Buying approved used online & auto vs manual

ProStuart

Hi,

My current car lease expires in January and after sadly getting an inheritance earlier this year I'm looking at buying a nice "nearly new" car that'll last me 10 years plus. I only do max 5k a year and I'll be ensuring I keep it fully serviced.

I've previously owned a 3 series BMW that I bought privately and loved it - I'm now looking at either a 3 series GT or a 4 series gran coupe 430. I'm looking to spend around £25-28k for one with a low mileage & 6 months old. I'm thinking approved used BMW.

Now to my questions....

- I've never driven an automatic car so taking a test drive in one will be a daunting prospect in itself let alone thinking about how the car feels/drives. I know there's no single answer for everyone but how quickly do you adjust from manual to auto (I've been driving manual for 20 years+)?

- the cars for sale are obviously from across the UK. If you see your dream spec (say 6 months old and 50 miles on the clock) at an acceptable price but it's 250 miles away, would you take the risk in buying without seeing/driving the actual car?

Thanks for your feedback!!

Stuart

facade

ProStuart wrote: »

I know there's no single answer for everyone but how quickly do you adjust from manual to auto (I've been driving manual for 20 years+)?

Takes no time at all, except- you will press the "clutch" once, as in push the brake pedal right down with your left foot, usually just as you are coming to a stop. :eek: Then you never do it again.



Keep your left foot well away from the pedals at first, but like I say, you will do it once, everyone does


Going back to manual is more of a problem, I'm usually wondering why the car hasn't changed down yet going uphill or something

Nobbie1967

As Facade says, you will press the 'clutch' once before realising your car doesn't have one. Once you've peeled yourself of the steering wheel after the involuntary emergency stop you will remember to keep your left foot on the rest provided. Apart from that, I found the transition after 30 years simple.

I'd advise against buying from long distance as it will make things tricky if you have to return it for repairs unless they are happy to do the work at a garage local to you. I assume this wouldn't be an issue from a main dealer, but could be from an independent trader.

Make sure you have at least test driven the model you want b score buying. This sounds obvious, but not a given from reading these boards over the years.

AdrianC

ProStuart wrote: »

- the cars for sale are obviously from across the UK. If you see your dream spec (say 6 months old and 50 miles on the clock) at an acceptable price but it's 250 miles away, would you take the risk in buying without seeing/driving the actual car?

What's a day and a train fare, compared to the time/effort/bloodpressure of buying a £30k car blind that then turns out to be duff...?

Sure, you may well have the right to return it, but I'd be doing the travelling first.

Goudy

I jump back and forth between auto and manual all the time and it doesn't bother me, one's one and the others the other, the only time I really notice which is when I'm stuck in stop start traffic and I'm in the manual or on a twisty road and I'm in an 8 speed auto that can't make it's mind up which gear to select.

Though I can understand you might be a bit worried about your first auto drive might be when test driving an expensive car!

Is there anyone in your family or a friend with an auto that might let you drive theirs around a quiet carpark or could perhaps join a car club like Enterprise Car Club or Ubeeqo, they usually have autos you can hire for an hour at a time in most cities.

Personally, I wouldn't buy any used car unseen and as you're after something quite specific be prepared to travel to bag your dream.
You could try and line up a few in the same area which should save you some time and effort or try and find a dealer or specialist in the make/model that might have a few on their books.

Dealerships are usually linked when it comes to used stock and most will ship a car in from another branch if you show enough interest, but don't feel pressure to buy it if they do this for you.

Goudy

Just a thought, what about waiting until Jan, handing your lease back and buy a cheap auto, something like an old Toyota Yaris for around a grand.

Use that to get the feel of an auto and while you travel about shopping for your new car.
Once you find it, you should be able to recoup most of your grand by trading it in.

marlot

facade wrote: »

Takes no time at all, except- you will press the "clutch" once, as in push the brake pedal right down with your left foot, usually just as you are coming to a stop. :eek: Then you never do it again. ...

For my wife, it was in the middle of a high speed overtake! She went to change down and made a VERY sudden deceleration on the wrong side of an A road. Fortunately traffic was light and we didn't have an incident.

The other thing is to get into the habit of only pressing the button to move between 'P', 'R' and 'N'. You do not need to press it to move between 'N' and 'D'. It's done that way to make it very unlikely you'll put the car into reverse whilst travelling along forwards.

EssexExile

I first drove an automatic in Canada, automatic & wrong side of the road, it took an hour or so to get used to it.

Would I buy a secondhand car without seeing it & driving it? Not a chance.

Car_54

marlot wrote: »

The other thing is to get into the habit of only pressing the button to move between 'P', 'R' and 'N'. You do not need to press it to move between 'N' and 'D'. It's done that way to make it very unlikely you'll put the car into reverse whilst travelling along forwards.

Better still, form the habit of only touching the lever while stationary.

Wyrley49

I drive both. First automatic in 2017, they are great. Always put it into neutral and handbrake on at traffic lights. Yes I have tried to dip the clutch, and you only do it once. You’ll be fine.

AdrianC

[quote=[Deleted User];76466850]Better still, form the habit of only touching the lever while stationary.[/QUOTE]
Well, you can decide to ignore the manual gear-holding facility if you like...

Do you avoid changing gear in a manual, too?