An automatic car with around £3k budget?

B0bbyEwing

Thanks for the responses. I didn't think in the OP to cover a few extras. My fault.

Electric - QrizB has it in one but I don't actually know whether she'd be against electric like I am. With that said, I don't even know whether it'd be workable due to where the house is, where she has to park the car - it'd be a hell of a run of cabling to even reach the car. More than probably what you guys are thinking anyway. And she's not so great on her feet these days so setting up really long extension reels & then getting it all packed away is probably not the best of things.

Some of the suggestions I'd also say don't line up with the OP. For example, I said Focus / Golf / Astra size. I'd argue some of the cars mentioned here are smaller than that and more (if keeping with the mentioned 3) like Fiesta / Polo (or smaller with an Up imo) / Corsa size.

Oh and yes I should've mentioned - diesel is a no go. She simply wont be doing the mileage.

Anyway, thanks for the input.

WellKnownSid

With that said, I don't even know whether it'd be workable due to where the house is, where she has to park the car - it'd be a hell of a run of cabling to even reach the car. 

Our incoming supply is roughly in the middle of the house and the driveway is off to one side - over 50m away, but we already had a 13A socket nearby before getting the EVSE installed, which was perfectly adequate. If she owns the land then it may not be an issue sticking a socket near there, earthing considerations aside. Extension cables are a no-no.

fatbelly

Something like a Nissan Leaf makes a lot of sense if she can cope with the charging.

If she really must have a Focus-sized auto at 3k , given the current market, she is going to be looking at fairly old cars. And there won't be a lot to choose from. If she's lucky she may stumble across something that is overlooked, but decent

facade

The e11 Nissan Note auto is about focus size.

If you can get one that isn't damp inside and has had the passenger side front subframe mount welded for £3K they are a very good reliable car. (Comfortable high seats, easy to drive forwards- they are awkward to reverse though, most have parking dings in the rear bumper from supermarket bollards)

I'd avoid one with well over 100,000 miles, the gearbox & engine are good, but not for much more than 150,000.

Don't get an e12 Note, they have the "explodomatic" CVT that gave CVTs their poor reputation.

The e12 came in in late 2012.

Goudy

What about a Mazda 3? That's the right size as it's built on the same platform as the Focus.

They also shared the same gearbox, it's pretty reliably but some are noted for solenoid problems. If it shifts ok after all these years, it shouldn't be a problem.

Don't forget all these autos will be subject to much higher tax bands as the Co2 emissions tended to be high.

facade

Good point about the emissions, a Note is 159g/km so it is currently £265.

B0bbyEwing

She currently runs a MK2 Focus 1.6 (I mention that from a tax pov).

I know people on disability benefits get reductions on certain things. I'm not sure if road tax is one of them or not. I'd have to ask her (again, pointing this out because if it's the case then it could bring a 'high' tax car down to affordable).

Goudy

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81979874#Comment_81979874

That's why a lot of manufacturers turned to automated manuals, CVT's and dual clutch gearboxes. They could be made to work very efficiently (for the tests), often better than their manual counterparts.

Years ago customers though CVT's were a bit of a joke, but they can be very good. I've driven a fair few recently and to be honest I don't mind them.

If a long time manual driver jumps into one, their ear tells them something isn't right between the gearing and engine, but in the last few years I've owned and driven mainly autos where I can and you sort of give up noticing, as long as it's fairly smooth and quiet, who cares what it's doing.

WellKnownSid

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81979901#Comment_81979901

With higher rate mobility she can get free road tax, obviously on the proviso that it's for her use which it seems it will be.

Herzlos

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81979924#Comment_81979924

only for her use, though if no-one else is going to use the car then that's a reasonable approach.

With higher rate mobility she'd be eligible for Motability too which may be worth looking at. Or using some of the allowance to pay off a newer car.

If she's going to be struggling with mobility to the point she needs an auto, is it worth looking at something taller for her so that it's easier to get in and out of than a Focus?