automatic car shopping.

[bub2006]

Looking for an auto motor about 400/450. I am currently the highest bidder on a 1.4 206 auto on ebay and also know of a focus estate 1.6 auto being sold in derby for £425. Any one have suggestions about the two above or any other suggestions to look for? Thanks

[Uncle Jimmy]

Nice Automatic Accord I've noticed on ebay. £450 I believe.

[twosmoke300]

Civic 5dr autos are good cars . Pre 2000

[beko1987]

Xm 2.0tct estates are normally fairly cheap if you can find one!

[Bear]

Unless you have some particular fondness for FWD, don't bother. Look for a BMW E36 in undesirable colour, trim, £450 is also enough to grab an E39 saloon 520i comfortably. Easier maintenance, cars that are generally sold with autos and serviced accordingly. And if the word "budget" figures anywhere in your thoughts, don't get an XM auto

[ShiteRider]

We had a mk1 focus auto as a courtesy car at work, coped with abuse well. Replaced with '06 corolla auto, a low first gear and sensitive throttle means customers tend to bump it a lot.

I've always found smaller french autos to be a bit dopey, never being quite sure what gear they're supposed to be in.

[EssDeeWon]

Have you considered the RR P38? If not why not.

 

Na seriously, I often find some great little bargains when looking at small automatics because giffers love a small economical automatic Jap, check out Almera's, Micra's, Colts, Civic, Starlets, and most come with low miles and 50 service stamps from new!

[Stanky]

NOOOOOOO!

 

Do not, under any circumstances buy a badermatic 1.4 206. I had one and the gap between 3rd and 4th (top) is like earth to mars. They are staggeringly dangerous on dual carriageways as top is so long there is just no power at all. You lose speed going up the slightest incline and any overtaking requires you to drop into 3rd, jumping the revs by about 3000, cue massive clunk of torque converter being destroyed and little extra oomph as you are now beyond the torque in 3rd.

 

I stuck 20,000 miles on one in a year and eventually swapped it for a Kia Rio, as it was simply unsafe on the A3 doing daily commute. Overtaking was impossible and having to anticipate every second of a 90 minute, 55 mile journey aged me decades.

 

Pulling out of junctions onto fast roads is also white-hair inducingly terrifying and requires a complete lack of mechanical sympathy and use of manual hold in 2nd and 3rd, you really might as well have a manual.

 

absolutely the worst car I've ever owned for mismatched engine/transmission. The gearbox would be fine on a 1.8 or 2.0 with more torque, the engine would be fine mated to a manual 5-speeder. combined it is utterly, utterly shit

[bub2006]

Thanks for input folks. Couldn't justify insurance and running costs on a larger car for eg bmw etc. Throw a wild card in though. I've just spotted a nice little motor on ebay but it's manual. A pug 106 pre face-lift 1.5 diesel.

[Stanky]

I'll soon be looking to part ways with my Almera (1.4, manual) and that price is about right. Dull, but nuclear-apocalypse survivingly indestructible. Also economical. See my sig, and thats over just over 50k miles and 3 years, not one gallon rolling down a hill in 5th.

 

PM me if interested.

[bub2006]

I'll bear that in mind stanky but due to left side hemi paresis an auto is a more better option. I do like almeras though. God damn it. Car shopping is tricky

[Stanky]

If you track down a badermatic almera (n15) which isn't rusted to fuck then they are mechanically indestructible and surprisingly thrifty. I've had both sills done on mine and that seems to be the worst of the rust, many are significantly less structurally sound which is a shame.

[bub2006]

Can anyone give a bit more in depth reviews about this please?

Ebay item number 171790186593

[sierraman]

The 2000 on Mondeo had the generally known to be bulletproof Jatco box. Avoid Renault and anything CVT based.

[EssDeeWon]

Can anyone give a bit more in depth reviews about this please?

Ebay item number 171790186593

 

Here is the link to said car - 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/171790186593?ru=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.co.uk%2Fsch%2Fi.html%3F_from%3DR40%26_sacat%3D0%26_nkw%3D171790186593%26_rdc%3D1

[bub2006]

Thanks,can't do that on phone.

[KruJoe]

 

Avoid ... anything CVT based. 

 

Really?

If done right, a CVT can be a joy.

My mother had an '04 Jazz and it was brill, always in the right 'gear' and ready to go, impossible to catch it out.

Also, that blue CVT Micra on sale here was tip-top.

[EssDeeWon]

Re that Corolla it looks like the engine has been apart recently looking at the shiny new bolts in the top? And its being sold by a dealer called Fozzies Motors who describe it as being in good condition when its clearly not from the photos, my verdict is keep looking Bub.

[bub2006]

Anything being sold by a big bear from the muppets can't be good. Ok will keep looking. I'm tired and it's late!

[EssDeeWon]

This looks slightly better for £395, 3 former keepers and 15 service stamps

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Toyota-Corolla-1-6-auto-Executive-/331526890983?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item4d308ae5e7

[bub2006]

Don't look bad at all but it's right at the end if the budget and it's a good stretch away from e. Nearly 90 mile each way.

[bub2006]

Just noticed advert text states 495 and 395 so could maybe get it cheaper still

[EssDeeWon]

Yes I went by the £395 mentioned at the end of the text, certainly a bargaining tool but worth checking out before making the 90 mile trip.

[Junkman]

YU IZ ORL RONG!

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Rover-75-2-5-V6-auto-Connoisseur-/171787100453

 

ONLY I IZ RITE!

[Honey Badger]

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Mitsubishi-Colt-1-6-auto-GLX-/181750102413?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item2a5126798d

 

 

Fozzies is a breaker just outside Desbo, Northants. He always seems to have quite a few for sale that are at the cheap end of the market, same as any breaker really.

 

Can't say weather they are trust worthy as I've never had any dealings with them.

 

If you have balls the size of tennis balls he has a 2001 S type auto with a shortish ticket for £450.

Edited May 28, 2015 by Honey Badger

[Bren]

To be fair the corolla looks ok -i'd offer £350.

 

It's K reg - it's lasted this long.

[bub2006]

That's valid point bren. What would mpg e like though?. Think I'm going to look at mk1 Peugeot 106 diesel on a n plate this afternoon. do they like veg?

[Lacquer Peel]

I've never seen an early 106 with a Bosch pump. Thought you were looking for an automatic?

 

There's more to the cost of running a car than MPG, some small automatic that's been run on a shoestring might not be the best.

[bub2006]

I am ideally looking for an auto but small autos are like gold dust cheap. Punto blew a tyre tonight,started whining from gearbox and kangarooing at low rpm. Been a pretty eventful evening........

[The Moog]

Missus Moog has got a civic 1.6i auto. She quite likes it now although mpg sucks donkey Wang, the Saab v6 auto she had before did better.

 

Saying that £400 pretty much fully loaded. Needed centre pipe and rear pads. Been mega reliable.

 

She is going to punt it on in a month.