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Thu 19 Dec 2019 19:31

Auto cars under £4000 - bodd

Sorry, very vague topic

Background - my wife had a Fiat auto with a weird duologic gearbox which used an actuator to operate a manual gearbox or something. It was never reliable (the gearbox), and we vowed never to get a car with such a daft gearbox again.

So we’re after a VW Polo sized auto car. Using the Polo as an example, there are some autos (Mk 4 to 2009 version) for sale with under 50000 miles within this budget.

How’s the Mk 4 Polo in terms of auto gearbox reliability? Any other similar sized cars with reliable auto gearboxes?

We’re very scared of anything with tiptronic, duologic, MMT (?), etc.

Any suggestions welcomed. Many thanks.

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Thu 19 Dec 2019 20:43

Auto cars under £4000 - badbusdriver

Your Fiat gearbox comes under the banner of 'automated manual', something a lot more common now than then, particularly with VAG cars!. Not all bad though, as the MK4 Polo used a 5 speed torque converter auto, a much more pleasant type to use, and generally more reliable.

Other possibilities?, there are a few, but seeing as you are interested in the Polo, the closest would be the mechanically identical Skoda fabia MK2 (2007-2010) in pre-facelift form. TBH, i'd probably seek the Fabia out before the Polo as it is more spacious and was also available as a very useful estate. Just be aware that the MK5 Polo and the post facelift MK2 Fabia changed to a dual clutch automated manual mated to a 1.2 turbo petrol, which may sound like a good idea, but it ain't. Avoid!.

Others that spring to mind, Ford Fiesta (MK6) or Fusion with the 1.6 engine (the 1.4 of this era used an automated manual like your Fiat). With the MK7 Fiesta, just to confuse matters, the 1.4 had a torque converter auto but the 1.6 used the infamous 'powershift' dual clutch automated manual (likeVW's DSG).

other possibilities are, Suzuki Swift, Mazda 2, Nissan Note, Kia Rio, Hyundai i20.

The Honda jazz and Toyota Yaris might be contenders here too, but that is dependant on them having a CVT transmission. Both went through a phase with automated manuals, and so best avoided. Not sure off the top of my head whether your budget would get you into a CVT of either.

Edited by badbusdriver on 19/12/2019 at 20:46

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Thu 19 Dec 2019 21:00

Auto cars under £4000 - badbusdriver

Just had a look on Autotrader and to get into a CVT Jazz (good), you'd have to go for a MK1 (2002-2008). The MK2 came out with the i-shift automated manual (bad), it did revert back to the CVT on the 2011 facelift, but £4k wouldn't get you into one of them unless big miles.

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Fri 20 Dec 2019 06:41

Auto cars under £4000 - bodd

Thanks all for the very helpful replies. I’m going to come across as a luddite, but following the Fiat experience I reckon the simpler the better, less to go wrong.

I did consider the Skoda Fabia, but all the models I’ve seen (1.6, year 2008 or so) have the tiptronic auto gearbox. I assume this is the Mk. 2 Fabia, so do all models have this tiptronic?

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Fri 20 Dec 2019 11:55

Auto cars under £4000 - badbusdriver

Thanks all for the very helpful replies. I’m going to come across as a luddite, but following the Fiat experience I reckon the simpler the better, less to go wrong. I did consider the Skoda Fabia, but all the models I’ve seen (1.6, year 2008 or so) have the tiptronic auto gearbox. I assume this is the Mk. 2 Fabia, so do all models have this tiptronic?

As I said earlier, the Fabia is mechanically identical to the Polo you are interested in. Same engines, gearboxes, suspension, etc. The Tiptronic is not an automated manual, but a torque converter auto with manual control (which is an important distinction here!), so nothing to fear reliability wise. It is the 1.2 TSI DSG you need to avoid.

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Fri 20 Dec 2019 12:15

Auto cars under £4000 - RT

Thanks all for the very helpful replies. I’m going to come across as a luddite, but following the Fiat experience I reckon the simpler the better, less to go wrong. I did consider the Skoda Fabia, but all the models I’ve seen (1.6, year 2008 or so) have the tiptronic auto gearbox. I assume this is the Mk. 2 Fabia, so do all models have this tiptronic?

