What small automatic to replace my Volvo S40?

We are trying to sell our Volvo S40 1.8 flex fuel purchased in 2009 and road tax paid until May 2012. It is good as new with only 37,000km on the clock and we are trying to get an automatic small car instead. How much do you think is a fair garage offer as it's a hassle to sell privately, and what's a good small automatic car?

Mary Gonzalez (Kildare)

Oct 2011 Filed under: choosing new car

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Expert answer

Hello Mary,

You will probably get offered in and around the €15,000 mark for your S40 Flex Fuel model, but this could stretch to €16,000 if you traded it in against a new car. You didn't mention if you wanted a new or a used small automatic to replace your Volvo, but I will assume that you want a new car. 

I am not sure how small you want to go, but there are a few decent small automatic cars around, but not that many. The best of them would probably be the automatic Ford Fiesta, which is a really great little car for the money. We quite like the Hyundai i20 1.4 Deluxe Auto too. This is a fine little car. My top choice and the one I would buy is the Skoda Fabia 1.2 TSI Sportline with the excellent DSG gearbox, which is simply superb. 

Hope that helps

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