Small auto as main car

Mervyn Skidmore

Just looking for people's opinions on using a small auto as a daily driver main car. My wife is learning to drive here and she just cannot stand manual cars. She's a foreigner from a country that uses autos mainly and she had an auto back in her home country. We only need one car and are saving for a house so I'm thinking of selling my old ford focus and getting a small cheap auto we can both use. Thinking about a Honda jazz maybe as I've heard the auto box is decent. What do people think?

Jesus.

Not if you put up Motorway miles

Mervyn Skidmore

Jesus. wrote: »

Not if you put up Motorway miles

Sorry, meant to say that mileage would be small, around 12000 miles per year, and it would mostly be town driving with the odd long distance drive on national routes and motorways.

Jesus.

Can't see a problem so

Del2005

Small auto petrol are the ideal town cars. Never understood how people commuting here always buy manual.

CosmicSmash

Mervyn Skidmore wrote: »

Sorry, meant to say that mileage would be small, around 12000 miles per year, and it would mostly be town driving with the odd long distance drive on national routes and motorways.

You could look at something like a Toyota Vitz. Some people are transfixed on manuals in Ireland, maybe they don't know any better.

Chippy01

Look, find, research, and try them all. You will then find something that suits your circumstances.
When you test drive, don't just pootle around the local roads, get out on a good dual carriageway as well for comparison.

Everyone will tell you of their preference, but overall it will be up to you and your wife being comfortable and confidant in whatever you choose.

12,000 miles (19,000kms) a year isn't a lot these days, so avoid diesels.
Petrol or hybrid will do quite nicely.

Enjoy your shopping.

Notch000

we were looking for a small automatic for my mother recently. I test drove an auto jazz and it was pretty awful. That car was 2010 i htink, clunky & slow, seats were bad too, a newer yaris was even worse and i drove a micra and really liked it, light years better than the other two. be careful with the never cars wiht high milage as there possible ex rentals.

In the end we got the mother a 3.2L auto Pajero short wheelbase8-) & she loves it

kerten

I am in similar situation and running a 06 nissan note 1.6 auto(a mini mpv like jazz) and a 05 focus 1.6 auto.

I tested a top spec 06 jazz and it had bone crushing ride. Lower spec models I have tested were fine though. Most likely sportier looking tyre/alloy combination was the culprit.

I find Note pretty capable and comfortable car for what it is. It is quite refined and lively on motorway and I wouldn't mind running one if I need to go back to single car scenario.

Only areas focus is better are bigger boot(Note is more versatile though - better for ikea) and better handling(Note is handling pretty well for mini mpv class)

Don't be afraid of the size of the engine as Note is based on Micra so pretty light. It is more economical comparing to focus which is a drinker at short trips.

I would aim 08+ with a cruise control so you will have many toys coming with it.

Guy:Incognito

Small automatics are no worse than small manuals . I drove an auto K11 micra for a few weeks a couple of years back and the fact it was automatic was about the only bearable thing about driving a micra. People will go on about them being slower because generally 0-60 times are slower but I doubt many people are driving their manual cars by revving to the exact point of peak power while crashing it through each gear that would be needed to get near the manufacturers quoted time.

The One Doctor

On hybrids - if you do mostly motorway mileage, a hybrid isn't ideal. If it's mostly town driving then it's fine.

Source: Been driving a Prius for the last few years.

porsche boy

Notch000 wrote:

we were looking for a small automatic for my mother recently. I test drove an auto jazz and it was pretty awful. That car was 2010 i htink, clunky & slow, seats were bad too, a newer yaris was even worse and i drove a micra and really liked it, light years better than the other two. be careful with the never cars wiht high milage as there possible ex rentals.

Wow.
Honda Jazz & Toyota Yaris are light years ahead of the current Micra in everything from build quality to residual value. The current Micra is a shocking poor car to carry the Nissan badge.
Just goes to show how opinions differ.

Chippy01

The One Doctor wrote: »

On hybrids - if you do mostly motorway mileage, a hybrid isn't ideal. If it's mostly town driving then it's fine.

Source: Been driving a Prius for the last few years.

Hybrids are more flexible than most people realise. I got a good return on motorways in my Gen II Prius, and am getting even better in my Gen III.

My OH recently traded her 1.4 Civic H/B for a 1.3 Civic IMA, and has seen an mpg increase of around 25%.

The Prius has the advantage in town though, due to the way it's system differs from Honda's.

Notch000

porsche boy wrote: »

Notch000 wrote:

we were looking for a small automatic for my mother recently. I test drove an auto jazz and it was pretty awful. That car was 2010 i htink, clunky & slow, seats were bad too, a newer yaris was even worse and i drove a micra and really liked it, light years better than the other two. be careful with the never cars wiht high milage as there possible ex rentals.

Wow.
Honda Jazz & Toyota Yaris are light years ahead of the current Micra in everything from build quality to residual value. The current Micra is a shocking poor car to carry the Nissan badge.
Just goes to show how opinions differ.

you should try drvie the two to see, the newer micras were very compentant cars. all nissans have tanked tho sence they started using PSA/renault ???? engines.

I had a 1998 1.4 almerna N15 >> and it was like a tank, comfortable, uber reliable and reasonable nice to drive, i thne got a never 2001 almera after that and it was an absolute abolomination. it died wiht an immobaliser so i scrapped it in the end as i hadent the heart to put it back on the road.
if the 98 car was for sale today i'd consider buy it back