talk to me about automatic superminis

Disco Boy

Disco Boy

Disco Boy

Soldato
Joined
4 Aug 2009
Posts
5,310
Location
London
Yes, some say that automatic super minis are hateful. This may well be true. But here is the scenario:

My grandmother has driven her Yaris 1.3 auto for just over 10 years. It has been perfectly what she wants in terms of size and practicality and it has also never gone wrong.

She now fancies a new car (hers is a 52 plate) so is looking at the other options along a similar line to her current car. I am tasked with the research, and will be going with them to some dealerships on Friday.

So, requirements.
Small hatchback
Automatic
5 door
Nearly new or pre-registered, possibly new
Reliable
They do bo long journeys (longest being a little over an hour, and not regularly) and plenty of short ones. So I see no reason not to get a petrol.

List that I'm looking at:
Yaris
Polo
Fiesta
Jazz

Personally I like the Polo the most (research has not yet started) and my grandfather seems to think that the fiesta is very good (it probably said so in Witch? magazine)

Is there anything I should know about the above? Any make/model which is also worth considering?
 
My Nain was in the same position about 2 years ago, i suggested Yaris, Jazz, Fiesta & A class but the Yaris nor the Jazz had an automatic gearbox at the time in the current generation and they were all 'coming soon' so not wanting to have a previous gen/old car or wait a year for the auto's to come out she ended up with a Mercedes A class which she's been chuffed with.

No idea what the auto's are like on any of them listed, be aware of the differences as i know the Jazz is a CVT but the polo will be a DSG, the Fiesta will probably be a torque converter? They are all fairly distinct to drive so that may swing it for her as much as the car itself.
 
Honda Jazz CVT. Smooth as butter. Absolutely must be serviced on time (25k or 2 years) with CVT fluid - not ATF. They are reliable if looked after but will break expensively if not.

The i-shift isn't very good though.

(Edit - as well as the transmission service, they need the usual oil changes and annual inspection etc)
 
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Id only really consider a DSG box to be honest, cvt boxes would worry me in terms of reliability and torque converters just don't suit small already under powered cars.
 
Minstadave said:
Id only really consider a DSG box to be honest, cvt boxes would worry me in terms of reliability and torque converters just don't suit small already under powered cars.
Click to expand...

DSG while good and I like them also have a reputation of going pop. I would recommend looking down the VAG Route and buying a Polo/Fabia/Ibiza with a DSG. Id also consider the 1.2tsi which is a nice little engine.

Are Skoda still doing VAT off?
 
Only the early 2003-2004 DSG boxes were particularly fragile, then there was a period when they changed to the dry clutch 7 speed boxes people were worried again.

By and large though the DSG boxes are solid enough not to worry about. Especially as the OP is buying new/nearly new.
 
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