Best automatic

[sdd]

My buddy wants to get an automatic motor car for his daughter who is going to varsity next year.

What are his options? Looking for a reliable ride.

Budget approx R200k-R250k.

He asked me ... but I don't know ... so I am asking you .... please give me some reasons for your suggestion, so I can pretend to be knowledgeable when I relay this info to him.


I am a BMW fan so my choice would be something in the 1-series line.

 

[JK8]

Best auto gearbox in the world is the VW/Audis DSG.

Second hand Golf 5 GTi DSG, TDI DSG, A3 DSG...

 

[Ecco]

Best auto gearbox in the world is the VW/Audis DSG.

Second hand Golf 5 GTi DSG, TDI DSG, A3 DSG...

Agree with JK8.

Although i think you not concerned about only the gearbox. But still the options he list are great.

 

[BCO]

Best auto gearbox in the world is the VW/Audis DSG.

Second hand Golf 5 GTi DSG, TDI DSG, A3 DSG...

Nope. Porsche PDK is better.

 

[HapticSimian]

1series, as a BMW, is carp. It's a stupid little car that sells because it has a propeller on the nose.

+1 to the DSG brigade. Buying anything with the main motivation of it being 'automatic' and not going DSG should not be allowed.

EDIT

To add, using DSG as synonym for any current dual-clutch gearbox, so including BMW's DCT and Porsche's PDK... but that might be stretching the budget.

 

[SlinkyMike]

She's going to varsity... next year, that puts her at around 18 years of age.

So: recently licensed driver; little to no experience driving; varsity(need I say more??) - and he wants to put her in a 1 series???? That's a pretty quick car - maybe something a little more... conservative?

Geez dude - get her something safe and slow!

 

[dj_jyno]

Polo 1.6 Tiptronic. Or a Honda Jazz EX-S Auto. Both give good fuel economy and are reliable. I'd prefer the Polo, since it is a 6 speed auto.

I'd stay away from the DSG transmissions for the time being - some Golf 5 GTIs have experienced premature transmission failure.

One more thing - why an automatic?

 

[LCBXX]

How are these "Powershift" transmissions from Ford? They seem to work much like a DSG 'box does, only with twin dry clutches. For full automatic transmissions, nothing beats a Lexus auto.

 

[Sensorei]

Don't ever buy an 18 year old a fast car like a GTi!!! They WILL crash it! I remember those days after school when every mate with a fast car didn't have it for long. Buy a 1.4 or 1.6 automatic. DSG is awesome yeah, I drive one and its the best thing since the wheel was invented. The new Polo coming out early next year has DSG. I would wait for that. It is a stunning small car! Google it. It puts corsas, fiestas, mazda 2s and the rest to shame.

Personally I think buying a kid a R200k+ car is terrible. Let them learn how to work for what they get. You are doing no favours spoiling them.

 

[JK8]

Is she hot? Post some pics, will be easier to recommend a car for her...

 

[HapticSimian]

Polo 1.6 Tiptronic. Or a Honda Jazz EX-S Auto. Both give good fuel economy and are reliable. I'd prefer the Polo, since it is a 6 speed auto.

I'd stay away from the DSG transmissions for the time being - some Golf 5 GTIs have experienced premature transmission failure.

One more thing - why an automatic?

Good recommendations. I would query the accuracy of your statement about DSG GTIs on 2 counts.

1. Any more failures per capita than conventional transmissions?
2. How many transmission failures were due to early software gremlins, of which there were a few?

Oh, and to the others (mainly Sensorei ): If you read the OP, he was asking advice in order to advise a friend. Preaching to the messenger isn't going to help.

 

[Fazda]

Polo 1.6 Tiptronic.

As far as buying anything that goddam expensive for an 18 year old he needs his head read...

 

[HapticSimian]

Polo 1.6 Tiptronic.

As far as buying anything that goddam expensive for an 18 year old he needs his head read...

Just to test the waters on a slightly different slant... is it, really? Is it not a matter of most things being relative?

Not knowing the financial position of said father of 'varsity-bound youngster, perhaps expense in the interest of safety isn't their biggest concern? Just wondering out loud...

 

[JK8]

I wonder if the VW Beetle comes in a DSG... pretty cool uni chick car!

 

[Fazda]

Just to test the waters on a slightly different slant... is it, really? Is it not a matter of most things being relative?

Not knowing the financial position of said father of 'varsity-bound youngster, perhaps expense in the interest of safety isn't their biggest concern? Just wondering out loud...

I couldn't give a tinkers damn if the man is a multi billionaire, that is still too much money to spend on a bloody spoilt 18 year old...end of story...

 

[BCO]

I couldn't give a tinkers damn if the man is a multi billionaire, that is still too much money to spend on a bloody spoilt 18 year old...end of story...

Agreed. A new Jazz 1.4 auto for like R170k is more than enough.

 

[Fazda]

Agreed. A new Jazz 1.4 auto for like R170k is more than enough.

Even so that's too much, the little princess should be learning to drive in a second hand Beetle as far as I'm concerned...sheesh...you guys have lost all concept of money...

I might sound like a bitter old *******, but there is a question of instilling values here. If the kid needs an automatic (which is really an excuse because she's probably too lasy to learn to drive a manual, unless she is crippled) then there are plenty of old autos on the market to look at.

Once again I repeat, to be spending telephone numbers on an 18 year old's wheels is plain bloody stupidity!

 

[HapticSimian]

Fazda... "Whoooooooooosaaaaaah"

We'll be saying the same thing when we get to your age in, oh, 50 years or so. The numbers are just going to be a bit bigger.

But hey, my 1st car was an '83 Alfa GTV, bought by my dad for R18k, so I agree with you in principle. I'm just less vocal about it.

 

[BCO]

Even so that's too much, the little princess should be learning to drive in a second hand Beetle as far as I'm concerned...sheesh...you guys have lost all concept of money...

I might sound like a bitter old *******, but there is a question of instilling values here. If the kid needs an automatic (which is really an excuse because she's probably too lasy to learn to drive a manual, unless she is crippled) then there are plenty of old autos on the market to look at.

Once again I repeat, to be spending telephone numbers on an 18 year old's wheels is plain bloody stupidity!

Safety first. New cars are safer, so if the dad can afford a 5-star NCAP car for his little princess, then I see no problem. Having said that, there's no need at all for an 18y/o girl to be driving around in a R250k car.

 

[Fazda]

I may sound all bitter and twisted, but I honestly have a major problem with a kid just being handed everything on a plate.

If they have big bucks to blow then buy her a 20 year old Merc Automatic and let her blow the bucks on petrol.

Sorry I taught far too many little princesses who came to school in Beemers and such and had absolutely no respect for money or their folks who did the spending