Best auto gearbox small car

[loggo]

I have been asked to advise a friend on the best car for them as I'm seen as something of a knowledgeable carbuff however I confess I've hit a brick wall and I'm turning to the collective hive mind to see if anyone can help me out.

What is required is a small economical car Which has an automatic gearbox but this must be torque converter rather than a CVT/ DSG.

Nice to have would include low or zero tax. Not too expensive ro purchase and good reliability.

Every small car I think of seems to have a CVT / DSG gearbox - does anyone have any thoughts ?

Edited by loggo on Sunday 2nd June 11:06

[Simon_GH]

I think Mazda uses conventional torque converter autos. Perhaps a Mazda 2 would work.

[Lo-Fi]

Honda Jazz?

[ferret50]

Vauxhall Viva.

Bought 'er indoors one about 4 years ago, she loves it. Not sure if it's a torque converter type, though. 5 speed sequental that can be fully auto or knock the selector back and forward, great fun, you get a blip on the throttle when changing down!
Returning 60/65mpg, but VED is about £190, I think. Nothing has gone wrong with it, or broken, bar the 'screen washer clogging up.

[Jimjimhim]

A polo or similar with a DSG is probably your best bet, but it depends on budget?

[southerndriver]

Check out the Honda Jazz. Most Hondas these days are hybrids with an electric transmission. Fantastically smooth and very economical. I own one, although not a Jazz.

[Mr E]

Standard question.
What is the usage pattern?

If being used as a local runaround *and* the user has a drive, I’d seriously consider a leaf/zoe.

No gearbox at all.

[craigjm]

Budget? Are we talking new car

[Pit Pony]

Simon_GH said:

I think Mazda uses conventional torque converter autos. Perhaps a Mazda 2 would work.

Just bought a 69 plate 12k mazda 2 yesterday.



Pick it up next week, but on the test drive it wasn't as gutless as the 89 bhp 1.5 suggests. 100 bhp per ton.

The alternative fiestas were all wet belt and I think powershift gearbox (didn't do too much investigation because ecoboost, fills me with fear)

What I can say is that either mazda never sold many or people are keeping them, because in the Northwest, there was only 3 decent looking ones for sale.

Edited by Pit Pony on Sunday 2nd June 11:10

[loggo]

Just to fill in the points I overlooked

CVT & DSG are seen as new fangled trouble. As is electric

Second hand purchase - budget £3 -£6k

Normal usage loca trips up to 10 miles. Once a month a trip of 100m. Around 5k miles per year.

[Gericho]

loggo said:

Just to fill in the points I overlooked

CVT & DSG are seen as new fangled trouble. As is electric

Second hand purchase - budget £3 -£6k

Normal usage loca trips up to 10 miles. Once a month a trip of 100m. Around 5k miles per year.

Nissan Note NTec+ all day every day forever.

[Acorn1]

I wouldn’t rule out DSG.

Having been forced from my beloved manual to a DSG, it’s actually pretty good.

[Nickp82]

Suzuki Swift (or Splash for a higher seating position) .

I don’t think they’re the mega low road tax but are generally reliable and nice to drive .

[loggo]

Gericho said:

loggo said:

Just to fill in the points I overlooked

CVT & DSG are seen as new fangled trouble. As is electric

Second hand purchase - budget £3 -£6k

Normal usage loca trips up to 10 miles. Once a month a trip of 100m. Around 5k miles per year.

Nissan Note NTec+ all day every day forever.

I thought the Note was CVT ?

[CousinDupree]

Pre LCI F56 Mini's have a conventional auto.

[Jimbo.]

loggo said:

Just to fill in the points I overlooked

CVT & DSG are seen as new fangled trouble. As is electric

Second hand purchase - budget £3 -£6k

Normal usage loca trips up to 10 miles. Once a month a trip of 100m. Around 5k miles per year.

New fangled? Both have been around for eons, both as likely to be reliable/troublesome as a torque converter ‘box.

[Condi]

loggo said:

CVT & DSG are seen as new fangled trouble. As is electric

Surely you can tell them that these are reliable?

For his/her usage, electric is the obvious answer. Much cheaper to run. Less to go wrong.

[HIAO]

Pit Pony said:

Just bought a 69 plate 12k mazda 2 yesterday.



Pick it up next week, but on the test drive it wasn't as gutless as the 89 bhp 1.5 suggests. 100 bhp per ton.

The alternative fiestas were all wet belt and I think powershift gearbox (didn't do too much investigation because ecoboost, fills me with fear)

What I can say is that either mazda never sold many or people are keeping them, because in the Northwest, there was only 3 decent looking ones for sale.

Edited by Pit Pony on Sunday 2nd June 11:10

Mazda sell two Mazda 2 models concurrently.



The second is a rebadged Yaris 1.5l hybrid with 116hp and a cvt auto. Mine in the photo above did an average of 83mpg in 55 thousand km over an 18 month period.

The cvt gearbox was smooth as long as not accelerating hard, where the engine revs would rise without much result.

Toyota had just introduced a slightly more powerful 130hp version with the same engine and hybrid power train, and somehow equally fuel efficient.

[dhibbert]

loggo said:

I thought the Note was CVT ?

Not the previous shape E11, they are a proper 4 speed Jatco slusher. Same as the K12 Micra’s.

We won’t sell the later CVT Micra/Note/Juke models. It’s not if but when a problem with the ‘box occurs. For some of those gearboxes the parts aren’t available to fix them either. Many on the road have had at least one gearbox replacement. Plus they feel like the box is slipping permanently.

My wife wanted a small auto recently. It was only ever going to be one car, a K12 Micra. They are expensive but I found her a 20k mile 2007 car with one owner and full history. She loves it.

The Notes are fantastic as well, they are all 1600cc though so a bit juicy on fuel but just as good as the Micra’s. Super reliable 4 cylinder, chain cam engines as well.

DSG, especially the dry pack 7 speed, never again, I had 2 go in a month once and I just don’t think they drive well. No creep and they don’t seem to know what gear to be in when rolling up to a roundabout etc.

[Glosphil]

My 2018 1.4TSi DSG certainly creeps, even when engine is warmed up. Smooth gear changes & no problem with which gear is selected. I occasional use the paddles to chose a lower gear when travelling down a steep hill or a higher gear up one particular local hill.