Car dilemma. Hoping someone can help!

I don’t really understand your quandary? Buying a ULEZ compliant automatic would solve the problem surely.

I think you will find that car technology has moved on a lot, and that is unlikely to be a problem now. I have driven automatics for many years. I won't recommend a make, just suggest that you get test drives.

He has test driven several and some have the time lag surge which is well documented online with recent models. He is worried that the ones which don't do it on a test drive my ght fo it with more driving. I think Cinch would at least give him a bit longer to try the car. The near accidents with our Volvo V50 were scary.What car do you have Nannarose..

All cars have torque. It's the engine's rotational force - the amount of work an engine can exert.

Automatics have a torque converter which takes the place of manual transmission.

If your current car is a double clutch automatic is may not have a torque converter.

Torque works differently in petrol and diesel cars. Petrol cars achived peak torque faster than diesels and why they perform better.

Electric cars reach peak torque instantly as they aren't having to work up through the rev counter.

I agree with other people. Car tech has moved on. Find one where he likes the performance without worrying too much about how and why.

I bought a brand new Ford Fiesta Zetec Ecoboost automatic car in 2016 and I love it. I do town driving and long distance, including regular trips across to France. It even got me through a battle with the Beast from the East en route to Portsmouth!

My husband loves to drive it, even though in 50 years he has never owned an automatic. It's very responsive and has the facility to override the gears with simple plus and minus buttons and a sport setting. Despite being one litre with three cylinders and turbo boost, it has exemplary power delivery according to DH. No road tax for the first year and £35 p.a. ever since.

Thoroughly recommended!! Good luck!

Caravansera. I am completely ignorant about cars but he has been driving since 17 and has been involving me as I think he is finding it confusing. He was about to buy a new mg trophy automatic but then on the second test drive it did the lagging thing. Ditto nissan juke and Skoda kamiq. Vw showroom said it would happen with VW's unless he bought a hybrid. Today he read that some dct cars have torque, others not and that dct plus torque might solve it..I have no idea what any of it means. I would be happy for him to go and get whatever he wants. As he is older this will be his last car, he says, and he definitely doesn't want to have the lag thing . I think Hyundai might do the dct plus torque on Tucson but it seems quite large for 2 people

Sorry Wiser I misread your post.

Perhaps read up a bit on the tech yourself to understand how it all works.

Double clutch transmissions are essentially semi automatics.

DCTs can lag when a driver needs another gear other than the one preselected by the transmission. The transmission's software needs time to select the correct gear, resulting in lag.

Read these for starters:

www.hyundai.news/eu/articles/stories/how-dual-clutch-transmission-works.html

www.alltransmissionworld.com/what-you-should-know-about-dual-clutch-transmissionswhat-you-should-know-about-dual-clutch-transmissions

We have a Citroen automatic. It’s very easy to drive and I love it. It wouldn’t be ULEZ compliant but I’m sure you can buy more updated models. It’s a Berlingo and has very good driving visibility especially as it’s high up. Good for smaller people.

ULEZ? Torque ?
My gosh, you ladies are so knowledgable? I have a 2016 Kia Rio Automatic - 38000 mikes on the clock (had to go out and check this) - no intention of changing it. I use it for shopping and visiting family and friends, locally. That’s it. Sometimes I wonder if it’s cheaper for me to sell it and use the proceeds for taxis, but then …….

I don't have an automatic. Lots of torque though. I love my wee car -a VW Up!

To be honest…..he’s reading to much! After a bit one starts to go mad with all the different advice.

Thank you all for the advice. I have been reading them to him. I will get him to read the suggested article. I think the near misses when the car lagged unnerved him more than he let me know at the time. We haven't used our car for 4 weeks. Went out today so will pay Ulez online ne tomorrow. I think he wants a nice car but realises we don't use our car much. I always hated driving so stopped ten years ago. If I was on my own Id be like Driving Miss Daisy!

We have driven automatic Volvos and SAABs for decades and never had this problem. DD has also driven automatics for nearly as long, Hyundais and Suzukis,again without a problem.

Wiser is it possible he actually wants to stop driving completely and is looking for an excuse? Most people aren't quite so concerned about technicalities when changing cars

ayse

We have a Citroen automatic. It’s very easy to drive and I love it. It wouldn’t be ULEZ compliant but I’m sure you can buy more updated models. It’s a Berlingo and has very good driving visibility especially as it’s high up. Good for smaller people.

I also have a Berlingo automatic.. it's so easy to drive and marvellous for loading up if you take out the seats

my husband has a volvo v60 hybrid (auto) 2 years old, it is lovely to drive if this helps in any way. I have recently driven a nissan juke hybrid auto and it was a dream. I am absolute convert to automatics, I just wish I could afford one

sorry, I meant to add - driving a new automatic is much different to the older ones, they change gear (??) so smoothly and quickly now

Volvo XC90 (petrol) is the work car, here, automatic. Runs great, no problems with the automatic. I much prefer standard when I let the horses out to run, but I suspect that is just me.

I have driven automatics all my life.
I don’t really understand what it is the husband is questioning in new cars. I thought maybe not moving away quickly from a stop. ie at a junction or roundabout
My car now is a Vauxhall Mokka and I have no issues with it whatsoever. Getting a quick start is a weekly issue for me at a particularly busy roundabout when I have to cross the main flow of traffic. No problem.

I have an automatic Mazda 6 Sportactiv estate and a Saab convertible - and the Mazda has more safety features than you could shake a stick at. It's petrol, comfortable and has great systems for stopping you from getting too close to other vehicles, for keeping in lane, for parking easily. I can select a manual option if I wish to interact more. Cars have certainly moved on and I believe all electric vehicles will be automatic.

Driving me automatics is a dream. I disliked one I had 14 years ago but love my Mini Cooper countryman - it’s a hybrid

I have an automatic Honda Jazz. Love it, no problems at all.

Sorry Wiser, I didn't see your post asking me what car I drive.
We drive a Kia Sportage - which may be too big for you. We got it initially because we towed a folding camper, and now it takes my mobility buggy.
Since my first hip replacement I have driven automatics, and have had Toyota, Honda and Kia. All I can say is that I have never experienced the juddering you describe.
I hope you sort something out.