£7k - £20k Small Responsive Automatic For Mum

[KTMsm]

Mum has been driving an A3 1.9 TDi Auto for many years and now wants the modern equivalent

EDIT - probably should have mentioned she's late 70's and having checked her MOT records averages 3k a year

The problem is she likes the instant torque of the 1.9TDi but I think with the limited miles she now covers a petrol would be the best option and most small petrol cars are 1.2 / 1.4 which presumably are a bit flat particularly when tied to an Auto

Either hatchback / crossover and she doesn't want anything smaller yet she regularly hits things in hers so good visibility required

Audi A1
VW Polo Blue GT

138 - 150bhp should do the job

Looks to be the modern petrol equivalent, apparently post 2012 means the cam chains are reliable

Anything else car wise or about those two, I should consider ?

Edited by KTMsm on Thursday 14th October 09:07

[Whataguy]

If you're looking up to £20k you could get a brand new Honda Jazz hybrid.

Not really a traditional hybrid, it's an EV with a petrol generator engine. The only time the generator engine is connected directly to the wheels is cruising at high speed through a one speed direct overdrive gear.

Being an EV hybrid they are nippy - 0-60 in 9 seconds, 1/4 mile same as a VW Up GTI.

Plus 60+ mpg in usual driving.

Allegedly the same rear seat legroom as an S class, and great all round visibility plus many have parking sensors and a reversing camera.

They even do a crossover version called the Crosstar that's lifted a bit and has plastic cladding.

Edited by Whataguy on Wednesday 13th October 17:23

[KTMsm]

Thanks but EV's don't really make any sense with the low mileage she covers

[ZX10R NIN]

KTMsm said:

Mum has been driving an A3 1.9 TDi Auto for many years and now wants the modern equivalent

The problem is she likes the instant torque of the 1.9TDi but I think with the limited miles she now covers a petrol would be the best option and most small petrol cars are 1.2 / 1.4 which presumably are a bit flat particularly when tied to an Auto

Either hatchback / crossover and she doesn't want anything smaller yet she regularly hits things in hers so good visibility required

Audi A1
VW Polo Blue GT

138 - 150bhp should do the job

Looks to be the modern petrol equivalent, apparently post 2012 means the cam chains are reliable

Anything else car wise or about those two, I should consider ?

Edited by KTMsm on Wednesday 13th October 14:51

Personally I'd be tempted to get a nice A3/Leon in 1.8T form, I feel these represent better value & it'll have the go your mums used to & nice tech.

A3

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202110138...

Leon FR Technology

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202107145...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202110088...

Astra Griffin (these come loaded with every option available on the Astra) 150 you'll also get two years warranty

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202110038...

[georgeyboy12345]

Not sure about 1.9 TDIs having *instant* torque - I get what you mean though, high torque, low down in the rev range.

I think the old 1.9 TDIs made 184 lb ft at 1900 rpm, and weighed 1295 kg, giving a torque to weight of 142 lb ft per tonne, so basically anything with a higher value than that should feel just as nippy or better. Alternatively, anything with an electric motor with max torque from 0rpm should feel peppy enough. I think Whataguy's suggestion of a Honda Jazz is a great idea.

Would your Mum entertain the idea of an electric car? Could work well for her

Seat Mii electric
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/new...

Skoda Citigo e
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202109147...

Electric Vauxhall Corsa is just about in budget
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202109016...


Or a hybrid

Brand new in stock Toyota Yaris Hybrid
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/new...

Brand new in stock Hyundai i20 mild hybrid
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/new...


Hybrids with a raised driving position that some women seem to like

Toyota C-HR Hybrid
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202109077...

Kia Stonic mild hybrid
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202108116...

Suzuki Ignis mild hybrid
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202107165...


Good old fashioned petrol - the Audi A1 and VW Polo GT are good shouts - here's a couple of nice ones. Edit: You mentioned about the cam chain problem being sorted - they achieved this by swapping over to belts, in any case the belts don't need changing until 130,000 miles and no time limit.

Audi A1 1.4 TFSI
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202108096...

VW Polo 1.4 TSI BlueGT
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202109147...


Other ideas

This Alfa Romeo Mito 1.4 TCT is a bargain
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202110088...


Mini Cooper 1.5
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202109297...


Renault Clio 1.3 TCe
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202109167...

Edited by georgeyboy12345 on Wednesday 13th October 20:27

[edc]

DSG Seat Arona. I used to have an A3 1.9tdi company car and the 1.0 turbo in the Arona is much nicer. Or go for the 1.5.

[anonymous-user]

KTMsm said:

Thanks but EV's don't really make any sense with the low mileage she covers

Isn’t that ideal for a ev ?

[Whataguy]

The new Honda Jazz is a ‘self-charging EV’

You don’t plug it in, you just put petrol in like a normal car.

Range is 450-650 miles on a 9 gallon tank of petrol.

The generator converts the petrol to electricity directly for the electric motor or to charge the small booster battery.

The only time the petrol engine is ever connected to the wheels is high speed cruising. As soon as you accelerate it disconnects and you are in a range extender EV.

Edited by Whataguy on Thursday 14th October 08:03

[covmutley]

Iwantafusca said:

Isn’t that ideal for a ev ?

I assume he means fro a cost point of view. I had an ev to do a 90 mile round commute because of the fuel savings

[KTMsm]

I've add an edit , I suppose some of your Mum's are my age mine's late 70's

Thanks all - the Golf etc are too big, she's regularly hitting things as it stands, I'd rather get her in an UP but she wants a similar car

The old Audi (96-03) is still nice inside with a heavy clunk to the doors and the cheaper VAG stuff isn't so that's out

EVs only pay if you are doing the miles to get sufficient fuel saving, she doesn't

It makes no sense to anyone to have the added complexity if there is no benefit, an EV you don't plug in is just a way to get around rules

I've looked at a few of the EV's suggested and they look like you are buying a £10k car with £10k of batteries (which I suppose you are) but they don't then compare to an A1 with leather etc when you aren't bothered about the EV part

Edited by KTMsm on Thursday 14th October 08:52