Choosing Cost Effective Car

Turquoise

Thanks for your help guys. has to be an automatic due to back problems. after researching all the facts and figures and reviews the one's most taken to were below, but then things got difficult ..........

- Honda Jazz - only one I could find which had been looked after was an ex-motability. It had a leak in the boot and the rear headrests blocked view out of rear:(
- Prius - only one I could find, jerked it's way round my test drive
- Fiesta - felt claustrophobic
- Corsa - was a really lovely drive BUT they only have sports seats in them which killed my bad back
- VW Polo or Golf - can only find one 20 miles away so going to have a look
- Hyundai i20 - can't find an auto to test drive at all within 60 miles!
- Kia Rio - found one at same place as Polo so going to have a look
- Ford Fusion - massively noisy as it changed up through the gears

heck, it really shouldn't be this difficult and time is now against me as company car has to go back at the end of next week! Argghh!!

knightstyle

We were in a similar situation regarding our car requirements. Got an 07 Toyota Auris 1.4 diesel auto from a Honda main dealer for 7k two months ago. Had only done 15k miles, so far very pleased with the economy and my wife who has a very bad back loves it. You may get a higher mileage one for your budget.

anotherbaldrick

The Mk 5 Golf with the DSG semi auto box is a good bet . Very economical and reliable. The DSG box model is faster and gives better economy than the manual shift.

anotherbaldrick

For those who do not know it the DSG Golf gearbox is classified by the DVLA as a semi automatic because it does not have a conventional torque converter as in a true automatic. It has two pre selector gear boxes with a common dry plate clutch which selects between the boxes.
It is electronically controlled with 7 gear ratios . 1,3,5,7 in one box and R , 2,4,6 in the other
To all intents and purposes it is a squirt and go automatic but without the inefficiencies inherent in the traditional automatic. Everyone who has tried one loves it. It is made by Borg Warner. Before long all autos will be of this design.