1.4i EX 5dr Auto Hatchback

A well built high specification car providing comfort, safety and easy driving.

Needing to change from a 1.7 diesel manual Vauxhall Meriva (6 years and 80K) to a car that is more suited for semi-retirement and sharing with my wife I took care to read many reviews. My final choice governed by physical size, auto box, economy and a petrol engine boiled down to the Honda 1.4 or the MB A class (2.0 diesel). After reading so many negative reviews about the Ishift, but so many good reviews about the car as whole I was in a quandary. In the end I took HJ's advice and bought a 11 month EX Ishift. After a few days of getting to know the car I cannot understand what all the fuss was about concerning the Ishift. Driven with a little intelligence the system provides a smooth and comfortable drive and the economy that I wanted. On the typical 35 mile commute to work into Birmingham city centre it is totally strees free. It is not perfect, being a little sticky in th first 200- 300 yards as I negotiate some back streets, but once warmed up - smooth. I suppose coming from a manual gearbox it was easier. I have only used the manual option for a few minutes but again found the wheel mounted paddles simple and the changes smooth. There many other things I could mention e.g. system sensing a down gradient and shifting to a lower gear, but it would take too long. After 2 weeks and 1400 miles I am happy.

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