to ask if your automatic car is any good?

[Wouldloveanother]

Planning to buy an automatic in a few weeks (second hand, I’m not made of money!). It needs to fit a toddler car seat in the back so I’m thinking not a hatch back. But ideally quite small and un-fancy.
If you drive an automatic, I would be really grateful for your car reviews!
sorry there wasn’t a ‘car’ section so AIBU it was..

Yes. I now have no idea why anyone would choose to drive manual when automatic exists.

Sorry I didn’t make myself clear I was looking for specific recommendations as to make model etc

I have a Skoda Kamiq Automatic. There was a deal on new cars & this was the only brand new car available last year. I'd never thought about an automatic before but I absolutely love it. I'd never go back to a Manual car in future, it really is so easy to drive. I find it better on the petrol too as has 7 gears. You can read the gear it's in on electronic display but it doesn't really matter. Highly recommend, you'll never go back!

Nissan note, pre 2013, fantastic, smooth, comfortable, high seating position, plenty of room. Not overly efficient and the tax is high however.

Fiat 500, dont touch it with a barge pole, the thing is dangerous, OH loves it, I am waiting for my chance to drive it into a river. However cheap to tax and run. Tiny

I prefer automatics. I’ve had a Honda jazz, Vauxhall corsa and Ford fiesta that were all good. Peugeot 306 was not very reliable and also not good on petrol consumption.

Ive also had a K12 micra, loved that too

We have also had a Kangoo, it was ok.

Berlingo, very powerful but that was a diesel. Very spacious, nice and smooth.

We had a Note previously too, we really like them.

I love my automatic car. So easy to drive and no rollback on hills!

Mine is a Land Rover, so probably a bit bigger than you’re after. It’s also incredibly expensive to drive at the moment - I just put £35 in the tank and it didn’t even cover 1/4. It’s going to cost me £160 to fill up at the end of the week, which will last three weeks.

Volvo V60, its a few years old, absolutely fine. If I needed to go smaller I'd go for a V40.

LOVE automatics. Dream to drive.

I have a little Mercedes A class 2012, so it’s the old shape. I love love love it. It’s unbelievably big inside for such a small car on the outside!
I had a baby like you needed car with 4 doors and space for buggy and baby seat. I absolutely love it. It’s the old shape - they went really sporty with the A class after 2012 and I’m not a fan of the new models! For some reason there’s quite a lot like mine from 2012 with really low mileage and not expensive either imo. Have a look on autotrader! Mine has self park & sat nav, all seats fold flat, boot expands.. they’ve thought of everything. After 2012 the model changed dramatically so I can’t comment on those but I’d recommend a 2012 even if they’re a bit old! Mines done hardly any miles- 40,000.

On the other end of the space spectrum DH has a BMW X5 also automatic. V comfortable to drive but does feel like you’re driving a tank. Expensive to fill too.

hope you enjoy your automatic! Xx

automatic Volkswagen Golf.

absolute dream

I chose an automatic after I had a gap of 12 years or so not driving when I first moved to cental London.
I have a Honda Jazz - it's brilliant, would never go back to a car with gears.
I didn't look around too much - a friend had just bought a Honda Jazz and done a lot of research. My first one was new, there was nothing much wrong with it after about 10 years - I only changed it because the new pollution charge was being introduced in central London. The second one was second hand, but about 3 years old with about 1500 miles on the clock. Never had any problems with either of them.

My only frustration is that about three months after I'd bought the second one, after pondering getting an electric or hybrid, but there weren;t many charging points near me - they installed dozens of them about three months after I got it.

Nice to drive, v economical, have never needed work done beyond an annual service.
You can lower the back seat and use it as a hatch back, but I'm sure you can still fit a child seat too, although it is quite tardis like. I've heard good things about the next model up in the range too.

Because they're so popular and last forever, often more expensive second hand than other cars of a similar sixe/vintage - but worth it.

What's your budget OP? And yes I love automatics. What is important to you in a car? Would you rather have an older prestige make, or newer mainstream make? Some of the less expansive brands auto gearboxes aren't very good.

Love my automatic. BMW 5 Series Estate. It is very long though so not always easy to park. Manual gearbox is super.

Had a VW Tiguan diesel a few years back and that was awful, very slow pulling away at roundabouts, when turning right onto a fast road etc. I'd avoid them.

My automatic is an absolute dream. It's a BMW X5. Probably much bigger than what you're after.

My parents drive an automatic too, they have a Skoda Yeti which is lovely to drive.

I love an automatic car. The ease is pure luxury, especially in big cities where you start and stop constantly.

Saying that, I recently rented a manual car again, and got such joy driving it for a week. Felt so liberating. Maybe it was because I doubted if I would remember how to drive a stick, after almost 10 years just driving an Automatic.

Yes automatic is great

I have an automatic Hyundai ix20 and I love it. It has the height I like in a car, but it's quite small and easy to park.

I love my automatic, its a quashqi so not glamourous but easy to drive and comfortable.

Don't discount smaller cars as nowadays some are surprisingly spacious inside. Unless you prefer a bigger car of course.

I can very comfortably drive a new shape Audi A1 or new shape Ford Fiesta with 2 child seats in the back and my 6 and 8 year old have enough leg room.

The Audi/VW/Skoda auto DSG auto is fantastic, Volvo autos are also good. Really any of the prestige brands like Mercedes, Audi and BMW are lovely autos to drive.

Worst autos I've driven are Nissans and Peugeots.

I now have an automatic (BMW 5 series electric thingy) and lord above I would never have a manual again! I've done my time, I've paid my dues, I've had enough of changing gear. Nope. Auto is the way forward.

I have a Yaris hybrid - didn’t want an automatic but love it.

Also have a BMW 5 series estate. The auto is great, literally flies in sport mode, sports mode is why everyone thinks BMW drivers are wankers.

Also have an old manual, actually I do quite like driving it, feels more real somehow, but then I’m a massive car lover so like driving. If you don’t like driving autos are great.

Again watch out for cheaper versions, I’ve test driven other autos in the past and they seemed to change gear at the wrong times. Horrible.

I’d agree with this. I’ve also driven automatic Renault Scenics-they’re beyond shite-like driving a bathtub whilst sitting on a kitchen chair.
I have an automatic Mercedes C class now which is seriously lovely, and have also been using an automatic Land Rover Evoque which is good.

Im not sure why you feel a hatchback wouldn’t be good? I found hatchbacks the most versatile for a young family. It’s only now I’ve gone for a saloon and it’s a bit more limiting

We had an automatic Deawoo Lanos. Cost us 600 quid (10 years old) and lasted another 10 years. Not helpful as they don't make them anymore but goes to show how reliable automatics can be! Only ever changed tyres and brakes! Hyundai would probably be worth looking at from what I hear.

I'd recommend Volvo's, have had a couple of different ones now, both automatic and I love them for reliability.