Buying an automatic car for learner driver

JimmyCorkhill

Hi Folks

Looking for some advice on buying an automatic car for a learner driver.

• Ideally a small car in size and engine - so say 1.0-1.2 litres
• 7-10 years old, as any older insurance will probably be higher
• Budget around €5k, if need to go up to €6k for a good car so be it, but ideally €5k or less
• Unlikely to drive more than 10,000km a year
• Will look to drive the car for 2 years give or take

1. Is there a particular make of car that would be recommended?
2. Should I look to avoid car dealers and try go private, just in case it is better value?
3. Any idea of mileage on the car? Is an average of 15,000km per age of car a lot of mileage or standard?
4. Any other advice is greatly appreciated

Thanks

Mad_maxx

JimmyCorkhill wrote: »

Hi Folks

Looking for some advice on buying an automatic car for a learner driver.

• Ideally a small car in size and engine - so say 1.0-1.2 litres
• 7-10 years old, as any older insurance will probably be higher
• Budget around €5k, if need to go up to €6k for a good car so be it, but ideally €5k or less
• Unlikely to drive more than 10,000km a year
• Will look to drive the car for 2 years give or take

1. Is there a particular make of car that would be recommended?
2. Should I look to avoid car dealers and try go private, just in case it is better value?
3. Any idea of mileage on the car? Is an average of 15,000km per age of car a lot of mileage or standard?
4. Any other advice is greatly appreciated

Thanks

best just get a ford focus , plenty automatics out there , harder to come by automatics in small cars and besides , automatic and small cars was never a great mix

User1998

Something like this would be nice. A bit out of budget but if you went for a 2010/2011 you should get one in budget. Bare in mind most small automatic cars are Japenese imports so check with insurance that they will cover.

https://www.donedeal.ie/view/24997192

bazz26

Ford Focus and automatic were never a great mix either.

OP, small automatic cars are in short supply and expensive. Watch out also for tired old ex rentals. Many might be Japanese imports too so make sure you can get insurance on them.

Some other examples:
https://www.carsireland.ie/detail.php?ad_id=2473599&r=s.php%3Fm%5B%5D%3D93%26o%5B%5D%3D2233%26f%3D1%26t%3D2%26pp%3D50%26g%3D0
https://www.carsireland.ie/detail.php?ad_id=2556100&r=s.php%3Fm%5B%5D%3D80%26o%5B%5D%3D2232%26f%3D1%26t%3D2%26pp%3D50%26g%3D0
https://www.carsireland.ie/detail.php?ad_id=2516503&r=s.php%3Fm%5B%5D%3D85%26o%5B%5D%3D%26f%3D1%26t%3D2%26pp%3D50%26g%3D0

JimmyCorkhill

User1998 wrote: »

Something like this would be nice. A bit out of budget but if you went for a 2010/2011 you should get one in budget. Bare in mind most small automatic cars are Japenese imports so check with insurance that they will cover.

https://www.donedeal.ie/view/24997192

Thanks, makes sense what you say about Japanese Imports.

I entered a few registrations I saw on donedeal into some of the insurers websites and it came up they could not find the car, so most likely these were imports looking back.

JimmyCorkhill

bazz26 wrote: »

Ford Focus and automatic were never a great mix either.

OP, small automatic cars are in short supply and expensive. Watch out also for tired old ex rentals. Many might be Japanese imports too so make sure you can get insurance on them.

Some other examples:
https://www.carsireland.ie/detail.php?ad_id=2473599&r=s.php%3Fm%5B%5D%3D93%26o%5B%5D%3D2233%26f%3D1%26t%3D2%26pp%3D50%26g%3D0
https://www.carsireland.ie/detail.php?ad_id=2556100&r=s.php%3Fm%5B%5D%3D80%26o%5B%5D%3D2232%26f%3D1%26t%3D2%26pp%3D50%26g%3D0
https://www.carsireland.ie/detail.php?ad_id=2516503&r=s.php%3Fm%5B%5D%3D85%26o%5B%5D%3D%26f%3D1%26t%3D2%26pp%3D50%26g%3D0

Thank you.

Yep I am going to probably have to pay a premium for a small automatic.
Taking up driving at a later age now but fairly adamant it will only be in an automatic and ideally a small car to start off and feel comfortable in.

I planned to hopefully upgrade in a couple of years to a larger car, so thought something cheap enough would do me now.

But wondering should I increase my budget or still look for a cheapish A to B car?

Dial Hard

JimmyCorkhill wrote: »

I entered a few registrations I saw on donedeal into some of the insurers websites and it came up they could not find the car, so most likely these were imports looking back.

You can tell by the reg yourself in many cases. Any Dublin reg with a number greater than 120,000 is an import.

User1998

Not very accurate tho. Most of my imports have only been five digit numbers. You’d need to import something that’s about 10 years old to get a six digit reg plate

paddydriver

OP.. I remember by Aunt had an automatic Renault Clio. My Dad sourced for her at the time but ran well for years.

Just be aware too that if driver takes test in Automatic then they only get a license for an Automatic, whereas taking it in Manual allows you drive both.

galwaytt

paddydriver wrote: »

OP.. I remember by Aunt had an automatic Renault Clio. My Dad sourced for her at the time but ran well for years.

