Cheap Auto Supermini

z0oT

My wife is currently learning to drive in a Mk2 1.0L Toyota Yaris. She's having trouble with the manual, so I'm wondering what the options would be in order to change her over to an Automatic.

I don't think the restriction on only being able to drive an Automatic on the license is the deal-breaker it used to be with the ongoing trend to HEV, PHEV, EV etc. I think getting her independent and on the road faster is of better value. Our next family car will likely be a HEV anyway.

General requirements would be this:

• Cheap - Let's say 3-4k max, ideally cheaper
• A Supermini size (easier to learn to drive in)
• Must be Automatic
• Small Petrol engine, probably smaller the better
• Air-Con would be nice, but at this budget it's not a deal breaker
• Insurable

This will be a run-around used for short distances so iron-clad reliability isn't as important, still wouldn't like to have replace things constantly in it though.

Preference would be another Yaris because that's what she would be used to, but most of the ones within budget I see up for sale are imports, which I'd rather stay away from given the insurance is in her own name on a Learner Permit.

The most common option I can see from looking is a 1.2 Micra, I'm not familiar with them at all.

So... questions:

• Are all automatic Yaris's in that price range going to be imports. Was the Mk2 Yaris ever sold in Ireland in an Automatic flavor?
• What are Micra's of that generation like? Are there known reliability issues?
• Are there other viable options other than a Yaris or Micra? Automatics would have been scarce in Ireland 10 years ago.

I would appreciate all opinions and advice.

bazz26

Most Irish small cars that size came with CVT auto boxes which drive a bit different to a conventional auto. To get a proper automatic in an Irish/UK spec Yaris you need to find a 1.3 litre variant. Also be prepared to spend a premium for one as they are in short supply and a lot of buyers for these cars are in the same boat as your wife.

Belfast

It is not an automatic, but there is no clutch for the learner driver.

2011 Toyota Yaris 1.3 VVT-I T SPIRIT MMT
€5,999
https://www.carsireland.ie/detail.php?ad_id=2091224&r=s.php%3Fm%5B%5D%3D88%26o%5B%5D%3D758%26f%3D1%26f1%3Dmmt%26g%3D0

Multimode manual transmission
Multimode Manual Transmission (MMT or M/M, also Multimode Transmission)[1] is a type of sequential manual transmission offered by Toyota. It uses a traditional manual gearbox with an electronically controlled clutch. Multimode Manual Transmission is available in the Aygo, Yaris, Corolla, Corolla Verso, Mark X and Auris in Europe, and should not be confused with Multimode Automatic Transmission, which is offered in the North American market by Toyota
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Multimode_manual_transmission

P.S.
non second thoughts might not be a good gear box to go for as very few seem to have sold here.

colm_mcm

Toyota MMT/M-M/Multimode is junk. Avoid.

z0oT

Thanks for the replies.

This is one of the few Auto non-import Yaris's I could find bearing in mind the 1.3 engine.
https://www.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/toyota-yaris-yaris-1-33-luna-5-door-automatic/19725699

At this price, it starts making sense to stretch to the Hybrid Yaris or maybe even a Renault Zoe, but the budget has been blown out of the water now.

How about Micra's from that generation? Say for example this one, it's 3 years newer than her Yaris.
https://www.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/2009-nissan-micra-automatic/19989127

What are they like?

EDIT: The Tax looks off in that Micra Ad.

colm_mcm

You don’t want the Yaris you linked there.

The Vitz imports have a CVT box and are available in 1.0. They’ll have aircon too. Watch the insurance though.

The Micra isn’t the worst at that age.
I’d look at the Hyundai i10 and i20. They’ve got a good auto box.

z0oT

colm_mcm wrote: »

You don’t want the Yaris you linked there.

The Vitz imports have a CVT box and are available in 1.0. They’ll have aircon too. Watch the insurance though.

The Micra isn’t the worst at that age.

Thanks for the info. I might check with insurance whether going with a Vitz import is an option.



I actually linked the wrong one there, corrected it since. I found an Irish spec one with the newer 1.33 engine, although nearly twice what I'd want to pay though.


Her current Yaris is a 2006 model with 180k on the clock. The NCT is due in February, I'm thinking it might be worth getting it through that before trying to sell it.

colm_mcm

Oh definitely test it.

Belfast

Auto gear boxes.
Transmission Comparison: Manual - Auto - Dual Clutch - CVT | Auto Expert John Cadogan | Australia

It seems to be quite hard to find out what kind of automatic gearbox a car has or at least second hand ones.

A lot of the small cars have cvt gearboxes. only down side I can see to them is the cost of replacing the gear oil.

