First Time Car Buyer - Automatic - Any Help Appreciated

DinkyStars

I’m looking to buy my first car, must be an Automatic due to mobility issues. I’m not sure whether to go down the route of PCP, HP or a loan from my bank.

I’m looking for a small Automatic but preferably 5 doors. I’m not sure what small automatics are good and which to avoid, I’ve got an idea that VW, SEAT and SKODA are pretty decent with the DSG boxes.

I have no NCB as previously I have been driving a Motability car (my dads as named driver) for six years. There was a claim in 2018 but the other party (my landlord) admitted liability and paid our insurers repair bill.

It will only be me using it, alongside a small dog.

Needs to be cheap on insurance ideally as I live in a rough area but my car will be parked in a private car par, although currently not secure as the electronic gates are broke! I also have a five year licence with the DVLA due to medical issues.

Keep looking at Cinch and Cazoo and wonder what these places are like.

Currently driving a SEAT Ateca, previous experience of driving a Ford Kuga and Citroen C3 and DS3, all automatics.

I’m drawn to the KIA Venga or Picanto and the likes of a VW Up, Polo, Seat Mii or SKODA Citigo.

I don’t want anything more than 5 / 6 years old.

Bonniepurple

I love my (elderly) Honda Jazz.  Very smooth to drive (it’s got a CVT gearbox - basically like a smooth ramp as opposed to steep steps).  It’s very versatile and the boot takes my (dismantled) mobility scooter.  

basill

DinkyStars said:

I have no NCB as previously I have been driving a Motability car (my dads as named driver) for six years. There was a claim in 2018 but the other party (my landlord) admitted liability and paid our insurers repair bill.

This from Motability FAQ suggests you can request a claims history letter from Motability.  Some insurance companies will give you an introductory discount if you have proof of claim free driving.  Worth a try even as named driver.   I did something similar with my years in a company vehicle, the broker I used suggested it.

DinkyStars

Bonniepurple said:

I love my (elderly) Honda Jazz.  Very smooth to drive (it’s got a CVT gearbox - basically like a smooth ramp as opposed to steep steps).  It’s very versatile and the boot takes my (dismantled) mobility scooter.  

I never thought about Honda, certainly worth a look. Thanks

DinkyStars

basill said:

DinkyStars said:

I have no NCB as previously I have been driving a Motability car (my dads as named driver) for six years. There was a claim in 2018 but the other party (my landlord) admitted liability and paid our insurers repair bill.

This from Motability FAQ suggests you can request a claims history letter from Motability.  Some insurance companies will give you an introductory discount if you have proof of claim free driving.  Worth a try even as named driver.   I did something similar with my years in a company vehicle, the broker I used suggested it.

I had heard of this and figured it was worth calling Motability Insurance to see if they would provide one for me.

Goudy

There are different types of automatic gearboxes and some are best avoided.

You have your normal torque converter automatics.
These are generally fitted to larger cars as they sap power and use a fair bit of fuel.
They did start to die out a bit as other types of auto box took over but some manufacturers are starting to go back to them.
A couple of small cars that still use them are Kia's Picanto and Hyundai i10.
These tend to be smooth but a big soggy to drive, they do tend to require a lot of torque from the engine which pushes up consumption and CO2.

CVT's or constantly variable transmissions used to be sniggered at, but the Japanese have been honing them for years now and have got a lot better and making their way onto some european cars.
These tend to be be fitted to a lot of Hybrid cars but there are a few small cars, like the Honda Jazz mentioned above that use them with a straight petrol engine as well.
These can be very reliable but some just don't like how they drive as the engine speed to road speed ratio can feel a bit old at times and it can sound like the engine is making a lot of fussy for not much road speed.
Toyota develeped a different type of CVT for their hybrids which houses the electric motor as well, so a Yaris Hybrid wouldn't be a bad choice, the same engine and gearbox goes into the earlier Prius which mini cabbers flog to mega mileages without too much bother.

DSG, EDC, DCT are dual clutch gearboxes. As the name suggests there are two sets of gears on different shafts with a clutch each, basically odd gears on one shaft and evens on the other.
These tend to to have more gears inside so can actually be quite frugal as the car can always select a (near) perfect ratio.
They can drive quite sharply as the changes are almost instant and super smooth.
Early versions of VW's DSG had some problems but the latest versions tend to be miles better. 
Cars fitted with this type of gearbox tend to be a bit more "premium" as the gearbox is more expensive to manufacture, but lots of manufacturers use them, particular VW cars like the Polo and Golf.

