Car advice which have auto lights etc

[Blueybingo22]

Hi I’m looking to buy a new used car
im looking for a automatic transmission just wondering which cars have auto lights , wipers etc that aren’t Ford .
I’ve heard terrible things about Ford engines so want to avoid

please tell me what car has the above must be a hatchback 5 door and looking for used so under 10k in price thank you

I have a dsg (automatic, but with manual override should you want it) Golf. It had auto settings for lights, wipers, electronic handbrake. No major issues . 4.5 years old, I've had it on lease since new.

Our Volvo has all those things plus heated seats and windscreens. I actually find the auto windscreen wipers aren’t great, either too fast or too slow and prefer to put them on manually, although this might be a me problem rather than a Volvo problem.

If you’re worried about engines I’d avoid Audi or at least google issues the oil use and a US class action law suit that they settled. Turned out to be a costly mistake for us and separately for my sister.

Honda have a good reputation, and our 8 year old Civic has automatic lights.

Hondas do have a good reputation. They also have timing chains, so you don't have the constant anxiety about belts breaking. My Jazz doesn't have automatic lights/wipers but it's 13 years old. I guess from previous posts that more recent ones do have these features. I had a Civic years & years ago; the injectors went wrong and would have cost a fortune to repair.

That said, I never had any problem with my Ford Fusion's engine or transmission. Not automatic (or EcoBoost), though.

I'd advice you to look online at reviews ONLY from people who own or have owned the cars.
Don't bother with reviews from the so called experts.

My previous auto car was ford fusion...amazing car had over 120000 on the clock. They stopped making them in 2011 though.

My corsa has all these features!!

I don't think I've had a car in the last 10 years that doesn't have auto lights. Vauxhall, Ford, Honda, VW.

The issue with the Ecoboost was that they used a plastic tube for the coolant. When this tube got hot (as you'd expect) it solidified and cracked. The coolant then gushed out and by the time you knew about it, it was too late. They have since changed the design.

@billyt That's not correct (I mean they might have had another issue but..) the issue is the wet belt which is what they are still doing in the Ecoboost engines.

That said OP, just get a Ford without an Ecoboost engine. Though we had a automatic diesel Kuga and had nothing but issues with it, cost a fortune in repairs and was glad to see the back of it.

I've got a Nissan qashqi. I love my car! Economy is good and even better if you get it remapped.

Auto lights and wipers. It's been very reliable too.

Re Ford, my Dad's mechanic back in the 80's/90's used to call them 'Fix Or Repair Daily and never recommended fords. Although mum did have a ford escort which I learnt to drive in. It was great! Although she did look after it and not rag it like a rally car.

Honda have a good reputation, and our 8 year old Civic has automatic lights

OP wants an auto gearbox. Honda auto gearboxes are the most shit I've ever come across. I've tried 2 and both nearly killed me jumping out of gear on junctions and roundabouts with lorries bearing down on me. Never again.

My Kia Xceed has the auto lights.

My Golf has auto wipers, auto lights, auto dipping mirror, adaptive cruise control.

The eco boost engine did have a terrible reputation when first launched though - I had a hire car (focus) with that engine shortly after launch and it was burning oil when it had under 1,000 miles on the clock. I had to top it up twice and I only had the car a week. When I dropped it back at enterprise they said loads of them had had engine failures. But I would have thought that Ford would have fixed that issue and newer ones should be okay as this was around 9 years ago.

That hasn't been my experience at all with my own Hondas or courtesy cars which have all been auto. Some family members also have Honda and are really happy.

Although we're not one of those weird families where everyone has identical cars. 😄

Our V40 does have automatic windscreen wipers but like a PP I don't really rate them. They don't kick in fast enough and I have to turn on the auto feature each time I start the car. Other than that, it's a great car!

@Blueybingo22 I would suggest looking at Toyota Hybrids.

I have a Corolla, 2.0l petrol self charging hybrid, which currently does 63 mph. My list of why Toyotas and mine are good cars.

Toyota relax warranty for all new and 2nd hand Toyotas irrelevant of where you purchase them 10 years or 100,000 miles which ever comes first, 15 years warranty for the battery. All you have to do is have a service they will extend the warranty by 1 year free.

Toyotas have Toyota safety sense and have more technology than you can shake a stick at.

Mine has automatic lights, adaptive cruise control, self parking parallel and reverse, front rear cameras and parking sensors, automatic self opening and closing boot, heated seats, auto mirrors/windows and rear view mirror, full safety sense systems inbuilt etc..

All Toyota automatics have

Toyota Hybrid Transmissions – No Gears, No CVT Belts.
Toyota Hybrids – No Starter
Toyota Hybrids – No Alternator
Toyota Hybrids – No Timing Belt
Toyota Hybrids – No Accessory Belt
Toyota Hybrids – No Conventional AC
Toyota Hybrids – No Turbochargers
Toyota Hybrids – No Power Steering Pump

Toyota has built its reputation on quality, durability, and reliability. They are one of the most reliable cars on the road, that's a fact.

The corolla is super comfy and is the world highest ever selling car globally and there is a reason most taxis have corollas as they are built to last and will never let you down.

*63mpg (correction).

might be easier to ask what doesn’t have auto lights and wipers it’s pretty much a standard feature. You
mention heated windscreen though and most don’t have that unless you get a ford or a high spec model from a few others. Ford do have a bad name for reliability but if you really like that model I’d just consider getting it.

They’re also one of the most vulnerable to cat theft
and thus larger insurance premiums. I think all cars have plus and minus! And all cars do break down sometimes!

Your talking bollocks sorry.

Toyota has significantly reduced the precious metals in all its convertors and the cat on corollas is now situated up into the engine compartment and is not worth sealing any more.

So you are totally wrong and on all newer corollas 2019 onwards they are not targeted for cat theft as they are to difficult to reach and the limited and reduced metals are not worth the effort.

I have zero larger premiums 🙄

And with daylight running lights, you think your lights are on. I thought I was being hassled on the way home until I pulled over and someone pulled alongside and told me the lights were off

Jaguar is owned by Ford, so there is a lot of overlap with the parts. I remember years ago (we're talking 1990s) getting in a Jag and pointing out that the buttons on the dash were the same as in my Ford Fiesta! 😂 The Jag owner wasn't impressed!

I know VWs have heated windscreens now and DH used to love his, but I can clear a windscreen quicker manually than a VW heated screen. It's quick, but not amazing. Ford on the other hand is epic when it comes to the heated windscreen.

Heated front windscreen is patented to Ford so not similar on other brands

I’ve heard this stated before and was curious because cars other than Fords have heated windscreens going back years. I can find patents for heated windscreens going back 60-70 years, but none by Ford. They were first used in aeroplanes.

I agree with other posters Toyota all the way. I have a RAV4 Hybrid love it 😍

I previously had Volvo, Hyundai, Ford and Nissan`s but they are no where near as good as the Toyota I have now.

If anyone wants evidence of the still ongoing Ford Ecoboost engine issues. Look for "Ford Ecoboost Nightmare" group on Facebook. It was enough to put me off for life.

Heated front windscreen is patented to Ford so not similar on other brands

Ford did have a patent on this technology, or more accurately, on a particular application of it and of course the brand name, Quickclear. The Ford patent dates from as far back as 1977, but it expired in 2011 or thereabouts, from what I recall.