Automatic Gearboxes

Yazmina

Ibrahim5 said:

So you have a nearly new Skoda Fabia. Is that automatic. Is there a problem with it?

Not really and no it's a manual. I just wanted to upgrade to a small SUV as I find driving the Fabia in the winter everyone else's headlamps shine right in my face.  I'm in Greater London and it seems everyone has a large SUV. I am 5'3" and I just want to sit up higher.

sevenhills

Goudy said:

It's known to suddenly become jerky start slipping and become very noisy due to bearing problems and a rebuild or replacement is very expensive.
I even think there is a law suit in the US over them, but don't take my word for it, have a search around the Nissan forums.

My firm bought all new automatic vans, they all became faulty and we went back to manual after a few years. Its not a question of more maintenance, they are more complicated, so if they go wrong it can be expensive.

Get a warranty that covers the gearbox or get your husband driving lessons in a manual?

Goudy

There's no shame in that.
My Mrs struggled (she isn't much taller) as she generally got to use whatever toy I had as a second vehicle.
This was usually low, with two seats, often a bit juicy on the fuel and a bit of a pain to drive around London over all the traffic humps.

She finally cracked so we did the same and check out all the small SUVs on the market to find one she liked and I was happy it wouldn't go bang in six months.

I would suggest making a list what is available in your price range and research them online first, reviews and forums will throw up all the main niggles and problems.

Then time to get out and test drive some.

Bigwheels1111

Late reg, Peugeot's, Citroen's and vauxhall's use a very nice and smooth EAT6 or EAT8 speed box.

I have a 66 plate 5008, the box is so smooth and quiet. A real pleasure to drive.

Hardly feel it change.

Indout96

I am on my first Auto a 2018 Civic 1.5 CVT and it is as smooth as silk, had it for 2.5 years and love it, often drive my fathers 2020 Merc A200 (AMG line) and the auto box is not a patch on the Honda CVT

Yazmina

sevenhills said:

Get a warranty that covers the gearbox or get your husband driving lessons in a manual?

Had a chat with Hubby. I'm going to go back to looking at manuals. Automatics are expensive and some of the models suggested here just look too big. The idea of an automatic came from him, so he'll have to sort out some lessons...

Herzlos

If you like the Fabia, have you looked at the Skoda Yeti? It's taller and a lot more practical but not much longer. It's also got a seemingly decent automatic.

ontheroad1970

Yazmina said:

sevenhills said:

Get a warranty that covers the gearbox or get your husband driving lessons in a manual?

Had a chat with Hubby. I'm going to go back to looking at manuals. Automatics are expensive and some of the models suggested here just look too big. The idea of an automatic came from him, so he'll have to sort out some lessons...

Could the lessons end up costing more than an auto?  Depends how long it takes him to pass.

Goudy

Yazmina said:

sevenhills said:

Get a warranty that covers the gearbox or get your husband driving lessons in a manual?

Had a chat with Hubby. I'm going to go back to looking at manuals. Automatics are expensive and some of the models suggested here just look too big. The idea of an automatic came from him, so he'll have to sort out some lessons...

The Seat Arona has the same platform (MQB A0) as the current Skoda Fabia.

Seat, Skoda, VW and Audi are all owned by the same group. So all the engines, platforms, tech etc is shared. It's only really price, trim and styling that are different.

So the Polo, Ibiza, Fabia, Arona, A1, Kamiq and T Cross are effectively the same car underneath and will have the same dimensions give or take a few millimetre here and there. 

The Fabia is around 4100mm long, same as the Arona.
The Fabia is 1780mm wide, the Arona is the same.

It's just the Arona is 1552mm high and the Fabia is only 1450mm, but that's what you are after.

Murphybear

My OH bought an older Lexus RX200 Automatic.  It cost around £5k to buy and is fairly cheap to insure.  It has the superb Lexus reliability and he won’t part with it on pain of death.  I bought a Toyota Yaris automatic a year ago, about 6 years old.  It’s the first automatic I’ve had.    Both of us are getting on a bit with the odd twinge of of arthritis etc we’ve found automatics are a good option.  

We live in sheltered housing and there is a local mechanic who comes round and collects cars for servicing and delivers them back, he’s very good and cheap.  Nearly all the car owners use him.