Car dilemma. Hoping someone can help!

We have a Citroen C3 automatic and it is fine, previously we had a Honda Jazz and it developed the juddering problem after a few years. Our son just had a Jaguar automatic, it is the first automatic he has owned and he loves it, before he bought it he did lots of research reading reviews etc which is worth doing as there is a lot of information on the Internet.

I love my son's automatic Audi which is petrol. I drove it for 3 weeks about a year ago when we went to visit him. It was a "sporty" drive and very responsive. Never had that problem. Will try to remember the model. It was a beautiful drive - I have a manual Audi which is much less fabulous to drive. I would definitely consider an Audi.

I have inherited a Honda Jazz which is automatic and though I don't like it at all I have never had the juddery problem in that either! I do like to use the "sport" mode if I want it to be nippy (eg busy city driving) but don't use it all the time.

Jane43 - this Jazz is 8 now. Maybe the juddering will come! 🥺

I think Nannarose has mentioned the three key words. Toyota, Honda, Kia. All modern cars are reliable, some more than others though. These three invariably top reliability charts each year. Particularly in automatic form. Join the owners'forums online, ask questions and seek advice. You will be welcomed. Take your time, make up your own minds - it is a big expense. Good luck.

My son has an Audi S3. His wife's is an Audi A4.

Don't modern cars have two turbos?
One starting low revs and one high revs? And then surely the new car electronics should be countering that.

I would definitely look at newer Audis if you haven't already.

Marmin you have still got to "gel" with a car though. Irrespective of reliability.
What you need is to find a car that "feels" right as well as operating reliably.

Lexus is a Toyota brand but super-smooth and luxurious. If I had spare cash I'd definitely look there! I haven't driven a new one except as a hire car for s few days but that was an automatic abd didn't judder either.

Hate the scrappage system. Can't he hang on to the Volvo and find another way to get through the ulez or do you live inside it or something? Never going to be greener to have to scrap a good car

I don't think that modern automatics would be any problem at all, but obviously a test drive is the answer.

Wiser surely your husband can ask the sales person about this issue?

Jess20

Hate the scrappage system. Can't he hang on to the Volvo and find another way to get through the ulez or do you live inside it or something? Never going to be greener to have to scrap a good car

I'm guessing that Wiser lives in a similar area to us, we are in ULEZ and have no choice. Prior to the recent changes we were very close to the boundary and it would have been very easy to slip into it without realising, so we ditched our old cars (26 and 21 years old) replacing with with compliant vehicles.
We didn't have scrappage at the time so it was an expensive exercise, but it would have had to be done fairly soon anyway.

I have a 2019 VW Tiguan automatic. ULEZ compliant. No lag. Very nice to drive and very responsive. I hope your husband finds a car to suit him

i drive a hyundai i10 automatic and i love it. it's a motability car so i've no idea on price.
as i'm a larger lady i was concerned about the amount of room in the driver's seat but there's plenty of room and a passenger isn't sitting shoulder ti shoulder with me.
i haven't noticed any lag when driving off at junctions or traffic lights and the acceleration is great (not that i zoom off at junctions unlike some drivers).
i would recommend hyundai and if you don't feel the i10 is roomy enough there's the i20.

I have an automatic BMW 3 Series, my third BMW. I’ve never experienced this lagging you mention.

Test driving is the way to go so make some appointments and see what you think.

Don't understand cars - but a warning if considering a NEW car. My husband gets a Mobility car, and ordered a replacement in February...we are collecting today 4 months late. Apparently all EU cars are affected, so I hope you're not in a hurry.

Treetops
It’s not just eu cars, it’s a worldwide problem. There is a shortage of micro chips ( this is not just affecting the car industry) the industry is hoping that it’s coming to an end about now.

OP, you mentioned that your husband is feeling confused by the decision-making; do you think that perhaps he does not really want to drive anymore ?
do you really need to run a car.
and must it be an automatic, seems the issue is related to that transmission.
i prefer manual, though have driven autos for work.
so many incidents with older people and automatics, saying the brakes failed, when in fact they have pressed down, hard, on the accelerator.
i was nearly struck by one such years ago, when a car mounted the pavement and described a circle, embedding itself into a lamp standard.
a few feet from where i had been standing dithering, a few seconds earlier.
it kind of put me off automatics.

We are wondering whether the fact that it is diesel automatic with dct that is the problem. He had an automatic Volvo before the V50 which was petrol and not dct and no problem at all. Monica were your car's petrol or diesel? The aspect of the car lagging when you are pulling out onto a roundabout or big junction is what he is trying to avoid. He has read the dct articles recommended by caransvera and is currently looking at Hyundai. He test drove a kia Sportage and liked it. He is very keen to avoid the lag issue.

DS has a Volvo EX 90, fully electric, automatic transmission.
DH drives a VM Mokka Ultimate, again fully electric and automatic.
DiL and I each have a VM Corsa GS, both of which are fully electric with automatic transmission.
We all drive one another's cars regularly, and none of us have any problem with any of them!
Automatic cars are a world away from what they were like 12 or 14 years ago.

If you’re going to get a car - new or used - make sure it is fuel efficient! A 12 yr old car must have been a gas (petrol) guzzler. You don’t want that again.

Aren’t most petrol cars registered after 2006 ULEZ compliant? Or do you want an electric model?

Gundy

If you’re going to get a car - new or used - make sure it is fuel efficient! A 12 yr old car must have been a gas (petrol) guzzler. You don’t want that again.

Gundy
My OH has one of those ( a gas guzzler)
Here it is.

Is the lag more to do with stop/start than the gear box? That is the only time I think there is a problem. I have driven the Toyota CHR and the Honda HRV, both hybrids, both automatics and they have both been brilliant little cars. If I were you, start looking at Hybrids because they are so easy to drive, you don't have to worry about charging as long as you don't get a plug in.

MerylStreep That truck looks retro cool. 😉 Boys and toys… can’t do much about it, as long as they can afford their hobby.

I drive a FIFTEEN yr old Toyota Camry Hybrid (with a battery, plus gas). I get incredible mileage.

We have had a petrol Skoda Fabia estate auto for 10 years. Ulez compliant, no shudder between gears- very smooth, even passengers remark on the smooth gear change.

Well Wiser, I read the comments and I'm baffled. I've driven since 17 (wow, 50+_ years) including several automatics, some of those in some stints as a taxi driver (Mercs mostly, of those).

I'd regard "lagging" as more of a thing for plumbers (?!) as modern-day automatics (in fact for many years now) should have no such issues. If you're in Greater London, then the general traffic levels mean you can't possibly need F1 acceleration anyway?!

If he even remotely considered an 'mg' I'd have major doubts (they're not those nice models from yesteryear!) - but the comments re Berlingos looked useful, and I'd definitely read Ashcombe thoroughly, re their Ford Zetec, looks just the job for you?!