Retail therapy has left me feeling....

Nervous!!
Ok, so geezer was feeling a bit low today, so popped out to the Vauxhall dealer and bought an Astra Sri. It was £22k when new, so I picked up a bargain for under 8k. 26,000 miles, automatic, and a few bits and bobs as extras. I think he said it was a motability car. Its in fantastic condition, hardly a mark on it.
I am sat here now though wondering why it hadn't been snapped up already. He said he had sold loads of Astras this week, and this one has £1k knocked off the original price, so cheaper than the others I saw there.
Maybe automatics aren't everyones cuppa. I must admit that I never thought that I would ever buy one, but I did enjoy being lazy on my test drive
Its a Network Q car, so maybe I just worry too much and was lucky enough to pick up a good one at the right time. It has a years warranty. I wonder how much the gearbox will cost in 13 months time ! I won't laugh
Are you manual or automatic lovers??

 

I must admit, I would never have expected to see the terms 'SRi' and 'automatic' in the same sentence, but that's just a perception thing.

As for reliability of autoboxes, I can't really say beyond my own very limited experience. My current car is my first automatic. She has more than 250k on the clock, was used as a tow car by previous owner, and yet (touch wood) is fine.

There are times when I love the fact that she's auto, when I just want a smooth and easy drive. But there are times when I miss manual gears, when I want to drive a bit more 'spiritedly'. Its probably not such an issue on newer boxes, but in my 16 year old Swedish battle maiden, Gothilda, 1st gear is quite high ratio (to make up for the fewer gears in the 4 speed auto compared the 5 speed manual), so 0-10mph is a bit sluggish before she wakes up. She's ok once moving, but if you floor it, there is a slight delay between 'kick down' then turbo lag, whereas in the manual you can come down a gear or two in advance of when you need the power, so there's no no lag, but these are minor points. I can still get dear old Gotty to embarrass many a Nurburgring Neverbeen driver.

 

Thanks for the feedback
I saw quite a lot of sri autos listed on autotrader and similar sites.
The beauty of modern day boxes is the tip-tronic feature, so if you wish, you can actually use the 6 speed gearbox like a manual car A great feature. Especially when approaching hills etc. It stops the box hunting for the right gear as you progress up the hill

 

Over 250k is some achievement

 

Barely run in for a Volvo 940. Volvo has an official 'High Mileage Awards' website. Last time I looked, the car at the top of the leaderboard was a 940 estate with more than 3 million miles under its belt. Obviously it had had a fair amount of rebuild work around the suspension, steering, brakes and engine but still, no car should achieve 3 million miles.

 

I don't mind either,manual or Auto ,the only slight reservation I have is when driving up very steep hills,I know the car does it itself but I don't feel as in control

 

I know what you mean @Lolimac
Thats when you knock the gear stick across into manual mode, especially if going up at varying speed like in traffic. I think the salesman was getting fed up with me kicking down all the time because I am just so use to putting my foot down in each gear. Just a case of adjusting your driving style and getting to know the car I guess.

My dad had a Volvo 144 @clueless1 . It was immaculate, and I learnt to drive in it. Poor old Vicky Vectra was starting to feel tired at 96k, so trade in time. She was in excellent condition, 6 disc cd, dab radio, 17 inch non scuffed alloys with brand new rainsport 3 tyres , factory fitted x pack, and I got £1500 for her
The price you pay for convenience I guess!

I need a name for my new one. My old astra was 'Astrid'

 

Auto every time for me - the last time that I checked I still only had two feet!

 

Auto,Mannal,Shuttle and Hydo makes no differants to me as i've driven all sorts

 

Are we talking cars, buses, and boats now? or do you work for NASA?

 

I know what you mean. Possibly worse with an older slushbox design of gearbox, where all that stands between the engine and the final drive is some oil, so there is always the knowledge that if that oil was to suddenly go away, due to a sudden failure of a seal or something, then the car would effectively be in neutral. That's a slightly scary thought, but equally in a manual if the clutch fails the result would be the same. I've had a clutch go once. I got overtaken by a Reliant Robin.

 

I have a yaris verso automatic [please don't laugh], I bought it brand new in 2000 it as 98000 on the clock and as never cost me a penny except for tyres and stuff like that. Its great its like having a small van if you need to transport large items.
Its my first auto don't think I'd go back to a manual

 

I was originally going to get something like a DS3 or C3 for economy and cheap running costs such as tax etc, and ended up not much better off than the Vec.
There is nowt wrong with a Yaris if it suits your needs. Unfortunately I do too many miles, and down country lanes, so I needed something I felt had a good level of protection.
The auto is just so relaxing to drive, and I know I will feel much better when stuck in heavy traffic. I think a holiday will be next, so I may take in down to Devon

 

Nasa now that would be nice, driven lots of differants things with differant gearboxs, Tractors, lorrys, cars,4x4's, diggers, forklifts, bobcats, cranes, tanks, so for me as long as it keeps going i'm happy

 

I drive a Toyota aygo automatic, wouldn't go back to manual now.

Val