Car dilemma. Hoping someone can help!

Would be interesting to know what you decide to buy, Wiser.

Mines a mini, DH has. Renault, both automatic, neither of us has any problem with either. My mini is 13.
Sure it’s not your husbands driving? 😂😂😂

I drive an 04 Vauxhall astra automatic, it never lags,very speedy at traffic lights and best of all ULEZ compliant! I would never go back to a manual.

I drove a Nissan sunny automatic for years, no problem. I now drive a Mazda automatic that I've had for approx 10 years. Absolutely no problems
I don't know about your problem with your car.. I have never heard of that.

My son says his old automatic Mustang convertible did the lag thing.
He uses a lot of hire cars on his (work) travels and says it's the only car he's driven that has ever done it.

I am certain he will not be slow at junctions! 🏎💨

Modern automatics are fine DCTs are manual with a clutch and computer to change gear much more complicated if they go wrong it can be very expensive. They are not favoured S/H

I’ve driven one automatic car in the whole of my driving career which is over 60 yrs. I said “never again “ afterwards and have never been tempted.
Mind you, it might have been due to the caravan it was towing.

Beibg a caravanner always had a large diesel engine with manual transmission for really good torque. Your DH coukd perhaps benefit from a few driving lessons in whatever newer car you buy to familiarise himself with different systems and receive comments on best practice to get the best out of the vehicle. Not criticising his driving only emphasising that vehicles have changed massively in recent years and do need getting used to.

I drive a Toyota CH-R hybrid . It is a 1.8 petrol car with partial electric, self charging. It is also automatic . It drives like a dream . Average mileage is 62 miles per gallon and when driven at 30 mph it can do as many as 99 mpg . I love it but my daughter who was totally against automatic cars loves it too and won’t drive their car unless she absolutely has to .

I drive a Honda Civic automatic. It’s the best car I’ve ever had, very responsive and I’ve never noticed any kind of lag and am often first away from the lights. It’s wonderful and it’s petrol driven.

Never noticed any lag with my husbands automatic and its eleven years old certainly not ULEZ compliant as its Jag XF but a newer model would be. We will change it eventually but it is in very good condition. It moves away very quickly at junctions and lights but it does have a 3 5ltr engine.

I drive a self-charging Qashqai. I love it!

Hi I think the lag issue occurs in semi automatic cars (where you can opt to go into manual). You need a fully automatic car. I have a Toyota Yaris automatic and it is fab. You can pull away very quickly at a roundabout or junction. It is 6 years old and petrol and is a dream to drive. It is very spritely and definitely no lagging.

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?!

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.