After trying to self combust last week and scraping through the MOT last year I knew I would be looking at cars for my wife sometime soon.

The brief is an automatic supermini for around £4000.

I favour a Nissan Note but my wife doesn't like it. So we went round the houses again and the Suzuki Swift looks like the ideal car.

Anyone got any real life experience of the 1.5 litre automatic swifts?

Not that engine but I've been in a swift 'attitude'. Big wheels n that, made to look sporty. I found the ride was terrible. Really crashy.

So get a test drive first, id say (:

Rapid little car, great autobox and fairly big inside. Found the ride sporty rather than comfortable. But, being small and shopping trolley sized, I didn't expect anything else.  Usual thing - go and drive one.

Good automatic boxes with those engine,  try the Swift but also the Automatic Splash if you find one in your budget.

Nissan Note is good but then no use if she does not like, & she will probably hate a Splash, & i take it a Picanto Automatic is a no no.

Even though a 1.1 LX comes with Discs all round, Leather Steering wheel & you can get a nice one for £4,000

I sold a 2006 with 27,000 miles recently for £3,000.

Thanks for the comments so far. I'm not too bothered about the ride/refinement side as my wife would have no idea what you were on about and doesn't drive that far. We're talking about under 3,000 miles a year.

I fear that it might be a little on the small side. We are hopefully past the push chair stage but I would like it to fit in the boot like it does in the Micra.

I think a Picanto would be to small although I do not mind them having had manual hire cars before. The issue with the Note is the size as well as the shape. Shame as the Note is practically a family car for us and would allow me a lot more latitude in future on my own car choice.

The Fabia is an option but from a practical view, a dsg is too expensive and probably too complicated/too much trouble for her and the 1.6 tiptronic is something I have nagging (probably irrational) doubts about. Another potential is the Mazda 2. I'm happy with my 3 and my wife even finds a photo of the old postman pat Mazda 2 acceptable.

For the swift, a Toyota developed engine and 4 speed conventional auto sounds ok to me and doesn't seem to be too many problems reported with it. Coming from a CVT it should be ok. I would worry that her driving 'style' may not suit a MMT like the Yaris.

Honda Jazz or Civic?

My wife has had 3 auto Civics in a row, never had a breakdown or any issues with any of them.

Honda Jazz or Civic?

My wife has had 3 auto Civics in a row, never had a breakdown or any issues with any of them.

 

Jazz was what I was thinking of.  Honda's have been the best all-round cars we've owned.  Yaris, Aygo and another Micra would be on my list, as main contenders.

 

Gaz 

Jazz was what I was thinking of. Honda's have been the best all-round cars we've owned. Yaris, Aygo and another Micra would be on my list, as main contenders.

Gaz

The jazz is a good car but likely to be on the big side for her and residuals are strong so they tend to cost more. I also think people hold them longer so there is less supply.

Notes seem common via Motability so there's a steady supply of 3 year old cars to the used market.

Motability Finance being the biggest Group buyer / owner in the UK means there has been a steady supply of Autos going to auction all the time for decades.

It does not mean an ex Motability Lease car is a good buy, but many are.

 

Autotrader has a good number of Jazz Nationwide advertised under £4,500.

How many are on there within your search area is maybe all that matters, you only want 1 good one.

http://autotrader.co.uk

Those are Asking Prices, not necessarily offering prices.

Motability Finance being the biggest Group buyer / owner in the UK means there has been a steady supply of Autos going to auction all the time for decades.

It does not mean an ex Motability Lease car is a good buy, but many are.

Autotrader has a good number of Jazz Nationwide advertised under £4,500.

How many are on there within your search area is maybe all that matters, you only want 1 good one.

http://autotrader.co.uk

Those are Asking Prices, not necessarily offering prices.

Yeah, there's far more, newer Notes for the money.

I might have to change tack though and hurry up as the Micra is failing by the day. Following a headlight repair, the central locking is having a fit and re-locks the car immediately after unlocking sounds like this https://www.micra.org.uk/threads/central-locking-keeps-locking-the-door.50201/

So I may have to buy a cheaper car £2000-£3000, sooner. So a Jazz might be on the cards. Notes, not down to that level yet.

I do like the Jazz and the space in the back for load carrying, 

i also like the different Auto/CVT's but you need to be sure she does.

 

How about a Seat Ibiza Automatic for GVFM?

Edited 15 January, 201511 yr by goneoffSKi

I do like the Jazz and the space in the back for load carrying,

i also like the different Auto/CVT's but you need to be sure she does.

How about a Seat Ibiza Automatic for GVFM?

I always thought the Jazz was over-fiddly, double spark plugs anyone? But I'd look at one. I'd rather steer clear of the older VAG superminis with the 1.4 16v engine and there seem very few auto Ibizas around. A 1.6 Tip Fabia might be ok, not even sure if the Ibiza and Polo got that combination. TSI DSG seem too expensive still.

