Best Automatic?

Red29

I'd really appreciate any advice on my buying my next car.

My lovely 1998 A4 is about to lose its clutch - I don't want to repair it as after 15 years I want a new car with mod cons to make my life easier.

Ideally I'm looking for something that will last at least 10 years, as I hate having to shop for things! I do 250 miles per month, the majority of this is on local roads.

I also definently want an automatic. I'm not fussed ny engine size 1.4 - 1.6 would be absolutely fine. Ideally max 1 year old. Max budget £12000.

After doing loads of research I've narrowed my options down to:

VW Golf
Astra
Toyota Auris
Focus Zetec
Honda Civic

Can't make up my mind about the hyndai i30.

Are any of the above absolute no nos before I start test driving?

I live in Birmingham so am very tempted to get to the new Motorpoint and buy from them.

Any advice would be much appreciated.

vikingaero

First choice would be a Japanaese or Korean car with a conventional 4/5 speed automatic. Then a 4 speed European car (The Astra could be good with a potential lifetime warranty).

Avoid anything with a DSG, 6 to 9 speed automatics and the devil is any motorised manual gearbox.

James Ruppert who writes on Bangernomics in Autocar magazine interviewed an automatic transmission specialist in Sussex who gave the above advice. DSG's 6 to 9 speed transmissions and MMT's were guaranteed to go wrong.

skivenov

I'd agree with that. In my opinion, the smoothest, most responsive, autobox I've driven in a long time is was on an 18 month old, now old-shape, Hyundai i30. I could hardly feel it change even when driving quickly, and it always seemed to be in the right cog. Pretty mad when you consider I drive new or near new mercs, jags and beemers quite a bit.

knightstyle

My wife has a back problem so we have had automatics for many years.
Try for a good drive before you buy. There are now several different types of auto boxes on the market.
The old type uses a fluid flywheel and is very smooth BUT fuel hungry.
Modern types usually have two electric clutches and can be more jerky especially if you accelerate/brake hard when driving.
The older Auris which we have is prone to this but fine for normal gentle driving and we get over 50mpg from the diesel engine. I think the newer ones are fine.
The VW box is very good and I think Seat and Skoda use it.
Just as important is will it be Petrol or Diesel? Lots of short journeys can cause problems with modern diesels.
So I would go for the Auris but go for a later one, they are made in the UK, plus if you go to a Toyota dealer they can check if the service history and if that car has had any problems since new. Oh and dealers seem to be good, fixed a couple of things for free for me, broken floor mat clip and loose trim, even though I didn't buy from them and the car was well out of g'tee.

oliverr

Firstly I would avoid anything "continously variable" as I've heard nothing but problems - when we were buying the old type A-class for my mum the CVT in that was known for very expensive faults, so we went for the manual - and I have heard similar things like that in other cars.

On to the cars themselves, they aren't a bad bunch of cars you have lined up there, I like the Golf myself, but you would probably have to go for an older model to get it in your budget. Toyota are also known for good automatics (the Japanese in general to be honest), but in my opinion the Auris isn't a great car, not that great to drive and build quality leaves something to be desired (hard plastics, etc) but it should atleast be reliable if not very interesting. The only other car I have driven there is the Astra and I must say the new type Astra is a nice looking car, lovely interior too. Not sure what the auto box is like though.

I'd have a look at Motorpoint as they will no doubt have all those cars in stock for you to comapre to at the same time, instead of going to induvidual dealers.

ballyblack

I too agree about avoiding DSG autos that VAG VW, audi use

very expensive to repair when they fail

skivenov

I've always thought the DSG's in VAG group cars are a bit like iPhones. People who have them won't hear a word against them and will tell you at length how great they are (even if mostly it's the only auto they've ever driven). I even had someone who owned one snap "It's not an automatic, it's a DSG".

Everyone who I know who's tried one along with other autos, can't see what the fuss is about.

worried_jim

@ 250 miles per month on short journey it has to be petrol. I too would look at the Hyundai i130 and only go for a car with a traditional slush box, you don't want any dual clutch nonsense.

facade

When I was looking for an auto 18 months ago, the best small conventional auto was the Nissan Note.

They are stopping making these in favour of something with a CVT, they have got the CVTs to last 90,000 miles now, by dealer changing the expensive fluid at 20,000 miles.

TRS705

VW Polo 1.4 DSG all the way

vikingaero

TRS705 wrote: »

VW Polo 1.4 DSG all the way

The OP wants to keep it for 10 years. DSG+10 years doesn't work.