Most Korean cars have torque converter autoboxes, but so does Yaris 1, thats where i would be looking.

Vauxhall Astra model G or H up to 2010. Great auto box that rarely gives trouble.Plenty of choice for this sort of budget.

At your budget, your problem is going to be finding something worth buying, as indicated by the previous post. I'd be thinking along the lines of a daihatsu (sirion, charade or cuore), kia (picanto or rio), hyundai (accent or getz), suzuki (alto, ignis or wagon r).

Possibly the one thing in your favour is that older small automatics will tend to have been bought by older drivers, more likely to look after them.

Also, bear in mind what carl mentioned about the type of gearbox. As far as i am aware, all the cars i mentioned have a traditional 'torque converter' auto, which in your budget, is what you are best going for. However, some cars in your budget will be early 'automated manual' gearboxes, these tend to have issues with both reliability and driveability (jerky changes, delays between you putting your foot down and anything happening). I dont know all the cars within your budget likely to have these, but i know for a fact, the mk6 fiesta ('02-'08) 1.4 does (the 1.6 doesnt), also, i'm pretty sure the fiat grand punto does.

I'm surprised the Ford Focus isn't in SL076's list - there are loads available for less than £1000, some with low mileages. Our Xreg auto Focus is still going strong at 124,000m with no issues.