As I said earlier, the Fabia is mechanically identical to the Polo you are interested in. Same engines, gearboxes, suspension, etc. The Tiptronic is not an automated manual, but a torque converter auto with manual control (which is an important distinction here!), so nothing to fear reliability wise. It is the 1.2 TSI DSG you need to avoid.

Tiptronic is a term often mis-used - it's a Porsche trade-marked term which can be used by other brands in the VW Group - use of the term "Tiptronic" in respect of any other brand doesn't convey any specific type of transmission,

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Thu 19 Dec 2019 21:17

Auto cars under £4000 - Big John

At that price for a small car with a reliable auto box consider the previous model (up to about 63 plate) Nissan Note 1.6 auto - tourque converter auto gearbox with overdrive.

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Fri 20 Dec 2019 12:44

Auto cars under £4000 - Oli rag

At that price for a small car with a reliable auto box consider the previous model (up to about 63 plate) Nissan Note 1.6 auto - tourque converter auto gearbox with overdrive.

Plus 1 at the suggestion of the 1.6 note auto, they seem to be reliable and well liked.

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Fri 20 Dec 2019 13:04

Auto cars under £4000 - SLO76

When shopping on a tight budget it’s important to cast the net as wide as possible so don’t limit yourself to just one or two models, there’s loads of good small automatics about.

I’d favour the following.

Mazda 2
Suzuki Swift
Ford Fiesta (not Powershift!)
Toyota Yaris CVT (not MMT)
Honda Jazz CVT (not I-shift)
Nissan Note Mk I

I haven’t mentioned the Polo or any VAG autos as this has always been a weak point with the firm even before the dreaded DSG. The Polo Mk IV was never a particularly great car to drive either nor is it as reliable as those I’ve listed above. The later model is vastly superior but uses the unreliable DSG box so can’t be recommended here.

Best thing would be to tell us where you are roughly and we’ll take a look at local options for you. While most manufacturers offered an auto supermini they sold in much lower numbers than the manuals so it very much depends on what’s available nearby.

Edited by SLO76 on 20/12/2019 at 13:05

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Fri 20 Dec 2019 13:52

Auto cars under £4000 - bodd

Thanks all. We’re happy to travel up to 100 miles to look at cars, so location isn’t such an issue. Anywhere from Birmingham to Bristol over to South Wales and the East Midlands, etc.

Looking at a Skoda Fabia 1.6 and thinking of a Kia Picanto 1.1 I’d prefer the latter for fuel/road tax economy.

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Fri 20 Dec 2019 13:57

Auto cars under £4000 - SLO76

I’ll take a look when I get a chance later. Nothing wrong with the wee Kia though and your money will go further but its size is a limitation. Not the best on the motorway either but very reliable.

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Fri 20 Dec 2019 20:49

Auto cars under £4000 - badbusdriver

If you are interested in the Picanto, you should also check out the Hyundai i10. This is equally reliable but has a bigger and more powerful (reletively!) 1.2, but despite this, the tax is £20 less per annum and it is more efficient (going by the official figures for both cars).

However, if the running costs are a priority, i'd be looking for another £500-£1000 to get into a 2011 (CVT) Honda Jazz. This is (slightly) more efficient again than the i10 (and with the same £125 tax), but much more spacious. Other than ensuring the CVT transmission fuid has been changed regularly as required, there are no reliability worries.

Here is one on Autotrader in the Manchester area,

www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/20191106409...1

Edited by badbusdriver on 20/12/2019 at 20:50

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Fri 20 Dec 2019 21:33

Auto cars under £4000 - bodd

OK, stand down ??

We found a decent low-mileage Skoda Fabia. I must admit as a VW owner myself, albeit a manual, I do like the basic no frills styling of the Fabia. This car should last a good few years. I hadn’t thought of the Fabia and backed off from the tiptronic name, so the replies above were very helpful. Many thanks again.

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