Small automatic for mother

grandview

Hi Folks - Looking at small automatics for my mam as she needs something smaller than what she has now (Citroen Multispace Auto) Been looking at Seat Mii, Skoda Citigo and also some of the Japanese imports of the Toyota Aqua, Toyota Vitz and Honda Fit. Anybody have any experience of these small autos. She will only be doing small mileage. The citroen auto she has now is a horrible yoke of an auto to drive. Looking at the 2013 to 2015 mark so looking at 7-9k spend.


Thanks

bazz26

Would a Fiat 500 interest her?

there is a very good chance that any local small automatic was a hire car. inspect with care. Jap import might be safer bet.

selectamatic

Hybrid Yaris

colm_mcm

Up/Mii/Citigo are the same idea as the citroen automated manual box, only executed a bit better.

I’d look at used Hyundai i10/i20 or Kia Picanto/Rio - they have a conventional torque converter box up till around 2020 - but as above watch out for ex rentals.

biko

Toyota Aqua is the Prius C and probably the one to go for.

colm_mcm

biko wrote: »

Toyota Aqua is the Prius C and probably the one to go for.

Neighbour got one, they seem to be a nice yoke.
There was a thread recently where a poster couldn’t easily get insurance on one though.

Mimon

Saw the thread title on the main page and thought that I'd gone onto Boards Texas for a second :pac:

Back Home

selectamatic wrote: »

Hybrid Yaris

And bullet proof

NIMAN

Nissan Leaf would be ideal for her.

Simple to drive, little to go wrong, comfortable.

forestgirl

Volkswagen up is a beautiful car to drive nice and solid, Ford fiesta would be good also

quenching

colm_mcm wrote: »

Up/Mii/Citigo are the same idea as the citroen automated manual box, only executed a bit better.

I’d look at used Hyundai i10/i20 or Kia Picanto/Rio - they have a conventional torque converter box up till around 2020 - but as above watch out for ex rentals.

This is your answer.

I had the same dilemma myself last year, bought an i10 with torque converter auto box, it does an excellent job. Avoid the automated manual gearboxes as in the Up etc. A Yaris hybrid is perfect too if it’s within budget.

grandview

Thanks for all the comments folks.


So i think on the shortlist might be
Hyundai I10
Toyota Yaris Hybrid
Toyota Aqua

Nissan Leaf could be good to although she would probably forget to plug it in!!!
The Fiestas look lovely but a bit pricey

I many stay away from the Mii, up and Citigo if the auto box is something similar to the citroen as the delay on that Citroen auto box in terms of response at roundabouts is scary (nearly got caught myself a few times)



Thanks

grandview

colm_mcm wrote: »

Neighbour got one, they seem to be a nice yoke.
There was a thread recently where a poster couldn’t easily get insurance on one though.

Were the insurance company cagey about insuring it as its a Jap import?
I do recall that anytime i am doing my own insurance quote about if the car is irish question.
As it is she is late 70's so the insurance is getting harder every year.

mojesius

My mam's 2005 Yaris automatic Yaris was bulletproof, until it was stolen a couple of years ago

Redsoxfan

Looked at this recently for my mum. As well as automatics, needed push button start and wanted 2013 or newer. Very little outside Japanese imports fitted the bill, although that was down to the push button requirement.

Looked at all the following:

Yaris (Vitz) - imports seem to be 1.0 only, but simple looking gear shift. She was coming from 131 1.3 Yaris so this would have been fine
Aqua/Prius C - this would have been my choice, but parents felt it too low (is lower than a Yaris)
Jazz - the newer models have a fairly funky gear shift - more like a joystick and the fact that 'P' was a button (gearing was only 'N', 'D' and 'R') was odd to me (it also has a conventional handbrake) - I thought my mum would struggle with it, but it's a nice car
Ended up with a Swift. As straightforward as the Yaris.

Bought at Choice Motors in Lusk, you an go and look at a number of different options at the same time which is good. There is a fair few outfits like them that specialise in the smaller automatics from Japan.

Her insurance might be slightly more but nothing material.

colm_mcm

grandview wrote: »

Were the insurance company cagey about insuring it as its a Jap import?
I do recall that anytime i am doing my own insurance quote about if the car is irish question.
As it is she is late 70's so the insurance is getting harder every year.

I think it was because their systems didn’t list it.