automatic cars like hens teeth?

wolfehouse

I am trying to buy a small family sized automatic car for around £8,000. Now that there are so many clutchless manuals coming out the choices have widened but used automatics seem really expensive.

Would I be better off going for something new like a ford focus (or toyota yaris), or something bigger (like a 2 year old astra) which is older but you don't know where it has been and the choices are whatever happens to be in?

Why is it dealers always have to throw in how rare automatics are and how they never have caught on in britain?

pennymakespounds

we are part of that very rare species of automatic drivers .

I've driven auto's for at least 10 years now,.currently c class merc.

other half is a very nervous driver and auto makes the whole thing far easier and less stress.

both our teenagers learnt and passed tests on manuals .. but are driving auto's .. a corsa and a yaris.
Both cars bought new 3 years ago .. have been superb cars.

none of us can understand why anyone would want to drive a manual car. !!
whenever we ask people they just shrug their shoulders.

moonrakerz

Try this website:
http://www.motability.co.uk/

Certain dealers specialise in cars for the disabled, usually find they have far more autos than a "normal" dealer.
Or if you want a particular make, ring your local dealer for that make and ask who the Motability supplier is in your area.

rdwarr

The Ford Focus is the ackowledged class leader so I can't see the point looking at anything else once it's on your shortlist.
Car Giant have a few Focus automatics in stock including this one for £8199 that seems to be pretty good.
I currently have three automatics (Toyota, Lexus and Jaguar) and can't see any benefit in having a manual car. You get to spend a lot more time with two hands on the wheel and concentrating on the road ahead.

numberonemummy

I can only drive auto (or go kart as hubby put's it)
i brought brand new suzuki liana auto for £9k,
they do a monthly service plan, £12 per month over 36 months by d/d and all 3 big services are taken care of,
The Liana is same size as my old escort, 3 proper diagonal belts in back, the hatchback i have is big enough for my golden retriever to turn round in.
Only down side is it's only a 1.6 but it's very economical, i got alloys, cd, elec. windows, abs, and fancy spoilers on the back hatch, sides and front.

There are loads of them in the suzuki dealers, 99% auto, and many are ex demo's so should be going for a bit less.

lily_the_pink

moonrakerz wrote:

Try this website:
http://www.motability.co.uk/

Certain dealers specialise in cars for the disabled, usually find they have far more autos than a "normal" dealer.
Or if you want a particular make, ring your local dealer for that make and ask who the Motability supplier is in your area.

These also come up nearly new at auctions on a regular basis

ArsenalFC

I have been driving auto for the last 6 years I wouldn't change back to a manual. I did passed my test and drove a manual for 3 years and got fed up with the constant gear changing and clutch pedal, commuting to work in london - 25miles round trip for 6/7 days a week.

I currently drives a bmw auto and are looking to part with it in the summer to get a smaller car as I dont drive much now because work is more local.

The Focus Zetec/Ghia auto top my list with a budget of £4k. Dont think I ever go back to a manual.

vansboy

The best source of automatics, is within the Motability sections, at auction.

Today at Blackbushe BritishCarAuction , a 2,198 mile 05 reg Focus 1.6LX automatic estate was £9,000.

http://www.honestjohn.co.uk clik the AuctionView link, on there & for not much £$£$ you'll have search facility, of every BCA site in the country.

VB

exil

Automatics use more fuel than manuals. Since fuel is more expensive in Europe than in the US, this has been enough to ensure they remain less popular.

Aletank

Use the Autotrader website, In the search filter put in automatic, any make any model

ManAtHome

Well, they do use more fuel than an equivalent manual for similar driving styles, but I get close to the mpg of a couple of people I know with the same model. Of course you get a bit back by not being able to do the vroom vroom stuff at the lights... (and not using the car for short journeys).

Perhaps the Mercans will be tempted to downsize from 4 litres to 2 (think they'd do that before moving en mass to 'stick shifts').