should be okay by new license holder standards.
Budget is £2k to £3.5k
Any recommendations/ suggestions of who makes good small autos?
my friend is due to pass her driving test soon and would like a small city car/ supermini. No interest in cars; it just needs to be reliable and automatic. Preferably petrol. Annual mileage likely to be up to 10k per year. She's in her 30s, so insurance should be okay by new license holder standards.
Budget is £2k to £3.5k
Any recommendations/ suggestions of who makes good small autos?
I would recommend a proper automatic (torque converter) 'box rather than an automated manual.
Avoid anything like that Auris above, which has a horrendous automated manual gearbox. In fact, I would suggest avoiding anything that mentions any of these: Easytronic, MMT, Durashift, 2-Tronic, Dualogic, EGC, EGS, ETG, ASG, i-SHIFT...
I'm sure there are many more that I can't think of, but I wouldn't touch any of them with a barge pole.
The Clio on the other hand is a very good shout, and third-gen Micras might be worth a look as well. Would also recommend the Jazz, but make sure it's a proper auto and ISN'T an 'i-SHIFT'. The easy way to tell the difference is the gear lever. If it has the usual 'P R N D' layout then all is good.
Avoid anything like that Auris above, which has a horrendous automated manual gearbox. In fact, I would suggest avoiding anything that mentions any of these: Easytronic, MMT, Durashift, 2-Tronic, Dualogic, EGC, EGS, ETG, ASG, i-SHIFT...
I'm sure there are many more that I can't think of, but I wouldn't touch any of them with a barge pole.
The Clio on the other hand is a very good shout, and third-gen Micras might be worth a look as well. Would also recommend the Jazz, but make sure it's a proper auto and ISN'T an 'i-SHIFT'. The easy way to tell the difference is the gear lever. If it has the usual 'P R N D' layout then all is good.
Thanks for the suggestions folks, and in particular to angels95 for drawing my attention to the Toyota multimode transmission. Have done some interneting and can't believe Toyota would make a transmission with so many issues.
Luckily the i-shift Jazz isn't in budget, so the CVT Jazz is a good shout.
Locally (in Cornwall) there isn't much choice. There's a well priced Daihatsu Sirion. Looks like a Toyota engine and from what I can see, a torque converter auto. Anyone know/ have experience of these Only worry is Daihatsu have pulled out of the UK so parts may be an issue?
Also a well priced Hyundai Getz nearby - any experience of these? Again, looks like a traditional torque converter set up.
Clio is definitely in the running as well. Will try and find a good one to look at.
Buying an automatic seems so much harder than getting a manual
Daft prices for these small hatches too.
Luckily the i-shift Jazz isn't in budget, so the CVT Jazz is a good shout.
Locally (in Cornwall) there isn't much choice. There's a well priced Daihatsu Sirion. Looks like a Toyota engine and from what I can see, a torque converter auto. Anyone know/ have experience of these Only worry is Daihatsu have pulled out of the UK so parts may be an issue?
Also a well priced Hyundai Getz nearby - any experience of these? Again, looks like a traditional torque converter set up.
Clio is definitely in the running as well. Will try and find a good one to look at.
Buying an automatic seems so much harder than getting a manual
Daft prices for these small hatches too.Gassing Station | Car Buying | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff