After a recent series of unfortunate events we may be forced to go auto.

Is there any type I should steer clear of? Makes/models.

I would be looking for a Mondeo size car. With possible 10 grand budget. A good spec would be nice.

Any recommendations or horror stories?

Skoda Octavia / Superb DSG?

It's a bit difficult to say what Makes/models of car with auto boxes to avoid. This is because there are not a massive amount of manufacturers of automatic transmissions, and a lot of car manufacturers buy their transmissions in. 

 

Having said that if you are looking at standard torque converter autos, there are a number of gearbox manufactures with good reputations.....namely BorgWarner, ZF friedrichshafen and Allison. Also any Auto gearbox that has originated in the USA (ie Chrysler and some ford transmissions) are usually very reliable as they have often been in production for a very long time and have been developed and modified over the years to the point where they are very reliable.

 

Only Mercedes, VAG, Honda, Hyundai, Nissan (Jatco), Chrysler, Ford and General Motors make their own transmissions. And even on some of these makers cars they buy in auto gearboxes for some of their smaller engines. I have heard some Jatco transmissions have poor reputations for reliability and they are quite commonly bought in by manufacturers..ie Rover 75 had a Jatco auto that had a bad reputation.      

 

VAG torque converter autos are pretty good, and the DSG is fantastic if you need an auto but want (in my and many owners opinion) an even better driving experience than a manual. However I would personally be cautious the 7 speed DSG fitted to the 1.6 Diesel and 1.2, 1.4 petrol models......and definitely would never have a 1.8 TSI with the 7 speed DSG.....it seems a bit too powerful for the 7 Speed DSG and there seems a lot of problems with this combination if you search this forum. The 6 Speed DSG fitted to the 1.9 TDI, 2.0 TDI and 2.0 TSI seems a much stronger unit and can personally recommend it.   

Mercedes are supposed to be the dogs for autos. CVT in the audis and DSG's on other VAG stuff seem to have reliability issues. I love the CVT in my A4 though, so smooth.

Make sure you go for a decent test drive whatever you get.

Some engine/auto combinations are lovely and some are truly dreadful. There is a place in hell reserved for the person who put an auto box in a vauxhall 1.4 Astra.

With 33 years of driving auto's under my belt, I'd say steer clear of Austin 1300's and Mk3 Ford Cortina's 

 

All the VAG boxes I've had have been great, as have all the Honda's - including the current one.  Wife's Mazda 3 is also brilliant.

 

One of the best was in my Saab Aero.  Japanese box (Aisin Warner 55-50) also in Volvo's, which felt very well coupled with the engine.  Mine developed an expensive fault, but I think I was just unlucky as they're reputedly a very robust box.  I'd have another.

 

As gullyg says - long test drive to see what it's like when hot as well as cold.  Check everything works.

 

Gaz

BMW 530D Auto?

I would avoid the ford powershift boxes as ive seen a few starting to fail recently even with gearbox oil and filter change service history,

 

Auto boxes can be scary expensive if they go wrong but so can manuals with duel mass flywheels nowerdays,

 

Things with autos is any sort of abnormal behavior sort if straight away and it will be cheaper to fix,

 

My xc90 is auto with an aisan warner box in it and thats done 86k and i flushed oil in it a couple of weeks ago, more preventative maintenance than any issues with it but i have seen a few that have failed but mainly due to severe abuse.

I was in my uncle's Passat TDi130 with DSG a couple of weeks ago. For the first time ever, I was truly impressed by a self-shifter, particularly with the smoothness of gear changes.

I've driven a few autos. My favorite was the 5 speed in my BMW 740i and the worst has to be a Citroen C2. Closely followed by the 4 speed in my wife's ford C-Max. It takes an age to change and is jerky and uncomfortable. I've also driven a superb dsg and that was nice and smooth.

I would avoid the ford powershift boxes as ive seen a few starting to fail recently even with gearbox oil and filter change service history,

 

I'd second this.  We bought a 09 Focus PowerShift recently and the box is slipping, luckily the dealer is fixing it at his cost but I have no idea what this will involve.  The car is going in again on Monday and will be away for a week.

I was in my uncle's Passat TDi130 with DSG a couple of weeks ago. For the first time ever, I was truly impressed by a self-shifter, particularly with the smoothness of gear changes.

 

I don't think that will have been a DSG. I think probably the 5 speed torque converter Tiptronic gearbox.

 

Phil

We drive an Octavia & a Superb, both 2.0 TSi DSG & are quite impressed, can be left in "D" (auto) mode if feeling lazy, "S" if feeling the need for speed, or use it in manual mode if you think you need to.

 

In the past I've had 4 Mondeos with the 4 speed Ford tranny, 2 Cavaliers & 1 V70  all using  Aisan Warner, all reliable & up to the job.

 

I also have a manual V6 Mondeo, selected after an un-impressed drive in a V6 5-speed Jatco that Ford used in the Mk. 3 Mondeos...

 

Since I've had a few cross-pond vacations, & driven some N. American cars I'd have to agree that they do know how to build autos, all have been for for purpose, even the old 3-speed jobs. Worst was the strange CVT fitted to a Camry Hybrid back in '08, but then the whole driving experience was a little strange!

 

As everyone else has said, find a car that you think you can afford / live with & take it as long a test drive as possible.

It's better for you if you test the car on roads / conditions that you are familiar with, (if that can be arranged) I think that it's important to replicate some of the day to day tasks where an auto will require a different technique, such as parking in a busy car-park, or finding a hill & attempting a hill-start.

 

The dealer that sold me my Superb was bright enough to give me keys & enough time to test the car properly, so we drove home, via a steep hill c/w traffic lights, & parked it in my garage to see if it would actually fit.

Drove back, bought car. (Thanks Lee, hope that your recovery is on track.)

 

 

DC

Some american 6l v8 with 150bhp and a 3 speed auto

Lol

Some american 6l v8 with 150bhp and a 3 speed auto

Lol

I can beat that, 1980 Mercury Capri (Mustang really,) 3.3 litre straight six, single 1-barrel carb, de-tuned to run on 87 octane unleaded. & the dreaded 3-speed autobox.  A whole 89 bhp @ 3300 rpm!

 

Rented in California in December 1980, for three weeks & app. 2.5K miles. 

Even with the 55 mph federal speed limited we managed to get it past the 85 mph max speedo, but only at night..............

 

Not as quick as the '71 'vette belonging to our friends neighbours, but that had a 4 speed manual. Fun to drive but annoying to have to spend all your time watching for highway patrol.

 

DC

Omg what an absolute shed!

Crack me up these yank motors

I don't think that will have been a DSG. I think probably the 5 speed torque converter Tiptronic gearbox.

 

Phil

Well, excuse me for thinking that my uncle might actually know what car he'd bough!

Well, excuse me for thinking that my uncle might actually know what car he'd bough!

 

I just don't think the PD130 was ever paired with a DSG. Just saying.

Edited 29 May, 201412 yr by Phil-E

Mercedes are supposed to be the dogs for autos. CVT in the audis and DSG's on other VAG stuff seem to have reliability issues. I love the CVT in my A4 though, so smooth.

I am always told the same - "Mercedes haven't made a good manual car, it is all about the automatics"

Not sure as to what sort of model, age, condition of a Merc you would get for 10k.

I don't know Mercedes prices or even model shapes.

JRJG

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I just don't think the PD130 was ever paired with a DSG. Just saying.

Yeah, the B5 never had DSG (was tiptronic) and the B6 had dropped the 1.9 PD130 for the 2.0 PD140.

 

I've recently got my first automatic and have no desire to go back to manual. I'm converted, don't miss it at all, especially as I have paddles on the wheel.

You could get a 6/7 year old 5 series or a similar age E class for that budget. 

Yeah, the B5 never had DSG (was tiptronic) and the B6 had dropped the 1.9 PD130 for the 2.0 PD140.

 

I've recently got my first automatic and have no desire to go back to manual. I'm converted, don't miss it at all, especially as I have paddles on the wheel.

 

Same here.

 

We had never had or even considered an auto before but we saw the Octavia, test drove and liked. Can never see me wanting a manual again! Apart from my motor home but that's completely different anyway!

 

Phil

Well in the mean time this turned up this morning.

 

 

LOL

 

R lasses uncle bought it from the local auction this morning and brought it straight over, no idea what he paid.

1 litre auto.

Will do in the short term. And hopefully she will make a full recovery.

What is it?! lol

What is it?! lol

 

*Goes to find logbook*

 

Daihatsu Sirion!!!!

 

I've not even looked inside but apparently has front and rear electric windows!!