My Mother who is soon to retire wants to buy a car later this year.
She has bad knees and a bad back so she needs something very soft and comfortable. Although she'd rather she can't drive a manual because her bad knees mean she can't keep pressing a clutch pedal in, so a smooth automatic gearbox is also on the list.
Nothing to big ideally, she likes to get a bit of a move on so nothing to slow either although can't be a petrol/diesel guzzler.
The main elements are,
as comfortable as possible and a good auto box.
Looking at used cars with a budget of about £7,000.

She currently drives a Smart ForFour auto, suspension is hard and 'sporty', engine is loud although has a good amount of power and is very good on petrol.
Auto box is very jerky, gets easily confused and pauses for about half an hour between changes.

Any ideas would be greatly appreciated

I'd have said she could have my Pajero mini but it's mine and I love it

Sadly all the Fiat autos are automated manuals like the Smart, so always a little jerky.
For a smooth auto, you need a CVT or torque converter auto.
Soft, try a Renault Clio
Medium, Corsa auto is a lovely car.

Could look at Micra

portland_bill said:

Sadly all the Fiat autos are automated manuals like the Smart, so always a little jerky.
For a smooth auto, you need a CVT or torque converter auto.
Soft, try a Renault Clio
Medium, Corsa auto is a lovely car.

Could look at Micra

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We have a mk2 Fiat Punto Speedgear in the family, its a CVT and is very nice although the ride is much to harsh and she's looking for something a bit newer.

Probably wan't something a bit bigger than a Clio, will look into auto Corsa's,
Thanks

Audi A3 perhaps?

Gen 2 Toyota Prius? Much as I'm not a fan it has a CVT box, is a decent sized car and there are plenty around in budget.

ChrisUK said:

Audi A3 perhaps?

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Probably a bit too low and firm ride for Mum My friend has a 2007 and its quite firm.

StevenRB45 said:

Gen 2 Toyota Prius? Much as I'm not a fan it has a CVT box, is a decent sized car and there are plenty around in budget.

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Someone has suggested me a Honda Civic Hybrid, so in many ways somewhat similar. She's happy with it being good on petrol and £20 a year to tax, the Honda is CVT too so maybe test driving both.

I would suggest a Honda Jazz, 1.4 petrol engine teamed up with a 7 speed auto box (with flappy paddle gear shift if sporty driving is required). Good fuel ecconomy quite high so easy to get in/out of. Very versitile and very very reliable. My mother bought a new one in 2014 and loves it, although her 308 was more comfortable with the soft french suspension.

Comes as a hybrid too but they are still quite rare.

Didge3 said:

Someone has suggested me a Honda Civic Hybrid, so in many ways somewhat similar. She's happy with it being good on petrol and £20 a year to tax, the Honda is CVT too so maybe test driving both.

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Thinking about it, you can get a Mazda 3 with a slushbox for the money easily as well. Mine rides a little firm (think well judged rather than german sporty) but does not crash over bumps, the autos tend to be TS or TS2 spec so would have smaller wheels and bigger tyres which would smooth things out further. It's a nomal petrol and torque converter though so cheap purchase would be offset by Tax and fuel costs so it would depend on her annual mileage. Either same 1.6 as mine which would be pretty slow with a slushbox or a 2.0.