From my brief experience and tales from others, you need to be very alert at junctions - not very responsive from a standstill (depends on the type of gearbox, torque converter, or whatever). They're good if you drive in stop/start traffic and don't mind the car arbitrarily deciding what gear you should be in.

I don't think there's anything in it tbh. We have a 12 yr old automatic still going strong. Gearbox tech has moved on.

I love the qashqai but its just out of my price range. Mine is the second car which will only be used for the school run especially as i hate driving!

I was worried that maybe auto's have more major problems than manuals. Dh has kindly said 'get what you want' so he is absolutely no help!

Autos are easy. I switch between manual and auto.
I'm not sure about the Merriva though. Don't know how its gearbox rates. Will ask dh if he knows as he is gearbox supremo.
Have you considered a cvt qashqai?

I have just sold my manual peugeot 107 and thinking of getting a Vauxhall meriva automatic.

I havent driven an auto before, are they really easy as everyone says and has anyone owned a meriva? Are they reliable?

My 107 was so cheap to run with no problems other than i hated driving it!!