bub2006 Posted November 12, 2013 Share Posted November 12, 2013 We are looking for a smaller car. Wife has declared she needs something easier to park and misses our old vectra. We need an auto and have been having a nosy through eBay and seen a few motors. Vauxhall astra 1.6 club auto,looks like the conventional gear box on these same as the vectra b. Also seen a vectra c 2.0 dti auto but these are tiptronic sort of things. Are the older style boxes on the astra/vectra better than the tiptronic things on the vectra c? Any other not too old motors to consider? No larger than 1.8 petrol or 2.0 diesel? bub2006 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Volksy Posted November 12, 2013 Share Posted November 12, 2013 There are three types of Autos, conventional - such as your Vectra, CVT which a lot of small autos tend to be these days, they are an update of the DAF/Volvo rubber band system, or a Manu-matic - as featured in the Corsa, Saab 9-3 'Sensonic', which in my experience are hateful things. The Astra I believe has a conventional Auto, as does the Focus of the same era. Tiptronics can be any of the three, Conventional with a separate gate to hold/move between gears, CVT with a stepped programming to appear like it has different gears (MGF's had these, also the Honda Jazz) or the Manumatic which Alfa used in the 147 called the Selespeed. It it was me, I'd look for a conventional auto with a torque converter, but avoid Renaults and Nissans as they have an atrocious reputation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bub2006 Posted November 12, 2013 Author Share Posted November 12, 2013 We haven't got a vectra at the moment,we used to have a 03 plate 1.8 manual. We at the moment have a Mercedes e200 auto. I know my wife wants another vauxhall vectra but as said I am put off by the tip tronic of the new vectras. Bit of a problem when wife doesmt want something to old! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spiny Norman Posted November 12, 2013 Share Posted November 12, 2013 Personally I wouldn't touch any of these semi auto things, they all seem to be the Achilles heel on whatever car they're fitted too, and in the case of a £2k shitter will easily write the thing off when it goes phut. I'm old school enough to think that if you want (or need) and auto, you stick it into D at the start of the journey, and back to P at the end of it, with the occasional foray into R as and when required. I never see the point in playing with the lever, if I wanted a say in things I'd buy a manual. My advice would be, if it hasn't got the old fashioned PRNDL type selector, walk away. DSdriver, srad34, eddyramrod and 2 others 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bub2006 Posted November 12, 2013 Author Share Posted November 12, 2013 A lot of new cars are electronic though. That's the problem. I do use the shifter on autos but only to stop them hunting in towns Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
castros_bro Posted November 12, 2013 Share Posted November 12, 2013 Don't don't dont ever get a Ford (or Mazda) with a Durashift semi-Auto, 8 non-working gearbox "electronic" breakdowns in 6 months endless tale of woe and wads of wasted cash to people (Ford) who don't have a clue. Regards A Electronic Engineer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DVee8 Posted November 12, 2013 Share Posted November 12, 2013 As with the above DON'T touch a Easytronic semi-auto astra,corsa Taken from another Forum regarding semi auto problems not all of the post below will be relevant but gives an idea of the problems that occur This problem keeps cropping time and time again. The simple answer is if it goes wrong ,ie any faults that include non starting! or poor or no gear selection! or the selector panel showing blank, or F, you are pretty well stuffed .Seems apparant that most of you have no idea that this is actually a normal 5 speed F17 manual gearbox. Car is often mis- sold/described as an AUTOMATIC, or TIPTRONIC,when it is a SEMI-AUTOMATIC, with this electronic control clutch actuator bolted on to it, and the gear change is controlled/operated by this unit.( there is also a small fluid container to be kept topped up as with a normal fluid clutch)When it fails ,as it often does ,it can only be repaired and recoded by a specialist,V/X being the most expensive way to do. OTHER GARAGES WILL TAKE IT OFF AND SEND IT AWAY FOR REPAIR ,Hence the two weeks wait,there and back to them .Most likely sent to these people>>www.ecutesting.com<< to be repaired,who specialise in repairing all manner of electronic units. They can only rebuild your own unit,as they are coded specifically to your car, so fitting a second hand unit is not an option( as some people have tried, and cannot access the codes/parameters to do it) Look on their website ,and see the options they provide, for this and other cars,often uprating them with a two year warranty.If you can get if off and send it,its a very quick return ,and is far cheaper than other options.As I keep saying give them a call/e/mail,they have the answers. londonm 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bub2006 Posted November 12, 2013 Author Share Posted November 12, 2013 The astra we have seen is a v plate 1.6 club auto. Strange trim level having rcl,power steering and air con but no leccy windows. I will not have a semi auto. Dont see point in a manual with no clutch! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Volksy Posted November 12, 2013 Share Posted November 12, 2013 Those crappy Easy-tronics can act like an auto - i.e. you do not have to change gear, however they have all the smoothness of a learner on their first lesson. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Junkman Posted November 12, 2013 Share Posted November 12, 2013 There was only one kind of badermatic when they still built cars back in 1986.Everything made since then is tosh by default. mercrocker 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bub2006 Posted November 12, 2013 Author Share Posted November 12, 2013 Looks like best bet would be the v plate astra then! Have also been offered another car but a manual. Ford fiesta with a 1.6 lump. Aparently they are quiet nippy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
r.welfare Posted November 12, 2013 Share Posted November 12, 2013 Those 8 valve Mk4 Astra autos have an honest quality about them and the 4-speed OLD SKOOL GM auto (is it a Turbo Hydramatic of some kind?) is pretty robust. I've had good value out of my Accord auto, 187k and counting, but then again I know it's had fluid changes every 36k or sooner. With any old auto - regardless of whether it's supposedly 'sealed for life' or not - evidence of regular fluid changes is what you want to see. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barky99 Posted November 12, 2013 Share Posted November 12, 2013 Used to have an 8v astra auto ... Toyota (Aisin Warner) gearbox I believe ... never gave me trouble Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bub2006 Posted November 12, 2013 Author Share Posted November 12, 2013 It's on eBay now. 550 ono he wants with I think 57k on clock Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bub2006 Posted November 12, 2013 Author Share Posted November 12, 2013 Sorry I just checked and got 52k on clock. What will mpg be like? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hendry Posted November 12, 2013 Share Posted November 12, 2013 If your wife wants something newer circa Vectra C age, what about a mk5 Astra 1.8 petrol auto, the 1.8 is a reliable engine (I had a manual 1.8 which was brilliant) I'm no expert on autos but they seem like the old fashioned PRND but with 3 gears you can select if you don't want to just leave it in drive and let it change by itself, you have to move the lever from 1 to 2 to 3 to change them, none of this paddle shift pish or nudging the gear lever like you would on the "easytronic" semi automatic ones. Mpg shouldn't be too terrible, most come in decent spec like Design or Elite trim (2 highest spec models) with alloys, half leather, all round electric windows, electric mirrors, air con, mp3 cd player, remote locking, plus all the other modern pish like abs, multiple airbags, etc and the elite has full heated leather, climate and cruise control, most are ex motability so have low mileage, FSH and been well kept, plus they are dirt cheap because no one wants them, 3 year old ones were going for under £5K so an 05/06 could be had for about 2K Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bub2006 Posted November 12, 2013 Author Share Posted November 12, 2013 Only got a budget of between 5 and 800 depending if the merc sells mate. Money at a premium these days Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rml2345 Posted November 12, 2013 Share Posted November 12, 2013 Some of those Aisin Warner auto gearboxes were 3+OD which is pretty shite-tastic. Dunno about specific applications but they generally seem quite reliable. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bub2006 Posted November 12, 2013 Author Share Posted November 12, 2013 Well hopefully going to look at the astra tomorrow. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hendry Posted November 12, 2013 Share Posted November 12, 2013 Only got a budget of between 5 and 800 depending if the merc sells mate. Money at a premium these daysMk4 Astra should do the job at that money mate. Should be able to pick up a decent 52/03 with decent spec and tidy condition. I had a 52 1.6 "Comfort" spec before the mk5 and there were loads of auto variants of that trim about as its giffer spec "fake wood dash console and gear knob" but decent kit, alloys, air con, cd, remote locking, all round elec windows and mirrors. Just be careful of the "fluffy" velour seats, everything sticks to them. Also check it doesn't swallow loads of oil, valve stem seals likely fooked, 1.6 ecowreck Vauxhalls are notorious for it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bub2006 Posted November 12, 2013 Author Share Posted November 12, 2013 This is a peculiar trim. Its a club but got aircon but no electric windows. Not seen any astras that age under a grand. Our 03 plate vectra only cost 950 though Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barry Cade Posted November 12, 2013 Share Posted November 12, 2013 156 Selespeed for the win. What's the worst that could happen. