Reliable automatics

bengalknights

noclaf said:

bengalknights said:

The ZF gearboxes found in BMW's, Jaguars and Mercedes are generally quite reliable.

Does need oil maintenance though.

Does that include the modern models e.g: 1/3 series over the last 5/6 years?
I'd love a E46 330ci but need to be sensible and practical

The ZF's have been in use since 2012 so should include those.

DoaM

If you're only doing 4k miles per year, how many journeys and what length? Would it not be better financially to get the bus/tube/taxi for short journeys, and hire a car when required for longer journeys?

Your £10k purchase price will also have ongoing running costs to add. Have you tried doing a financial comparison between owning a car and doing what I've suggested above?

noclaf

DoaM said:

If you're only doing 4k miles per year, how many journeys and what length? Would it not be better financially to get the bus/tube/taxi for short journeys, and hire a car when required for longer journeys?

Your £10k purchase price will also have ongoing running costs to add. Have you tried doing a financial comparison between owning a car and doing what I've s kiuggested above?

The £10k is a ballpark figure..to be partly funded by a P/X but will aim to spend as little as practically possible.
Totally get your suggestion and whilst there are some obvious cost saving benefits however don't think it will work as I am a carer for one of my parents including taking them to medical  appointments and family are dotted all over London and further out i.e: well beyond the M25 so the car will get regular use albeit low miles...Im also on track to hit over 5k miles this year setting a new personal record for my highest annual mileage ever! But knowing the depreciation hit that can't be avoided is a painful pill to swallow. I would happily buy a banger of the bangeromics variety but my other half isn't keen esp as current banger gives issues and will need more than 3 doors later. Edit: actually I'd happily buy a banger but I'm not able to fix/service cars myself both due to lack of knowledge and lack of time needed to both learn the trade and use to fix the car so a trade-off with buying the uber cheap stuff.

shinytop

noclaf said:

shinytop said:

noclaf said:

Thanks all for the suggestions, I will also consider the previous model Astra....1.4T even in auto form seems to be quite nippy and in Elite trim is available with leather seats...hmm

I went through the same thought process as you and I now have a 2016 Mazda 3 Automatic.  2 litre non turbo petrol, old style 4 speed Auto. 9 months and 15,000 miles later no complaints so far.   

Funny enough I've been considering this very car, some versions come with leather seats and there is a rarer 165bhp version. Assuming you have the more common 120bhp, how do find the car for town driving, is there enough torque even with the autobox?

Yup mine is the standard one, 2 litre sport nav.  It's fine around town, feels lazy when taking it easy but will shift enough when you want it to. It hasn't got the oomph a diesel has but it's OK.

cymruchris

I've driven autos for quite a few years now - and the only one I wished I hadn't was a Volvo S40 2.4 Auto - where the gearbox began playing up at about 50k miles - lots of knocking going on - it wasn't in this country, I was overseas, but when it went in to Volvo for inspection - they said it needed a new gearbox which was about what I paid for the car - so it got sold with fault at a substantial loss. They don't make them like they used to.

knightstyle

People are saying to avoid the Ford Powershift but I thought the later ones were OK as long as the oil is changed regularly.
We have a 2013 Cmax with Powershift, just had the third oil change at 70k miles, never had any problems and tow a 1300kg caravan regularly with it.

noclaf

knightstyle said:

People are saying to avoid the Ford Powershift but I thought the later ones were OK as long as the oil is changed regularly.
We have a 2013 Cmax with Powershift, just had the third oil change at 70k miles, never had any problems and tow a 1300kg caravan regularly with it.

It seems the 'wet clutch' versions are ok based on my research but regular servicing is a must too...some people expect reliability whilst scrimping on servicing. One of the cars that I like is the Volvo V40 however some of their petrol models used the ecoboost engines(though not aware of any reported issues with Volvo's using them) but it seems their electrics reliability is not great...probably another example of over complex engineering resulting in more issues. The autos also seem much rarer than manuals keeping the prices a fair bit higher too.

Goldenyears

The Ford Powershift problem occurred with Fiestas and (I believe) Focus.  I had a new auto Fiesta during 2013-2016 and had 2 clutch pack changes under warranty over 15,000 miles.  Although Ford gave up on Powershift eventually I would not buy a torque converter Ford auto just yet.  The comment above on the C-Max Powershift may be quite right.  It's a different variant.

noclaf

To be honest I won't be entertaining Ford autos or Ecoboost for that matter. Whilst VAG cars might not be perfect the Leon seems appealing and as mentioned earlier the Mazda 3 so those two are definitely on the list to view. 

John_

facade said:

Hyundai and Kia still use torque converters, Suzuki too (as long as you avoid the CVT). Ford went back to it for the Fiesta, from 2017. Hearsay is it is because the US market can't abide dual clutch, rather than because the dual clutch is no good.

I'd have a dual clutch now I don't need to crawl in traffic twice a day, but I could get away with a manual with a decent spread of torque.  I have to say it worries me a bit that manufacturers claim these new fangled turbo engines produce monster torque figures from fast idle, yet they need to pair them with 8 or 9 speed TC gearboxes??

My latest car is like that, 664 lb-ft and a 7-speed gearbox. I reckon four would be about right.