Advice on choosing an automatic

embraman

Thanks for all the very helpful comments above. Armed with them, I had a happy morning touring various garages. I do like the Kias - and can confirm that cars less than 18 months old can indeed have their warranty 'topped up' to 7 years, if part of Kia's 'approved' scheme.

We like our Picasso and were briefly diverted by the automatic variant of the C4 Picasso - before I twigged that it was the 'semi-automatic' option that gets short shrift above (and this is reflected in reviews I've now read).

My wife was rather taken by one car not mentioned above - the Kia Soul, which was new last year, I think.

Does anyone have any thoughts on that one? Rather an acquired taste I suspect.

Quiet_Life

Qashqai..Nissan
The petrol automatic versian is CVT.. continual variable transmission... don't ask me to explain [as i can't] but basically it is very, very smooth when driving. It has ample room for 5 adults, mine is a 2l engine so it's fairly powerful and the boot is huge

flyingscotno1

Problem with the Qashqui is the Auto isn't on the 1.6, just the 2.0l so it is more thirsty and expensive than it needs to be. Shame really.

Lum

Only non-traditional auto I would consider is a CVT. This is making a bit of a comeback on some cars such as the Subaru Legacy (but not available on the diesel, so watch the MPG) and if implemented correctly should be much much smoother than even a torque converter automatic, and more efficient too.

jeannieblue

Quiet_Life wrote: »

Qashqai..Nissan
The petrol automatic versian is CVT.. continual variable transmission... don't ask me to explain [as i can't] but basically it is very, very smooth when driving. It has ample room for 5 adults, mine is a 2l engine so it's fairly powerful and the boot is huge

Ford Kuga? same car?

DaveF327

I recently drove a hire car which was a Citroen C4 automatic.

It had all the requirements you mentioned in your first post, had a very smooth transmission (tiptronic too) and was very nippy for a 1.6 engine. It had cruise control (great for those long 4 hour holiday journeys) and a speed limiter function (handy if you're driving in unfamiliar areas and easily distracted by kids). As you're obviously used to a Citroen, this could be right up your street.

embraman

gilbert_and_sullivan wrote: »

Good luck, do let us know what you think of.

Well, I enjoyed all that more than I thought I would - thanks to you and others here for all the helpful advice.

We did have a look at the Kia Ceed. However, it was just a bit too small - we'd have been struggling to get all the luggage in for a week away, for example. One of the garages we went to had a good deal on pre-reg Kia Carens (59 plate, 18 miles on the clock) V. tempting.

In the end we went for another used (58) Picasso - C4 Grand, 2 litre diesel and true automatic, rather than the standard ESG semi-manual. We got a good deal, I think. I know the brand and style are not to everyone's taste but we are chuffed to bits with it.

Thanks again for the help.

DaveF327

Glad you're all sorted. It sounds like you made a good choice. Diesels are economic and you have the room as well as good visibility through those front "quarter lights".

Have a great holiday!

Pew_Pew_Pew_Lasers!

The C4 is a nice looking car. I don't have much time for French cars, but I certainly wouldn't be embarrassed to own one of those.