Advice on cheap small automatic for learner - £2k to spend

rob7475

Hi, my OH is wanting to learn to drive and as our main car is an auto, she's wanting to learn in an auto and is happy with an auto license.

We're looking to buy a small auto for her to learn in and which she'll probably keep as a second car when she passes her test. We're happy to spend up to around 2k, maybe a little more.

Any advice on what cars are good at this price point. I've looked at at Fiesta's but apparently the auto box is a bit iffy in models at the sort of age I could get for £2k (around 2005 - 2008). I'm guessing that means the same for Peugeot 207's. Toyota Yaris's apparently also had auto box problems with expensive repairs so I'm a bit put off them too. At the minute I'm thinking maybe a VW polo. I can get a mk 7 within budget probably. 

Any other recommendations would be welcome please

bengalknights

Honda Jazz would be my recommendation.although lately they are being scrapped due to the catalysts being stolen.

rob7475

bengalknights said:

Honda Jazz would be my recommendation.although lately they are being scrapped due to the catalysts being stolen.

Thanks. Are the auto boxes generally reliable in these?

rob7475

Also, as I'm looking at relatively cheap cars, would I be better buying private or trade. I saw a polo over the weekend advertised as private on autotrader but when I rang the seller to ask him about the car he had for sale, it turned out he was a trader trading from home and he had several cars for sale. The car looked ideal but this and the fact it developed a leaky exhaust just before I called put me off enough to walk away.

bengalknights

rob7475 said:

bengalknights said:

Honda Jazz would be my recommendation.although lately they are being scrapped due to the catalysts being stolen.

Thanks. Are the auto boxes generally reliable in these?

Pretty bullet proof as its a cvt, if you have a local copart you might be able to bag a very cheap one where you just have to spend £200 additional sticking on a catalyst.

For the price of £2k you are better off private but try to avoid the home dealers!

Goudy

You need to chose wisely, there are more than one type of automatic gearbox and some are a dog to drive others are unreliable and expensive (and a dog to drive).

Unfortunately a lot of small cars tend to use an automated manual system. It's a normal gearbox and clutch with hydraulics and a computer that operate the clutch and shift for you. Their life can be pretty short, they don't drive like a proper auto, so don't tend to creep which makes parking a handful and they can be compliated and expensive to fix.

DSG's or dual clutch gearboxes tend drive much better but they can have a few issues. Some older ones aren't that reliable and versions for smaller engines are often dry clutched so can suffer clutch wear but they are getting better than automated manuals. Again expensive to fix when they do play up.

Good old fashioned torque convertor autos are few and fair between in small cars as they use a lot of fuel which buggers up their CO2 figures (and RFL), though they drive like a normal auto, as they are. They are generally more reliable than an automated manuals and servicing them is pretty simple.

CVT's aren't that well loved, though they are generally pretty reliable, very much fit and forget in regards to servicing. A lot of Japanese manufacturers fit them and it does show in reliability studies. They drive very much like a proper auto (so creep) but they can make the car sound like it's "mooing" like a cow as there isn't usually gear steps in, just one long VROOOOOOOOOM. 

For your budget I would stick with a CVT from a Japanese manufacturer, perhaps Jazz or if your budget can stretch to one, a 4th gen Nissan Micra with the 1.2 engine.

Hyundai sold the i10 with a proper TC automatic as did Kia with it's sister car the Picanto, but make sure you check them over underneath, they can get a bit rusty under there with age.

Car_54

OP, is there any reason she can't use yor 'main' car for practice?

rob7475

Car_54 said:

OP, is there any reason she can't use yor 'main' car for practice?

Yeah - it’s a nearly new merc e class 🤣. 

I did say she could practice in it but she doesn’t fancy it - it’s too big apparently

daveyjp

Autotrader search  time.

In my local area I was drawn to an 03 1.6 Corolla Auto.  Just over 100,000 miles, nothing major on any of the MOTs.  Yours for £1,000.

rob7475

daveyjp said:

Autotrader search  time.

In my local area I was drawn to an 03 1.6 Corolla Auto.  Just over 100,000 miles, nothing major on any of the MOTs.  Yours for £1,000.

I’ve been busy trawling autotrader and doing MOT checks on stuff. There’s loads of traders on there fronting as private sellers though. They give the game away when you call them and ask about the car for sale - as soon as they say which one, you know they’re probably a trader

I’m leaning towards something japanese I think

tacpot12

Many learners are drawn to small cars, but bigger cars are safer, and the extra space can be quite useful at times. Looking at the next class up opens up a wider choice of cars and engines, and the prices can be very similar. A friend has a Golf 1.4 FSI with a DSG gearbox that has been completely reliable for the last 12 years or so. The Golf would be a similar size to the Corolla mentioned by daveyjp, so perhaps talk to her about whether she might prefer a car from the next class up to the Jazz/Yaris/Polo.