...

Looking for some suggestions... my missus uses the car only for short trips, into town to meet her mum, visiting friends locally etc... all short trips and the FL2 is not ideal for that. Also if I'm away she misses having a car on the driveway.
So, looking for suggestions (I know you'll say "test drive some..>" and we WILL but looking for some pointers) for:

- smallish car
- light steering
- petrol
- some pep (ie not a sluggish plodder)
- easy to get in & out of, easy to open/shut doors & boot
- reasonably economical

ta!!! ...

Be true to yourself. That way happiness lies...

There are so many cars out there. But my favourite would be a ford fiesta. Very economical, safe and looks good. it also depends on your budget.

Nissan Note

A very popular car but not one that many people have heard of. You sit high, doors open wide for easy access...good size boot/back seats - and cleverly you can slide the rear seats giving you the choice of more boot space or more rear legroom.

Very reliable, good value second hand and new - Built in Britain too

We've had 3 of them - all autos. Current one has climate control, sat nav, front arm rests and keyless entry

This may be a put off..but you often seen them in disabled spaces at supermarkets...tells you how much easier they are to get in and out of.

A new Note is about the be launched meaning the current model is even more competitively priced.

These ones are maybe too small but the Volkswagen Up or the Skoda Citigo seem to be popular around my area.

My parents have a Nissan Juke Shiro, easy to get in and out off, has the 1.5DCI engine, very nippy about town and relatively spacious.

I don't know how economical the petrol ones are but the diesel one is pretty good. 21MY Defender 90 S 3.0 D200

But fugly.

Sorry couldn't resist. I'm sure that they are great cars, but Nissans are a bit boring for me, but probably ideal for your wife plattj.

Thanks for the pointers... I should have added that it has to be an auto transmission... not so common in small cars. ...

Be true to yourself. That way happiness lies...

Well both the Note and Juke are available with autos.

Our auto Note does 15K miles per year without a niggle

We had a fiesta on loan before getting the freelander delivered, hated it, horrible little tin box, and very poor on fuel on very short trips, wife does 3 miles to work each way and the freelander is more economical. !!!!!

Would second the note, fiat 500, mini? My11 freelander 2, xs, Manual, 18" hse sparkles, sidesteps, privacy, zermatt silver metallic, almond nutmeg alacantra, twin electric towbar

Gone my09 xs D3

Freelander 1 Td4 Auto  * GONE. GS TD4 Manual MY2013. Orkney Grey with privacy, cold and clearview packs, armrests (a must!) and a spoiler.
* 2011 4.4 TDV8 Full Fat. Amazing piece of kit.
* GONE.2012 RR Sport HSE SDV6 Orkney Grey. Rocket ship. 33mpg.
* Range Rover Classic '93 200Tdi Factory fit
* 1949 80" in family since 1975

Don't know about the auto box but my wife and friends of hers who also drive them rate Toyota Yaris very highly indeed and it ticks your other boxes.

I confess I don't like driving it much but she has had it for years now and it has been and still is, the most reliable trouble free car we have every owned between us!

We had this dilemma and ended up getting a Vauxhall Corsa 1.2 ltd edition

Looks nice, with the sports suspension its a little hard on the backside but goes round corner as if it's on rails

The main thing we chose this for was the vauxhall warranty been lifetime and the wife will keep it for a few years Former Mod/Member, with the most post & Chicken George Arch nemesis

Skoda Citigo...
I bought my wife one 4 months ago...stuck 3.5 k miles on the clock, got dash mounted computer, which we bought afterwards, for bluetooth phone integration and allows ipod music streaming, also has full canbus car info/integration; life time mpg is at 64 mpg and that is not driving like a snail and using air on a lot!

It is an awesome little car, cheaper than the VW Up and the Seat Mii and I think the better looking of the trio.

Also it got voted city car of the year 2012!
Just read you wanted auto: not sure the auto is any good from what I read no matter which manufacture you choose, we have the manual and that is good

Well worth a look at IMHO

Ben (GONE) FL2 2008 SE (manual) Santorini Black, the expensive one
(LEFT WITH) 300tdi Defender 90 the cold, reliable & sensible one

Just love our solution to this very problem. Particularly in the current weather

Driving round Brittany last month and Cornwall this month, can't beat the VW Convertible. Gets as many waves from passers by as HM herself!! Ours - 2008 Stornoway Grey HSE Auto
Tricia's - 2006 Royal Blue Beetle Cabriolet Auto
Mine - 2014 Vespa GTS 300 Super Sport Matt Black
Ours - 2007 White Bailey Pageant Champagne

Fiat 500 TwinAir is the second car that we run. It's perfect for nipping in and out of Leamington in, no road tax, and a tank of petrol lasts nearly 3 months!! Dualogic is the Automatic transmission version. Foraging near Gaydon....
——————————————
MY13 HSE Lux SD4, Baltic Blue - current, 30,000> miles without fault
MY12 HSE 2.2 SD4, Sumatra Black - gone after 10 months/43,000 fault-free miles

ford ranger. cheap convenient. huge load space for shopping, needs a wine rack however or the bottles roll alarmingly on every corner At work
At home

"I can't always believe facts I read on the web" - Charles Dickens

winner by default of the tractor vs caravan race