Small Automatic

[yme402]

My son is going to be learning to drive and due to health complications it needs to be an auto. Looking at around the 4k mark to spend but all small autos seem tobe these awful clutchless manual's or DSGs which are very fragile as they get older. Any suggestions on a reliable small auto for a young learner?

[here_we_go]

yme402 said:

My son is going to be learning to drive and due to health complications it needs to be an auto. Looking at around the 4k mark to spend but all small autos seem tobe these awful clutchless manual's or DSGs which are very fragile as they get older. Any suggestions on a reliable small auto for a young learner?

How small does it need to be?

I might look for the best Lexus IS250 you can find for the money. Something like http://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/2024031575... will still have a lot of life left in it.

[Gigamoons]

I think the 1 series bmw uses a proper torque converter auto.

[sideways man]

My mum has an auto Micra, which isn’t a bad thing to drive as it does have ‘gears’ even though it’s a cvt.
If something a little bigger, then Honda Jazz seem to last for ever.

[Swat]

I used to have a driving school business and we had an auto tuition car. We can a fiat punto and then Vauxhall Corsa with easytronic.
They were both pretty unreliable and pupils didn't like the lurches when they changed gear so we went to a Micra (2009 vintage) that had torque converter box - drove like a lump compared to the punto/Corsa and was totally reliable over 120,000 miles
Just a question of whether a micra,s lack of street cred is an issue
Also think hyundai/Kia continued with torque converter boxes until quite recently

[ScoobyChris]

yme402 said:

My son is going to be learning to drive and due to health complications it needs to be an auto. Looking at around the 4k mark to spend but all small autos seem tobe these awful clutchless manual's or DSGs which are very fragile as they get older. Any suggestions on a reliable small auto for a young learner?

Might have to run some insurance quotes, but the Nissan Note auto (pre-2014 I think) is a 4-speed torque converter and the 1.6 I drove was surpringingly good and smooth. I believe with the model revision they dropped the torque converter but don't have any experience of those.

Chris

[Puddenchucker]

I think mk8 Fiestas were available with torque converter 'boxes.

[GeniusOfLove]

Minis use a regular auto in most of them, I've found the R56 (2006 - whenever) models are really quite cheap to insure for young drivers to if it's a Mini One or even a Cooper, but the Cooper S is 2x as much.

Mazda 2 is a proper auto too.

[Simon_GH]

I think Mazda kept to traditional torque converter automatics.

[Alickadoo]

yme402 said:

My son is going to be learning to drive and due to health complications it needs to be an auto. Looking at around the 4k mark to spend but all small autos seem tobe these awful clutchless manual's or DSGs which are very fragile as they get older. Any suggestions on a reliable small auto for a young learner?

Toyota Yaris

Older ones are torque converter.
Newer ones are stepless. Don't worry about it.

[supacool1]

Alickadoo said:

Toyota Yaris

Older ones are torque converter.
Newer ones are stepless. Don't worry about it.

Ummm no they are not. The super early ones might have been but the Gen 2 is a Robotised Auto-my mum has one and its terrible when cold.

[plfrench]

How about a Zoe? Leased battery at £48 per month but would give peace of mind about the bit that concerns most people and he’d probably save that in fuel costs if he can charge at home

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/2024042590...

[Baldchap]

Prius/Corolla too big? CVT but bulletproof - just ask down at any nearby taxi rank.

[trevalvole]

Simon_GH said:

I think Mazda kept to traditional torque converter automatics.

Yes, and Suzuki Swifts too.

[Rayny]

In September 2016 I bought a Skoda Roomster DSG with about 50K miles on the clock.
I traded it in last April with about 120K miles on the clock.
Gearbox gave me no concerns during my ownership.
Car appears to still be taxed and MOTd.

[Alickadoo]

supacool1 said:

Alickadoo said:

Toyota Yaris

Older ones are torque converter.
Newer ones are stepless. Don't worry about it.

Ummm no they are not. The super early ones might have been but the Gen 2 is a Robotised Auto-my mum has one and its terrible when cold.

I/We have an early - 2002 - Yaris, which is TC
I/We have a hybrid 2018 Yaris which is whatever it's called.
Just drive 'em. Don't worry about it.

[yme402]

Needs to be Fiesta sized, so Yaris or Micra looking favourites.

[HTP99]

plfrench said:

How about a Zoe? Leased battery at £48 per month but would give peace of mind about the bit that concerns most people and he’d probably save that in fuel costs if he can charge at home

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/2024042590...

Early ZOE, no chance, they do go wrong and very expensively too!

And this one has only seen a Renault dealer for warranty work.

Edited by HTP99 on Thursday 2nd May 17:47

[ZX10R NIN]

Torque Converter autos:

Mazda2 TS2:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202404279...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202404249...

Mazda3:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202403288...

Astra GTC SRI:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202404138...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202404228...

Astra Elite:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202402126...

SRI:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202404309...

Corsa SXI:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202405029...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202405019...

Kia Ceed 2:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202311083...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202404188...

All of the above are good options, the best thing to do is to go on the comparison sites & see what works for your son insurance wise.

[defblade]

Bought my daughter (in similar situation) a £1300 Toyota Corolla (special pre-dented edition!).
It's 3 speed + overdrive (I think 5 gears in total), seems pretty bullet proof overall across 3 years now, and is perfectly nice to drive.
Feels like a bigger car, is actually quite compact.
Insurance was a bit higher than some equivalent-ish cars (Jazz, Mini, Civic, Aygo, etc) when on L plates, but a bit lower after passing, so swings and roundabouts.