Buying a small 2nd hand automatic car

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rialto

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Dear BB friends,
My beloved 2006 Merc C180K was written off in an accident. I am looking for another 'life-long' car, as I am a 65 year old woman. Researched a lott, lot of friend's husbands gave input, but it is very subjective - don't touch Ford, etc.
I spent now 2 days in Port Elizabeth and drove a few cars, there are not many automatic cars in the R150000 price class.
My mechanic recommend an A170 04 A180 merc, from 2012 up -cant find any in PE. So, no other cars drove as smooth as the Merc except an old 2009 Volvo S40. Scared to buy it.
So accepted that I wiill have to let go of the Merc feeling. I have driven the Ford fiesta AT Ecoboost aut 2014 77000 kilos, nice zippy cost R149000.
On my list is also a Nissan sentra AT 2014 - nice to drive, solid, quite smooth ... but I read many negative complaints about Sentra.
Drove a Nissan Almera, sound like a tractor, but will last on rough road (Ilive in a small coastal town, roads full of potholes). Often also drive to Port Elizabeth, about 170 km.
Drove VW Polo Vivo, only VW I can get afford that does not have a lot of kilo's on. I am very short, so seat must get highter, only from trendline. Does not have electric windows at back, but drives nicely. Could drive fast during test drive, is the 1.4 OK when you pass a truck?
Can get a Kia Cerato Aut hatch 76 km, lovely car (still load) from secondhand dealer, car was bouth on auction, i just so scared ...
Is Dekra test sufficient when you buy at 2ndhand dealer?
Had bad experience with Peugeot, daughter had accident a few years ago, to fix car took 6 months, wrong parts from France etc and car was never the same. So french cars are out.
Honda: drove jazz sit very unfomfortable, salesman suggest that I use pillow!! Had gears anyway, it was disastrous.
Please help.
 
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Hi, just because the A170 isn't available in PE itself, doesn't make it unobtainable (especially if you're looking for the merc experience)

Have you tried looking to see if East London maybe has one for you to test drive? Or any other close-ish (2-5 hour drive) places? Your daughter can take you through on a saturday or something to test-drive and see how it is before trying to find one with a nice price/km ratio online?
 
Why not look at buying a new Kia Picanto AT? I know it's a bit over your budget, but just maybe what you are looking for... Also available, the Toyota Yaris AT.
I drive a Ford myself and would not recommend going that route, due to personal experiences.

As envo said, the A170 shouldn't be discarded, just because you can't get one in PE. They can always bring the car to you, for a test drive....
 
This is for a small car option
Check the Suzuki Celerio ATM its currently R165000 Brand New/ Also Ignis AUTO just under R200 000 but second hand should be cheaper
Drove the manual and it goes very well. Very light on fuel
Check PE Honda Facebook for their specials as well . Picked up a Honda with 35000 off compared to any other dealership
 
SharkBait said:
Why not look at buying a new Kia Picanto AT? I know it's a bit over your budget, but just maybe what you are looking for... Also available, the Toyota Yaris AT.
I drive a Ford myself and would not recommend going that route, due to personal experiences.

As envo said, the A170 shouldn't be discarded, just because you can't get one in PE. They can always bring the car to you, for a test drive....
Click to expand...

+1
 
I would say Honda Brio automatic I think it's only the smallest car with 5 automatic speed gearbox. Honda Brio outside it's small but inside its comfortable just that the boot it's too small. If you need boot space you can go for Honda Brio amaze
 
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You had a 2006 Merc - and that was your beloved baby ! So you have a budget of 150K .... I would suggest to buy a 2nd hand Merc - same specs as the one you wrote off for between 100-120K and you will be saving 30K . And the best part is, that you will be driving your baby that you are so used to driving. Check out cars.co.za there are many Mercs that you would be able to purchase. :)
 
Mercedes-Benz A-Class A 180 Classic A/t
2009
123 500 Km
Automatic
Petrol
Max 4 Cars (Nahoon, Eastern Cape) East London
price : R119.995
 
The A-class automatics are unreliable.

Maybe you should get a 2008 to 2010 C-Class, you will never be happy driving an entry-level car because you have become used to the luxury feeling and attention to detail which you won't in budget cars
 
I drive a Picanto. Don't do it. The engine will be the cause of suicidal thoughts in a couple of weeks! It's not the worst in the city, but any highway driving is a nightmare.
 
Sumen said:
The A-class automatics are unreliable.

Maybe you should get a 2008 to 2010 C-Class, you will never be happy driving an entry-level car because you have become used to the luxury feeling and attention to detail which you won't in budget cars
Click to expand...

True
 
Try and go as late model as you can.

Toyota Corolla Quest 1.6
Hyundai i20 1.4 fluid
Polo vivo 1.4 trend
Honda Ballade 1.5 Trend
Toyota Yaris 1.3
Suzuki Celero 1.0 (New)
Hyundai Grand i10 1.25
Nissan Almera 1.5 Activ

All auto, all 2014 and later, all low mileage, all less than 150k. At your age you don't need mechanical problems. Keep it simple.

Happy driving.
 
Fro said:
I drive a Picanto. Don't do it. The engine will be the cause of suicidal thoughts in a couple of weeks! It's not the worst in the city, but any highway driving is a nightmare.
Click to expand...

The Lady is 65, I am sure she is in no rush anywhere. No offence @rialto. :o
 
1. Suzuki Swift auto. You can get a 2017 demo for under 170k. Has balance of 5yr/200k warranty
2. 2016 Nissan Almera 1.5 Auto. Plenty space and the motor offers a bit more power than the 1.4 Polo, plus balance of 6yr/150K warranty
3. Honda Ballade 1.5 Auto but you might have to go 18 months - 2 years old for that. Also, if you getting this go for the elegance and not the trend.
4. No on the Sentra as they dont sell them new and that CVT box is prone to failure
5. NO No No on the Auto A class in the year model you looking at. Again, it uses a CVT box that it will bankrupt you if it breaks.
 
Why are people suggesting a Polo to a person over 60. Poor lady will be watching over her shoulder 24/7 while driving it
 
My rental car from the insurance is a 2017 Kia Picanto, with gears. I found the gears easy, I think they are short, to change. Little car is sweet, but yes, on highway, with the Port Elizabeth winds, it is quite awful.

I do not need luggage space, BUT, safety, especially after my accident. Further, I often drive my 3 year old grandson in his carseat around.
I am worried with about a very tiny cars, versus trucks and heavily loaded vehicles on the roads.
 
Thanks, and yes I heard it is the favourite for kidnapping and highest insurance!
 
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