The Kia Picanto is an excellent little car with an impressive torque-converter automatic gearbox and a seven-year warranty. Also, consider a Suzuki Swift - it will be very reliable and cheap to run, with a six-speed torque-converter transmission. A Honda Jazz might be another good option. It's bigger than the Picanto and Swift, but is very practical and easy to get in and out of. The CVT gearbox is very robust, too.