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Which smallish second-hand automatic car is best if you are tall and prone to backache???

12 replies

Countingthegreyhairs · 29/10/2007 13:23

Dh bought me a fairly old automatic Mercedes A class.

I love it but it gives both of us chronic backache every time we use it. We are both tall with our height coming from our legs rather than body length (ifyswim). I get backache if I'm driving it or as a passenger. We've tried different seating positions without much improvement.

Having spent the weekend flat on my back again, I have reluctantly made the decision to sell it and buy something else.

What would you recommend? I need a smallish town car. Preferably four door. Also suspension must be smooth as dd (and myself as passenger) are both prone to travel sickness. Also, must be reliable as will be buying it second-hand.

Feel rather sexist posting this here - perhaps it should be under "products" - just to be clear I very much welcome opinions from female msnetters too

Any recommendations very gratefully received.

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Countingthegreyhairs · 29/10/2007 15:16

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FioFio · 29/10/2007 15:19

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Countingthegreyhairs · 29/10/2007 15:45

Are we talking Ka (I'm based in mainland Europe) or Focus FioFo?

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Kevlarhead · 29/10/2007 19:45

I'm quite tall and I like my Skoda Fabia. The suspension hasn't done anything too insane, and it keeps on going without hassle (35,000 miles with me so far, touch wood...)

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ArmadilloDaMan · 29/10/2007 19:54

SOmething like a suzuki wagon R, perodua kenari or something along those lines. Small cars, but with high roofs and more leg space than others.

They don't corner as well as lower cars, but apart from that are great (I have suzuki, MIL has kenari - which is better). Perodua is definately the better of the two (having driven both quite a bit) - smooth to drive adn pulls away nicely.

Engines are small (1000cc roughly) but has 4doors nad big boot space for the size of car. Visibility is very good in them as they have huge windscreens and large windscreen mirrors.

My dad is a big guy and can drive it easily and comfortably.

Lots of companies ar enow using basically the same chassis (renault has one out, as does a couple of others).

perodua kenari

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ArmadilloDaMan · 29/10/2007 19:56

Didn't read the automatic bit - but that kind of chassis is done by many makes and I'm sure one at least does an automatic.

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GreatBigHairyMonsterlapin · 29/10/2007 19:58

I am very much NOT tall (5ft1 ) but my 6ft DH drives my little automatic Polo with no problems. It's only a 1.4, but it's comfy, a smooth ride, gives decent fuel economy and of course reliable.

The only problem is they can be hard to get hold of second hand, because people don't sell them!

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Countingthegreyhairs · 30/10/2007 12:21

That's interesting Kevlarhead (great name btw) because my sister was recently given a Skoda Fabia to drive for 10 days by her local garage while her own car was being repaired and she absolutely loved it. Food for thought there ...

Thanks for the advice Armadillodaman - have never heard of the Perodua tbh but like the idea of good visibility and being a four-door is a distinct advantage with children. As you say, am definitely looking for an automatic but will look for same shape.

That's exactly what we've found too GreatBigHairyMonsterLapin!! My dh has been doing the rounds of the car show rooms of late while I've been flat on my back - and any second-hand car that comes in (not just Polos) get's snapped up straightaway. A Polo really appeals to me but I'm worried that the seats might be too similar to that of the Merc A class ... so it's interesting what you say about your dh being able to drive it in comfort. Will investigate further.

Thanks all.

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