She's used to the Micra CVT so similar or a traditional automatic would be fine for her. I'm reluctant to look a one of the automated manuals as I don't think she'd adapt very well to drive smoothly. But overall she doesn't get much choice about how it drives and anything from the last 10 years will be an improvement on a 1998 Micra.

The automated manuals are rubbish. End of. The Citigo was the last one I was in and it was jerky, definitely not smooth and something that rhymes with grit from a driving experience point of view.

 

The Jazz CVT is an acquired taste - it's got a constant whine and even though the pedal is pressed harder, it doesn't feel that much faster. But, for someone doing only 3k a year, that's not going to be an issue.  Some come with parking sensors which are a bonus. The rear seat is dead easy to tip and fold forward in a single manoeuvre and it's like a tardis inside. The interior isn't old Skoda standards, more current ones and therefore not as nice, but it's transport... 

The automated manuals are rubbish. End of. The Citigo was the last one I was in and it was jerky, definitely not smooth and something that rhymes with grit from a driving experience point of view.

The Jazz CVT is an acquired taste - it's got a constant whine and even though the pedal is pressed harder, it doesn't feel that much faster. But, for someone doing only 3k a year, that's not going to be an issue. Some come with parking sensors which are a bonus. The rear seat is dead easy to tip and fold forward in a single manoeuvre and it's like a tardis inside. The interior isn't old Skoda standards, more current ones and therefore not as nice, but it's transport...

What do you think a 17 year old Micra is like?

The Citigo UP! Mii Automated Manual is pathetic.

But then a DSG is an Automated Manual, as is the Durashift Fords.

 

Toyota Yaris Automated Manuals suit some and not others, 

as many cars do, but then they do sell millions of them.

 

I take it a Ford Fusion Auto is out of the equation?

Edited 15 January, 201511 yr by goneoffSKi

Transport probably, not much else.

Most cars bought are for transport and not much else, horses for courses and all that.

unless bought as an Investment, toy or something you want for various reasons.

Transport probably, not much else.

yes but I need it to be a trouble free as possible because I will need to deal with any grief.

The Citigo UP! Mii Automated Manual is pathetic.

But then a DSG is an Automated Manual, as is the Durashift Fords.

Toyota Yaris Automated Manuals suit some and not others,

as many cars do, but then they do sell millions of them.

I take it a Ford Fusion Auto is out of the equation?

A ford is not out of the question. Dunno what she thinks about a fusion though. A fiesta might be safer.

A colleague had a 1.4 fusion and the cam bolt went at 94,000 miles/8 years. not the 10 years+/120,000miles or whatever it was supposed to do.

When new,  i road tested a 1.6 Ford Fusion Zetec Auto 5 Door which i was going to Lease from Motability. (i told the Salesperson.)

Really enjoyed it, and the getting in an out, but i was never going to order one,

but i wanted to know what like incase i ever bought a Used one.

Edited 15 January, 201511 yr by goneoffSKi

The car hunt is not going well and we are now looking for something, er, 'larger'.

The car hunt is not going well and we are now looking for something, er, 'larger'.

Larger car or larger engine?

Boots arent very big on the swift are they

Stay clear of the Yaris MMT. My step sister in law had one and it was awful at best and troublesome.

 

It was very jerky and shift times were timed in centuries not seconds.

 

She also had problems with it. The worst being that often when coming to a crawl at a roundabout or traffic lights if you then tried to set off again it would refuse to engage a gear again until you came to a dead stop for a couple of seconds. Putting your foot on the accelerator just revved then engine with nothing happening.

 

It all came to a head where she refused to drive the car anymore after driving up a hill and the throttle got stuck. She ended up at a stop holding the car on the handbrake with the front wheels spinning at full throttle before pressing the engine stop button. It was fine after a restart but she lost all confidence in it!

 

Plus if you're not in tune with the car then a automated single clutch or even dual clutch box is a nightmare to drive smoothly!

 

Phil

Larger car or larger engine?

Boots arent very big on the swift are they

Try Rav4 larger car.

Woman logic for you.

Stay clear of the Yaris MMT. My step sister in law had one and it was awful at best and troublesome.

It was very jerky and shift times were timed in centuries not seconds.

She also had problems with it. The worst being that often when coming to a crawl at a roundabout or traffic lights if you then tried to set off again it would refuse to engage a gear again until you came to a dead stop for a couple of seconds. Putting your foot on the accelerator just revved then engine with nothing happening.

It all came to a head where she refused to drive the car anymore after driving up a hill and the throttle got stuck. She ended up at a stop holding the car on the handbrake with the front wheels spinning at full throttle before pressing the engine stop button. It was fine after a restart but she lost all confidence in it!

Plus if you're not in tune with the car then a automated single clutch or even dual clutch box is a nightmare to drive smoothly!

Phil

I don't think an MMT type arrangement would suit my wife's driving style for this reason.