Buying used automatic family car, any to avoid?

IronGiant

Thanks.  I took it to a specialist down here who could find no faults, but obviously couldn't test it under load.  He did find a broken earth strap that connects to the box so stopped short of recommending having a cooler fitted.

bernado

Thanks for that, you're not wrong about the economics of the XC90, I thought my old 850 estate at 19 mpg was bad enough

IronGiant

I had a hunt around and found a thread on a UK Caravan forum, where 6 owners were said to have the issue.  Kia were reported to be scratching their heads and talking about looking at additional cooling options, but one member said that they could stop the slipping by turning the car ignition off and back on again.  Unfortunately the thread was archived without a result being reported. If it is an electrical gearbox management issue rather than just a cooling one I guess the earth strap could have been important in my case.  And I'd rather not spend £350 on additional cooling if not required. But I don't want to trash the gearbox testing it towing without.  Decisions, decisions...

Atavus

I had a Ford Powershift box in an S-Max and liked it. Important to do regular oil changes. Some places offer a power flush service to restore neglected boxes.

I replaced it with a newer S-Max and that’s still Powershift (2017). They seem to have gone full auto 8 speed since then.

The Dreamer

Yep - it’s how we ended up with 4 cars! We still need the towing capacity of the XC90, and occasionally the 4 wheel drive - but the economics became apparent when my wife borrowed my diesel Saab for a week.

‘Your cars very economical’ she said ‘I’ve not had to fill up all week’

‘Well, how often are you filling the Volvo?’

‘About every 3 days’ -

£80 every three days (25 mile each way commute, and lots of stop start traffic   house visits)

We worked out that a 2nd hand V50 would pay for itself in 3 years - in fuel savings alone!

Since moved on to the V60, which is actually even more economical, despite being much more powerful.

We did try SORNing the XC90 for 6 months, but that became an expensive exercise as the boots dried out and needed replacing when we put it back on the road - it would have been cheaper to just run it occasionally, and pay the Road Tax - which is what we do now. So despite being 5 years old, it’s only got just over 30,000 on the clock. It’ll see us through to retirement I reckon.

DOBLY

How about another Focus estate? - there seem to be a reasonable number of petrol automatics available at Ford dealers around the country.

bernado

At the risk of being boring I was actually thinking the same myself.

I fancied something a bit different but I suppose the fact a newer one is likely to have a driver's window that opened, central locking that was, ehrm, central and the wiring loom going through the hatch not being severed meaning the third brake light and rear window heater worked would be something of an upgrade!

Cobb

I have a 2015 Fiesta with their powershift autobox. Can’t fault it, it’s responsive and smooth.

Delvey

Anything with the Citroen EGS gearbox.
The later one maybe fine, but they are essentially a manual gearbox with automated clutch and gear changes (the usual auto gearbox has no paddles, the EGS has paddles).
The input shaft bearing fails, leading to pieces of metal in the gearbox, but it is expensive to fix, and no guarantee when fixed it will operate properly

Smiffy 2

As Delvey points out, avoid the earlier Citroen/Peugeot Auto gearboxes (EGC). They are crap (and I sell 'em!!). The later EAT6 boxes are superb, but outside of your price range unfortunately.
The EGC's are awful. Pogo city.