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bub2006 Posted November 12, 2013 Author Share Posted November 12, 2013 A lot knowing our luck and alfas reputation! I want something a bit smaller too! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barky99 Posted November 12, 2013 Share Posted November 12, 2013 If your wife wants something newer circa Vectra C age, what about a mk5 Astra 1.8 petrol auto, the 1.8 is a reliable engine (I had a manual 1.8 which was brilliant) I'm no expert on autos but they seem like the old fashioned PRND but with 3 gears you can select if you don't want to just leave it in drive and let it change by itself, you have to move the lever from 1 to 2 to 3 to change them, none of this paddle shift pish or nudging the gear lever like you would on the "easytronic" semi automatic ones. Mpg shouldn't be too terrible, most come in decent spec like Design or Elite trim (2 highest spec models) with alloys, half leather, all round electric windows, electric mirrors, air con, mp3 cd player, remote locking, plus all the other modern pish like abs, multiple airbags, etc and the elite has full heated leather, climate and cruise control, most are ex motability so have low mileage, FSH and been well kept, plus they are dirt cheap because no one wants them, 3 year old ones were going for under £5K so an 05/06 could be had for about 2Khave one of those, 58 plate 1.8vvt club auto .... thought about slightly older one astra h but went for a newer generation vvt ecotec which is less likely to leak coolant into auto gearbox .... club spec also avoids the continental/teves/ate mk60 esp (electronic stability program) which is known to go wrong, fail MOT & cost a lot to fix .... safest bet with more limited funds would be an astra g 1.6 8v auto as it's the older pre-ecotec engine! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gadgetgricey Posted November 12, 2013 Share Posted November 12, 2013 I know its a lot smaller but have you considered a Polo Automatic.Wife can only drive an Auto. Currently she has a Scenic, so thought it best to get a back up. Bought a P reg 1.4 Auto, and its fantastic. No good on the motorway, but around town its great. Was going to get rid and buy something else, but its been that reliable decided against it. Conventional Auto as well, Just something else to consider. Cheers - Dave - Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bub2006 Posted November 12, 2013 Author Share Posted November 12, 2013 Needs to be big enough to fit a dog in boot,shopping when dog not there,mother in law when no shopping so doubt a polo would be ideal. I need to be comfy too so ideally astra size,maybe vectra sized. Not keen on Ford focus,wouldn't say no to a golf but scene tax put paid to that! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hendry Posted November 12, 2013 Share Posted November 12, 2013 This is a peculiar trim. Its a club but got aircon but no electric windows. Not seen any astras that age under a grand. Our 03 plate vectra only cost 950 thoughEarly Club models were like that. Just like early LS models had electric windows but half unpainted bumpers and no rev counter. Post 2000 the Club got electric windows. I sold my 52 plate 1.6 comfort Astra with 85K full folder of receipts and fully stamped service book, mint condition bodywork and clean as a whistle over 2 years ago for 1800 so I'd have thought they'd be about half that by now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gadgetgricey Posted November 12, 2013 Share Posted November 12, 2013 Well if the Polo is too small, I give another option. http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201311059699220/sort/pricedesc/usedcars/body-type/hatchback/transmission/automatic/price-to/2000/model/9-3/make/saab/onesearchad/used/onesearchad/nearlynew/onesearchad/new/page/1/radius/1500/postcode/b629lp?logcode=p - Dave - Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bub2006 Posted November 12, 2013 Author Share Posted November 12, 2013 A bit over budget but looks very nice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barry Cade Posted November 12, 2013 Share Posted November 12, 2013 Early Club models were like that. Just like early LS models had electric windows but half unpainted bumpers and no rev counter. Post 2000 the Club got electric windows. I sold my 52 plate 1.6 comfort Astra with 85K full folder of receipts and fully stamped service book, mint condition bodywork and clean as a whistle over 2 years ago for 1800 so I'd have thought they'd be about half that by now. Keep a special eye out for the rare "In the Club" models- came with 44 years finance, 3 child seats in a puke pattern cloth, an out of date tax disc and sat nav with POI's pre programmed with the Job centre, Mc Donalds and the local smack dealer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now