The nicest small car is the Hyundai i10 with the 1.2 ‘Kappa’ engine, which is powerful for its size, refined and economical. You have a better chance of getting one under the scrappage scheme if you go for a Comfort or a Style model. Usefully, it’s £35 tax. They also do an auto, but that’s £120 tax. Two other excellent small but tall cars are the Suzuki Splash and new Vauxhall Agila (same car, different badges). The 1.0 is £35 tax. The 1.2 and 1.2 auto are £120. And, of course, there’s the Almera sized Nissan Note, with a belt cam 1.5 diesel that comes in at £35 tax and also chain cam petrol engines of 1.4 and 1.6 litres with an auto option for the 1.6. If I were you I wouldn’t swap to an auto. Unless you can learn to control them by driving two-footed, autos can be very dangerous while manoeuvring.