automatic cars

[guddy]

Looking for an automatic car ...smallish(micras,clio...etc),reliable , would appreciate any recommendations.
Manuals have not helped me pass my test,so have given up and decided to give the test in the automatic.Has anyone had any similar experiences???

[KatieMac]

I have had a punto,metro & clio as automatics and have loved them (now have ulysse also auto but not small)

[guddy]

Thanks bron and katiemac
i have a maxi cosi priory for dd(18m) and a graco booster for ds(3years).honda is reliable as well isnt it?dh drives a honda.
im eyeing the clio at the moment,civic looks a bit on the bigger side though.

[guddy]

Thanks bron and katiemac
i have a maxi cosi priory for dd(18m) and a graco booster for ds(3years).honda is reliable as well isnt it?dh drives a honda.
im eyeing the clio at the moment,civic looks a bit on the bigger side though.

[jampot]

My sis passed her test in an automatic - her first car was a Fiesta 1.3 followed by Mercedes 320CLK, and now Golf - Golf is very very nippy indeed!!!

[oswald]

I have been trying to drive for years but it only started to happen when we got an automatic and I just find it so much easier even though it is a big car - it's given me and the children so much more freedom. Go for it,it really made a difference for me.

[guddy]

Jampot
Does fiesta do an automatic?
Did a few searches on autotrader for it but couldnt find any and so concluded that probably they dont do them.
Thanks everyone for the positive feedback on automatics was sceptical about it but im sure there wont be any looking back!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

and bron the cup holder(or grapes holder for me) is excellant in the group 3 graco car seat isnt it?

[jampot]

Yes she can only drive autos. Fiesta autos are really hard to come by though..

[Easy]

I've always driven auto's, and converted dh when we got together. Of the lots of cars I've had, I really really recommend my current one, a Ford Focus. A smallish car (relatively short to park), it has a good sized boot, so your pushchairs shouldn't be a problem. There are estates too if you need it.

It's a 1.6, so it's a good sized engine for an auto transmission (small engines tend to be noisy or jerky as auto's), but is very economical, I get over 40 to the gallon, even when it's only used on short round-town runs.

I always hated fords, but really like this one, I might have another focus when we come to swap next year.

My childminder has a clio, pathetic boot tho'

[Easy]

Oh and our local ford garage always has 3 or 4 low mileage auto's available, as they take in cars which were used by disabled drivers (like me), which get changed every 3 years.

[jampot]

Do you know anyone who works for Ford 'cos then you'd be able to qualify for their family & friends discount - it varies on each vehicle. If you don't contact me through CAT.... think it may also extend to Rover cars too but may need to check that...

[Easy]

Jampot,

What's the Family and Friends scheme then?

[jampot]

Anyone who's related to a Ford employee is eligible to receive a discount on a new Ford (either outright purchase or on a scheme). They have now extended the offer to all "friends" too - obviously boosts their figures and I suspect there's no real way of checking whether a "relative" is genuine. Sometimes discount can be as much as 25%. Because Land Rover employees were also owned by the Rover Group they too extend the same offer to LR employees (LR is now owned by Ford or the Premier Automotive Group which includes Jag, Volvo and another company I think)

[Galaxy]

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[Furball]

I drive an auto, I have a licence to drive a manual, but why faff about with the gears all the time, especially whilst driving in town. I love my auto and would never go back and have also converted DH. The first one I had was a Vauxhall Corsa which was great, boot abit too small for a decent pushair (we had a travel system at the time and it only just fitted) But, then you can't get all your shopping in as well. Have now been 'promoted' to an Astra and it's great, not too big, so easy to nip into a parking space and a decent size boot. Both have been ex motabilty 3 year old cars from our local dealer.

[Easy]

Ex motability cars are usually a fairly good deal. Often low mileage (except mine), and they have to be serviced according to the manufacturers recommendations, Motability demands it.

The dealers don't need to push the price too high either, they've normally made their profit on selling/servicing the car the first time round.

[guddy]

hi
no friends working for renault im afraid.

i have looked at 2 renault clios,both automatic about 4 years old...both look good(thats the most i would know about cars)The one we r keen on (w reg renault clio etoile) ,the engine makes a slight noise when accelerated so Dh is keen on an AA check.
has anyone with a similar model had problems with the gear box.
Cant wait to start my driving lessons .
thanks for all the posts.

[dibooth]

Hiya,

I've always drove autos, buy why a small one? I bought a second hand merc for safety. It's easy to drive even if you're learning as it's easy to see out of and brakes are great etc. So it's a bit longer, do what my instructor did and place stickers that will help you park and reverse round corners in the back window! Mark where kerb would be if you did a perfect reverse and also where the car behind is visible when you're reversing on stickers in your rear window, or as we did just remember which letter on the sticker the kerbs on!

Good luck! I'm selling my merc as I need 7 seats now - very !