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What''s the best small auto for £8000?
My daughter owns a 10 year old Vauxhall Corsa 1.2 manual. It's given her totally reliable service driving in London since she bought it seven years ago. Unfortunately, a few weeks ago, she was hit by a van and the car is a write-off.
Although she has informed her insurance company, she is not sure whether she should make a claim which will presumably affect future insurance or wait for the van driver's company to make an offer, which they have said they will (eventually) do.
As she must replace her Corsa, my daughter is quite keen to have an automatic, no bigger than her current car, but her friends tell her this will be very expensive to run with her 20 mile a day drive through south-east London. Can you please give any advice as to a suitable used automatic that won't cost the earth for tax, insurance and petrol and will also be reliable - she has up to £8000 to spend.
Although she has informed her insurance company, she is not sure whether she should make a claim which will presumably affect future insurance or wait for the van driver's company to make an offer, which they have said they will (eventually) do.
As she must replace her Corsa, my daughter is quite keen to have an automatic, no bigger than her current car, but her friends tell her this will be very expensive to run with her 20 mile a day drive through south-east London. Can you please give any advice as to a suitable used automatic that won't cost the earth for tax, insurance and petrol and will also be reliable - she has up to £8000 to spend.
Asked on 5 October 2014 by Brian Haswell
Answered by
Honest John
She has to inform her insurer. She will get a loading anyway for being involved in a claim. The friends are right. There are very few small automatics in this price range that are any good anyway.
Avoid automated manuals. Avoid DSGs and S-Tronics. She could get a Mazda 2 1.4 4-speed auto, but not very economical. She might get a Hyundai i10 1.2 auto or a KIA Picanto 1.2 auto as they are proper 4-speed torque converter autos. She might get a Honda Jazz 1.4iVTEC CVT-7, but avoid the i-shift.
Avoid automated manuals. Avoid DSGs and S-Tronics. She could get a Mazda 2 1.4 4-speed auto, but not very economical. She might get a Hyundai i10 1.2 auto or a KIA Picanto 1.2 auto as they are proper 4-speed torque converter autos. She might get a Honda Jazz 1.4iVTEC CVT-7, but avoid the i-shift.
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