Perhaps she has only got an automatic licence.

Surely this warrants a safety recall

“By 7 or 8 years old most of today’s cars will be scrapped” hopefully not as my V70 is 13 already, there are so many older cars still giving great service with many makes we are all told to avoid about. Look round any large car park and you will see many examples.

Your 13 year old V70 was a 1 year old V70 when the post you are 'replying' to was posted!.

A recall for a fault on a 13 year old car?

The car in question was 5 years old when the recall was suggested.

The 500 is very popular, particularly with ladies. I know several who have them.

I would imagine the Abarth is quite fast, although I haven't driven one.

I think your comment about reliability is untrue, from what I've seen Fiat are quite good mid-field players. Not the best, but far from the worst.

They’re not known for making anything reliable, in fact they have a terrible reputation.

Not true. The n/a 1.2 as used in the Panda and 500 is fine, as is the n/a and turbo 1.4 used in the 500L, 500X, Doblo and Tipo. Engine wise, it is only really the diesels and Twinair that don't have a great reputation, and Fiat are a very long way from being alone there. This post is specifically about the Dualogic single clutch automated manual, a type of gearbox that doesn't exactly cover itself in glory regarding reliability (and drivability) regardless of who's badge is on the front.

With so much choice out there, what makes people buy a fiat?

Fiat these days are pretty much a one trick pony, the 500. The rest of the range sells very little in the UK, but plenty in countries where refreshingly little is cared about badge snobbery. But the 500 is still a very strong seller (in this country) despite its age, and I have no trouble at all understanding why. The Tipo and Doblo both offer spectacular value for money bought new (from a broker) and nearly new for folk who don't feel the need to buy a car based on its ability to impress others.

They’re not quick

How fast does a car need to be?, the basic 69bhp version of the 500 exceeds the maximum speed allowed in this country by 30mph.

they’re not good looking

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

they’re not spacious

Compared to what exactly?. The 500 is less than 3.6m long, which car of a comparable size is it less spacious than?. The 500X is comparably spacious to other small SUV's, the standard length Doblo 5 seater has absolutely plenty of space for its passengers as well as 790 litres of boot volume, the LWB version has 1050 litres (assuming 5 rather than 7 seats), just how much more space do you need?. The Tipo has a longer wheelbase and bigger boot than a Golf.

People who can only drive automatics are better off going for something with a torque-converter, and with enough power to offset it.

The power aspect isn't an issue really, not sure it ever has, other than with folk who have to be driving fast. I remember driving a Daihatsu Move auto (T/C) with an 850cc 3 cyl engine making 43bhp. It wasn't fast, but it was nippy enough in town.

The main drawback for T/C auto in a small car was more about the loss of efficiency. Modern T/C auto's in small cars don't have that same loss, but a stepped CVT is, to me anyway, the obvious solution. The fact that only Toyota and Honda stuck with the CVT is, I believe, in no small part down to the overwhelmingly negative portrayal of CVT's in the motoring press.