Automatic recommendations under 2,500

[Soberfutures]

Hi looking for advice. Need a first time automatic for under 2,500 second hand just a run around.
Not a debate about manual/automatic please. I just need to get kids x2 and dog around and shopping.
Fully understand its not a big budget. Can't do a finance option.
Not bothered about fancy extras.

Thank you

I think for a small budget like that and automatic it will be a case of what you can find available to be honest. The obvious one that springs to mind that seems to be easily available as a cheap second hand auto is a Peugeot 3008. I work in the motor industry and wouldn’t say it’s a terribly reliable one but it ticks all the boxes and you may find one for that price. One to avoid in an auto is a Nissan Juke, the gearbox is very problematic.

Thank you. I guessed as much with such a small budget.

Can I ask if you know much about the Honda civic automatic and the Honda stream? Or the vauxhall astra. @toomanydicksonthedancefloor1

Well a Honda would be a much more reliable car than a Nissan or Peugeot in my opinion. As it will be an older car with that budget you also need to budget for repairs. Honda parts are much cheaper than Vauxhall and Peugeot in my opinion.

I have had a Nissan Note for over 11 years. It's the dog car but really versatile. Great to park. Comfy and lots of storage. It has been very reliable it was bought 2nd hand.

A £2.5k auto is going to be luck of the draw whatever you buy. If/when the gearbox fails it’ll effectively write the car off. In theory Japanese cars should be a better bet (with the exception of Nissan).

Agree with other posters that there's no way to guarantee reliability in this price bracket.

I'd look for an auto run around that's 10 to 15 yrs old and been owned ideally by an elderly person. You'd get one previous owner, lower mileage and likely to have been well maintained. I'm thinking a Toyota Yaris, or Auris 12-15 yrs old, Honda Jazz, suzuki swift. Might worth a post on your local next door app page to see if anyone is selling privately. Or speak to you local Honda or Toyota dealer to see if they have anything coming in on part-ex they'd normally send to auction as too old for them ro resell.

Don’t bother contacting dealers, they won’t sell you part exchanges as a trade deal if you aren’t a motor trader. 100%.

Agree with @Shade17

Thank you all for your advice and honesty. I know its just a starter car to get a to b for now and get confident on the road. And I appreciate that yes once gear box fails its done lol. And so far the Honda ones I have seen have actually had less than 70/80k and 12/15 years.