Just be aware too that if driver takes test in Automatic then they only get a license for an Automatic, whereas taking it in Manual allows you drive both.

We just sold our 12 reg Mégane auto.

Being a 1.5 diesel its actually cheaper to run and tax than a Clio - of which we have an 06 1.2 petrol.

We had it 4.5 years, gave zero trouble, the EDC box in it is a modern "dsg" type box and very good.

When selling small auto its a sellers market. We got our price for it, 1st caller took it.

Belfast

A manual would be better to learn as the licence would not be limited.
Having an automatic only licence will limit the number on second had cars he can buy or drive in the future.

automatic on you budget below
2009 Kia Rio 1.4 EX AUTOMATIC VERY LOW MILEAGE
€4,950
https://www.carsireland.ie/detail.php?ad_id=2513925&r=s.php%3Fe%3D5000%26f%3D1%26bhp%3D70%26t%3D2%26g%3D0

2008 Fiat 500 1.4 Lounge 3DR Auto
€4,950
https://www.carsireland.ie/detail.php?ad_id=2504350&r=s.php%3Fe%3D5000%26f%3D1%26bhp%3D100%26t%3D2%26g%3D0

galwaytt

Belfast wrote: »

A manual would be better to learn as the licence would not be limited.
Having a automitic only licence will limit the number on second had cars he can buy or drive in the future.

automatic on you budject below
2009 Kia Rio 1.4 EX AUTOMATIC VERY LOW MILEAGE
€4,950
https://www.carsireland.ie/detail.php?ad_id=2513925&r=s.php%3Fe%3D5000%26f%3D1%26bhp%3D70%26t%3D2%26g%3D0

The young lady who bought ours had an automatic-only licence: wasn't fazed in the keast about it 'restricting' her car choice.

Going forward, with all hybrids and electrics becoming the norm, manual car licences will become the exception, not the norm.

PaulKK

Dial Hard wrote: »

You can tell by the reg yourself in many cases. Any Dublin reg with a number greater than 120,000 is an import.

That hasn't been the case for quite a few years.

bidiots

galwaytt wrote: »

The young lady who bought ours had an automatic-only licence: wasn't fazed in the keast about it 'restricting' her car choice.

Going forward, with all hybrids and electrics becoming the norm, manual car licences will become the exception, not the norm.

Should still learn to drive via manual first, so many skill sets that will help make a better driver

JimmyCorkhill

Belfast wrote: »

A manual would be better to learn as the licence would not be limited.
Having an automatic only licence will limit the number on second had cars he can buy or drive in the future.

automatic on you budget below
2009 Kia Rio 1.4 EX AUTOMATIC VERY LOW MILEAGE
€4,950
https://www.carsireland.ie/detail.php?ad_id=2513925&r=s.php%3Fe%3D5000%26f%3D1%26bhp%3D70%26t%3D2%26g%3D0

2008 Fiat 500 1.4 Lounge 3DR Auto
€4,950
https://www.carsireland.ie/detail.php?ad_id=2504350&r=s.php%3Fe%3D5000%26f%3D1%26bhp%3D100%26t%3D2%26g%3D0

Thanks for your reply.

I am aware of the restrictions learning via Automatic but I am comfortable with them.

vectra

bidiots wrote: »

Should still learn to drive via manual first, so many skill sets that will help make a better driver

In what way would it make a better driver?

Yaris 1.0

Dial Hard

PaulKK wrote: »

That hasn't been the case for quite a few years.

I'm aware of that. Doesn't change the fact that any Dublin car with a reg over 120k is an import.

bidiots

vectra wrote: »

In what way would it make a better driver?

Yaris 1.0

.

bidiots

vectra wrote: »

In what way would it make a better driver?

Yaris 1.0

More control over the car, hill rolls, gear control of the engine for braking, cornering etc..... I could go on but I think you know already tbh.

WildWater

vectra wrote: »

In what way would it make a better driver?

Yaris 1.0

For what the OP is looking for, that Yaris ticks a lot of boxes. One thing I notice in the pictures, and it could just be the light, but to me there seems to be a colour mismatch between the front an rear doors on the passenger side. It's especially obvious in the photo taken from the rear. If this is the case then it's because it has had a repair (and bad colour match) on that side. As to how bad the damage was you could only have a go a estimating that when physically examining the car.

H3llR4iser

JimmyCorkhill wrote: »

Thanks for your reply.

I am aware of the restrictions learning via Automatic but I am comfortable with them.

Given there are no medical restrictions (and often small things like a bad back might make operating a clutch impossible, I realize that) once you go through the learning process, might as well do it in full - it's something you only need to do once, afterall.

The point is that you never know what might happen in the future - now, maybe American movie scenarios where someone is fleeing from zombies, stumbles on a car, it's a manual and they go "oh cr@p, I can't drive stick!" are overplayed, but who knows - maybe you might fancy a classic in time? Or be stuck at a rental agency where they have no autos left? What I'm trying to say is that it's better doing it now and never using it, than regretting it down the line.

When I was 16, I had the chance to get a CAT A license. I didn't do it as I wasn't interested in motorbikes; 24 years later, I'm kicking myself in the arse about that, as a bike would be ideal for my current commuting situation. Will most likely end up going through motorcycle training at 40 :P