Automatic buying advice. Help please!
Discussion
Hello there,
I have an issue. I need to buy my girlfriend an automatic car. I've only ever run manuals, so don't know too much about auto boxes.
She wants a hatch (5 door I think, for child seat etc), something nippy, reliable and cheap to run about £4k
I'm looking at Ford Focus 1.6 Zetec's. I like the manual Focus, but what's the auto like? Does anyone run one? How reliable are the boxes? Are all autos much of a much-ness?
Any other thoughts on cars I should look at?
Cheers for any help
I have an issue. I need to buy my girlfriend an automatic car. I've only ever run manuals, so don't know too much about auto boxes.
She wants a hatch (5 door I think, for child seat etc), something nippy, reliable and cheap to run about £4k
I'm looking at Ford Focus 1.6 Zetec's. I like the manual Focus, but what's the auto like? Does anyone run one? How reliable are the boxes? Are all autos much of a much-ness?
Any other thoughts on cars I should look at?
Cheers for any help
This is just my opinion, but I think you need at least a 2.0 engine in order for an automatic to make sense.
If you don't have enough power and torque ( and I would say an excess is ideal.....) then the box hunts a lot up hills, and just changes down and up and spins its torque converter a lot. ( an automatic car wont generate any real power below 2.5-3.0k RPM as the torque converter is not stalling )
The 1.6 Automatics I have driven ( Astra and Focus ) have been hateful. The 2 litre cars are barely adequate. The 3 litre and above cars are sublime, with 4 litres and above they are perfect. Diesels are also a very good match for automatics as the torque on offer means no hunting and they offest the fuel inefficiencies.
The make of Auto box is also critical. The modern electonically controlled boxes are much smoother shifting and nicer to drive. Mercedes and Lexus do this best. BMW of around 2001 and earlier have reliability problems, and so do Fords and Mazdas of a certain era, and Alfa selespeed is notorious for problems.
The good news is that there are some very nice, reliable Auto Cars out there for 4k.
Lexus IS300 - also offers manual control of the Gearbox with steering wheel mounted buttons
Lexus G300 and 430.
Mercedes CLK320
If she wants something small and very pedestrian for town work the Merc A Class 170 CDI is acceptable and well matched to its gearbox.
If you don't have enough power and torque ( and I would say an excess is ideal.....) then the box hunts a lot up hills, and just changes down and up and spins its torque converter a lot. ( an automatic car wont generate any real power below 2.5-3.0k RPM as the torque converter is not stalling )
The 1.6 Automatics I have driven ( Astra and Focus ) have been hateful. The 2 litre cars are barely adequate. The 3 litre and above cars are sublime, with 4 litres and above they are perfect. Diesels are also a very good match for automatics as the torque on offer means no hunting and they offest the fuel inefficiencies.
The make of Auto box is also critical. The modern electonically controlled boxes are much smoother shifting and nicer to drive. Mercedes and Lexus do this best. BMW of around 2001 and earlier have reliability problems, and so do Fords and Mazdas of a certain era, and Alfa selespeed is notorious for problems.
The good news is that there are some very nice, reliable Auto Cars out there for 4k.
Lexus IS300 - also offers manual control of the Gearbox with steering wheel mounted buttons
Lexus G300 and 430.
Mercedes CLK320
If she wants something small and very pedestrian for town work the Merc A Class 170 CDI is acceptable and well matched to its gearbox.
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