automatics cars?

Mr^B said:
The auto gearbox in the new Grand Picasso is utterly terrible.

I have: 1*3 year old, 1*6 year old and 1*8 year old, and we all manage fine in the RS 250. Although now that #4 in en route I'll have to have a rethink.

:)

Never seen the issue with needing a "big" car with lots of kids, unless you're the sort of parent that needs to pack enough kit for a trip up Everest every time you go to Asda.
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Its all about convenience, you can do the crypton factor and fit it all in a normal car, or you can just throw it in a small people carrier, and have a better view of the road/eye contact with the McDonalds drive through staff as well!
 
Mr^B said:
The auto gearbox in the new Grand Picasso is utterly terrible.
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That doesn't tell us much. Can you elaborate on what's terrible about it?

Honest question, not trolling, just want to know what's terrible about it :)
 
DiamondMark said:
Its all about convenience, you can do the crypton factor and fit it all in a normal car, or you can just throw it in a small people carrier, and have a better view of the road/eye contact with the McDonalds drive through staff as well!
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I've never found it inconvenient. The boot is large enough to fit all the kit I've ever needed to take anywhere, including a 2 week trip to the south of France.

In fact, most of the time, people will stick the child locks on rear doors - so where's the convenience in that? It's just as easy to control them getting in and out via just one set of doors, infact, I'd argue that it's easier with just one set of doors.

Honest question, not trolling, just want to know what's terrible about it
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...where to start... You pull off and immediately it changes up with a massive lurch forwards. The kickdown needs you to floor it and then it only kicks down VERY grudgingly. And that's about all you really need from an auto box to make it utterly awful. I actually started to feel sick because I couldn't judge when the damn thing was about to change up and lurch me forwards.
 
Used to get a lift into work with 2 women one had a picaso and one had a honda frv. If you can push to 5-6k an FRV is a lovely car very roomy and the 3 front seats are great fun. Sandwiched between women :D Gearbox was a funky ball like thing overall I liked it. Picaso creaked and groaned was as slow as a boat but had lots of room nice big windows and a nice high driving position.

Cant go wrong with either tbh but if you can get a FRV or something go for it. Seen quite a few for 6k.
 
Mr^B said:
...where to start... You pull off and immediately it changes up with a massive lurch forwards. The kickdown needs you to floor it and then it only kicks down VERY grudgingly. And that's about all you really need from an auto box to make it utterly awful. I actually started to feel sick because I couldn't judge when the damn thing was about to change up and lurch me forwards.
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Should have taken it back it was broken, iv never had that experience. They aint the best but they aint that bad.
 
DiamondMark said:
Should have taken it back it was broken, iv never had that experience. They aint the best but they aint that bad.
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It wasn't broken, that's the way they drive, this was a second test-drive, my wife did the first and said she hated the automatic, so I went along thinking "daft woman, can't drive an auto"...and lo and behold it was probably worse than she described.

I guess I've been spoiled with "DSG" dual-clutch/whatever style autoboxes...
 
Mr^B said:
The auto gearbox in the new Grand Picasso is utterly terrible.

I have: 1*3 year old, 1*6 year old and 1*8 year old, and we all manage fine in the RS 250. Although now that #4 in en route I'll have to have a rethink.

:)

Never seen the issue with needing a "big" car with lots of kids, unless you're the sort of parent that needs to pack enough kit for a trip up Everest every time you go to Asda.
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2 adults, 3 kids and a weeks shopping all fit in there absolutely fine?
 
Mr^B said:
It wasn't broken, that's the way they drive, this was a second test-drive, my wife did the first and said she hated the automatic, so I went along thinking "daft woman, can't drive an auto"...and lo and behold it was probably worse than she described.

I guess I've been spoiled with "DSG" dual-clutch/whatever style autoboxes...
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You test drive the same car as her or another one? Sounds like a dodgy box
 
We have a zafira and two kids, It's great especially on long boring motorway joutneys, I wish it were automatic. The civic we had was to small, getting kids out of a car at your height is so much easier also having the flexibility to pop up the 6th & 7th seats is a great idea

I use it as a van at the weekend as well
 
Robbie G said:
It's not as simple as to say all small engine autos are crap. A Picasso isn't going to be purchased to be the best at anything. Its autobox is absolutely fine. Who cares if it's not the fastest or the smoothest...certainly not this buyer.

Fox always spouts this 'Small engine auto? No.' nonsense. As though the manual equivalent is, by contrast, just so fantastic and cutting edge.

If you don't want to have to change gear, just try the auto then decide if it's somehow just so absolutely unsuited to ferrying kids around, like an advanced gearchange tech is required for that...?!
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It's nothing to do with that - autoboxes sap power, power a 1.6 litre engine doesn't have. The result is a frustrating combination of dreadful fuel economy and a ridiculously unresponsive engine and nothing to do with not doing 0-60 in 6 seconds. It's everything to do with making it up hills in a non embarrasing fashion when your car is 5 up!


Jonny69 said:
With respect Fox, we had a 2 ltr auto Scenic for 5 years and it was fine.
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2 litre is rather pushing away from 'small engine' though. The petrol auto in a Picasso will be a 1.6 will it not?
 
[TW]Fox;17853477 said:
It's nothing to do with that - autoboxes sap power, power a 1.6 litre engine doesn't have. The result is a frustrating combination of dreadful fuel economy and a ridiculously unresponsive engine and nothing to do with not doing 0-60 in 6 seconds. It's everything to do with making it up hills in a non embarrasing fashion when your car is 5 up!
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Op isn't going to be 5 up though?
Also, so what if it takes a little longer to get up a hill? You worry about image too much if that's embarrassing tbh.

Also unresponsive? Our focus is more responsive and quicker to get moving than my bm.
 
Morba said:
Op isn't going to be 5 up though?
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Him, his wife and 3 kids?

Also, so what if it takes a little longer to get up a hill? You worry about image too much if that's embarrassing tbh.
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Wrong choice of words I guess, it's nothing to do with 'image'. You don't want a car that feels strained negotiating everyday roads!

Also unresponsive? Our focus is more responsive and quicker to get moving than my bm.
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I'm not even going to waste my time.
 
[TW]Fox;17853477 said:
2 litre is rather pushing away from 'small engine' though. The petrol auto in a Picasso will be a 1.6 will it not?
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It'll just be a bit slower. Back to my original post. It's not a sports car, it's a shopping/kiddie wagon.
 
[TW]Fox;17853738 said:
Him, his wife and 3 kids?



Wrong choice of words I guess, it's nothing to do with 'image'. You don't want a car that feels strained negotiating everyday roads!



I'm not even going to waste my time.
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3 kids that weigh next to nothing, even with seats/boosters.

So a 1.6 struggles on everyday roads? What absolute rubbish.

You won't waste your time because you know I'm right.
 
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