Small Automatic - Ideas please

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Mon 8 Sep 2003 08:25
Small Automatic - Ideas please - Jase
A friends wife is learning to drive and is opting for the auto-only license at this stage. They are looking to buy a small automatic and have a budget of about £2K + whatever insurance cost is required.

They have decided on a Micra CVT at this stage. Other than a Punto Auto I can't think of that many viable alternatives within their budget.

I'm sure the backroom will come up with a few ideas so fire away please!

Thanks very much
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Mon 8 Sep 2003 09:51
Small Automatic - Ideas please - tunacat
None of my business of course, but, "at this stage"? I'd have thought if at all possible, get her to try to learn initially in a manual, and then resort to an auto only at the next stage, if she really can't hack it. Keeps more options open for the future. Unless your friend prefers autos already, he's consigning himself to either evermore having an auto, or always having to make the journey in his wife's car if there's any desire for her to do any of the driving.
A colleague of mine had to take the 'resort' route eventually with his wife - another one is currently still battling to stay in the 'first stage' but wearily confesses he may have to admit defeat.
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Mon 8 Sep 2003 10:13
Small Automatic - Ideas please - Jase
Yep I totally agree, but she's not the most confident person and auto-only is the only option currently. He's aware of the restrictive nature of this move but her being mobile in any fashion is better than not at all.

Any autmotive suggestions people?
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Mon 8 Sep 2003 11:53
Small Automatic - Ideas please - daveyjp
Suzuki Wagon R? Not everyones ideal car, but they go forever and have excellent all round visbility.
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Mon 8 Sep 2003 12:16
Small Automatic - Ideas please - Aprilia
From a reliability/repair perspective I would stay away from ANY CVT's. They are not particularly reliable and repair is a very specialist business. A CVT failure on the Nissan could well cost £2k to fix.

Much better choice would be the Almera Auto. A little bit bigger but a conventional (and very reliable) auto box. Any other small Jap car with non-CVT is probably OK too (e.g. Honda Civic - quite a few about).
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