As far as I know the Mazda 2 2008 to 2014 have a a four speed automatic,(torque converter).
second hand Japanese import may have the cvt.

kerten

I would look at Honda Jazz and Nissan Note preferably less than 10 years old for insurance purposes

My wife's situation was similar to yours during learning and she was happy when she switched from 99 Yaris to 06 Note. Both were torque convertor gearboxes.

z0oT

Again, thanks for the replies.

kerten wrote: »

I would look at Honda Jazz and Nissan Note preferably less than 10 years old for insurance purposes

My wife's situation was similar to yours during learning and she was happy when she switched from 99 Yaris to 06 Note. Both were torque convertor gearboxes.

What I'm noticing is that budget will have to increase to something 6/7/8k to get an Irish spec auto Yaris, i10, i20 or something more agreeable to insurance.

The Micra is the only one that'll come in the 3k budget range, although I found one Jazz in that range.
https://www.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/honda-jazz-automatic-new-nct/19520038

We're in the process of buying a house, and the Yaris's NCT is due in February. I'm thinking we'll hold off until then at least, get it through the NCT and sell it. Budget should be higher then to allow her to get something better if she's still struggling with the gears.

Now, here's a stupid question:

I've never updated cars via a private sale before, the 3 cars I've owned have all been gotten from a dealer. When you're buying a newer car via a private sale, is it better to sell your own privately before or after buying the newer one privately? Does it work out better with the insurance switch-over and ownership switch-over? Just curious for thoughts.

kermitpwee

z0oT wrote: »

Again, thanks for the replies.



What I'm noticing is that budget will have to increase to something 6/7/8k to get an Irish spec auto Yaris, i10, i20 or something more agreeable to insurance.

The Micra is the only one that'll come in the 3k budget range, although I found one Jazz in that range.
https://www.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/honda-jazz-automatic-new-nct/19520038

We're in the process of buying a house, and the Yaris's NCT is due in February. I'm thinking we'll hold off until then at least, get it through the NCT and sell it. Budget should be higher then to allow her to get something better if she's still struggling with the gears.

Now, here's a stupid question:

I've never updated cars via a private sale before, the 3 cars I've owned have all been gotten from a dealer. When you're buying a newer car via a private sale, is it better to sell your own privately before or after buying the newer one privately? Does it work out better with the insurance switch-over and ownership switch-over? Just curious for thoughts.

The Irish spec Yaris is a multimode gearbox. This gearbox is rubbish, the Jap Vitz(yaris) has a Cvt box which is reliable.

colm_mcm

Yep, you can get the Irish spec Yaris with a conventional box but it’s 03 and older and 1.3 IIRC.

z0oT

kermitpwee wrote: »

The Irish spec Yaris is a multimode gearbox. This gearbox is rubbish, the Jap Vitz(yaris) has a Cvt box which is reliable.

colm_mcm wrote: »

Yep, you can get the Irish spec Yaris with a conventional box but it’s 03 and older and 1.3 IIRC.

That would effectively rule out the Yaris as an option then.


How about that 2011 model with the 1.33 engine I linked to above? Is that not a CVT?

colm_mcm

Nope. The 1.33 still has the Shiite box if it’s euro spec.

kermitpwee

colm_mcm wrote: »

Yep, you can get the Irish spec Yaris with a conventional box but it’s 03 and older and 1.3 IIRC.

I had one, a great car tbh. The engine and box are so well matched.

Difficult to buy a good one now.

z0oT

colm_mcm wrote: »

Nope. The 1.33 still has the Shiite box if it’s euro spec.

Okay didn't know that - thank you for the info. That rules out the Yaris as an option.

Options to consider now:

• Nissan Micra
• Honda Jazz
• Hyundai i10 & i20

colm_mcm

Look at the Kia Picanto too. (Same size as an i10)

colm_mcm

https://www.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/suzuki-swift-automatic-07/20029115

1.5 but much cheaper
https://www.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/06-suzuki-swift-nct-07-19/20074270

z0oT

colm_mcm wrote: »

Look at the Kia Picanto too. (Same size as an i10)

colm_mcm wrote: »

https://www.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/suzuki-swift-automatic-07/20029115

1.5 but much cheaper
https://www.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/06-suzuki-swift-nct-07-19/20074270

I had forgotten about the Kia Picanto, I presume it's the same as the i10 under the hood too.


I would never have thought of the Suzuki Swift either.


Thanks for all your help in this thread, I have a good few options to consider now.

bazz26

Just watch the Japanese import Suzuki Swift as they can be expensive to insure.

colm_mcm

bazz26 wrote: »

Just watch the Japanese import Suzuki Swift as they can be expensive to insure.

Don’t know if you’re talking about the 1.5 I linked, which AFAIK is Irish spec. Not sure what the 1.3 one is though - I’d say it’s JDM despite the rear bumper being euro.

EDIT, it’s definately Jap, see the indicator/wiper stalks.