Finally, the automated manual.
These are just that, a normal manual gearbox and clutch that is operated automatically by hydraulics, pumps and motors.
These do tend to get fitted to small city car types as the are cheap, unfortunately the can be pretty horrid to drive and can be fairly unreliable.
They don't drive like the others above as most won't "creep" ie won't crawl slowly without some throttle input.
This can make slow manoeuvres like parking a pain and often requires a two footed approach. One on the throttle to move it and one on the brake to stop it smashing in to everything around it!
These cars tend to have names that hide the fact it's an automated manual like Dualogic (Fiat 500/Panda), Tronic/ETG (Citroen C1/Peugeot 107) AGS (VW UP, SEAT Mii and Skoda Citigo) and Fords Powershift (I think the f in the name was a cover up!).
I would recommend avoiding them altogether.

lemondrops69

Goudy said:

There are different types of automatic gearboxes and some are best avoided.

You have your normal torque converter automatics.
These are generally fitted to larger cars as they sap power and use a fair bit of fuel.
They did start to die out a bit as other types of auto box took over but some manufacturers are starting to go back to them.

Not strictly true, today, a BMW 320i auto returns 53.2 mpg on European combined cycle, beating the manual version's 51.3 and accelerate quicker, for example 0-60 mph time of BMW M140i is 4.6 seconds with 6-speed manual or 4.4 seconds with ZF 8-speed automatic.

Cost, size, ability to handle high torque and layout of transmission is in part of the reason they are fitted into bigger luxury cars

Grumpy_chap

Bonniepurple said:

I love my (elderly) Honda Jazz.  Very smooth to drive (it’s got a CVT gearbox - basically like a smooth ramp as opposed to steep steps).  It’s very versatile and the boot takes my (dismantled) mobility scooter.  

I am not a fan of the Jazz, but my Mum has one and the flip-up magic rear seats made it so easy for her to load Dad's wheelchair when he was still here.  In fact, that was the main reason why she chose the Jazz. 
Dad's mobility scooter folded up and fitted in the boot also, except it was too heavy for them to lift in between them

Similar might be a consideration for the OP as there is mention of mobility issues.

Goudy

In the interest of comparision.

The Kia Venga 1.6i with a torque converter auto produces more Co2 (159) and 7mpg less (40 mpg) than the manual (139 and 47 mpg) with the same engine.
A difference of 20g/km Co2 and 7 mpg

Picanto 1.25 manual 106 Co2 and 62mpg, with the torque converter auto 130 Co2 and 50 mpg.
A difference of 24g/km and 12 mpg.

A Honda Jazz manual and CVT have almost identical figures around 128/129 Co2 and 51/50 mpg.
A difference of 1g/km Co2 and 1 mpg.

A Polo 95hp 1.0 manual is 118 Co2 and 54 mpg, the same engine with DSG 125 Co2 and 51 mpg.
A difference of 7g/km Co2 and 3 mpg.

An Up! with manual is 101g/km and an Up! with AGS is 105g/km .
A difference of 4g/km and the AGS steals the mpg by a 3 miles per gallon. (68 to 65)

So out the the cars mentioned above, the torque converter autos are not as clean or as efficient when compared to the manual versions but the CVT, DSG and Automated Manual cars are much closer to their manual brothers.

DinkyStars

Thank you all for your replies, especially the great information from Goudy that is really helpful, only had a quick read now but I will take all that in because what you have written is really helpful to me. Sorting out some contact lenses next week so I can arrange a few test drives as I still want to mask wear and haven't quite got the hang of mask wearing with glasses, no matter what I try my glasses steam up! 

lordmountararat

A couple of small cars that still use them are Kia's Picanto and Hyundai i10.

Not any more, they don't. Sadly auto versions of these excellent small cars have gone over to the horrid electro-magnetic semi-auto clutch. I asked my Kia dealer why they took this (imo) retrograde step and he said it was for lowering emissions. If the OP can get a slightly older i10/Picanto with a proper torque converter I think (s)he would be impressed.