Metropolitan?

[NutmegCT]

Most of you know I'm now hunting for a relatively "classic" small car, that doesn't require lots of clutch use.

Metropolitan used to offer the "E-stick", which would meet my needs.

1. Is the Met considered a British car?

2. Is anyone familiar with actually driving one, especially with E-stick?

Thanks.
Tom (who fondly remembers our 1952 Nash Rambler wagon, which we called the "Doodle Bug".) Looked just like this:

 

[Jerry]

We consider it a British car at our show. But as cute as they are, I talked to a guy who said they struggle to hit 55mph. That would be a liability to my driving.

Jerry

 

[NutmegCT]

Thanks Jerry. I believe they gradually increased HP for the Met over the years. But it's the e-stick that would help me and my decrepit left leg.

Any idea what year your buddy's 55mph Met is?

Tom

 

[HealeyRick]

Tom,

Are you sure the Met came with the e-stick, I thought they only had manuals. Maybe you could find a Daimler SP250 with an auto (my friend has one not for sale and not many around) or a Porsche 912 with a Sportomatic?

 

[NutmegCT]

Rick - thanks for the kick to my brain. You're right - Met didn't use it. The Classic and American did. Story of my life: barking up the wrong chassis.

Say, I believe the early 1960s Jaguars (Mk II) offered an automatic. I believe ...

Tom

 

[HealeyRick]

I'd do some research before buying any classic lbc with an automatic. Those old Borg-Warners weren't the best trannys in the world. Makes me think, though, a lot of MGCs came with automatics.

 

[coldplugs]

I don't know if it was stock, but I had friends a few years ago with a Spitfire with an automatic. What about a Corvair Monza or similar?

 

[NutmegCT]

hmmm - an Alfa ... hmmm

 

[aeronca65t]

You may not like the best answer to this problem.........Miata.

Otherwise, VW Beetles came with the A.S.S (automatic stick shift.....no clutch pedal but you shift gears).
Or SAAB Saxomat (similar to the VW A.S.S. system).

Volvo 122S fully automatic (other than the Miata, this would be my pick).

My foot doctor has an ALFA Spider automatic (uses BMW auto trans).

There were MGB and MGC automatics using the BW 35 auto trans. Pretty hard to find these days I imagine.

The new Ferraris and Porsches come with paddle shifters and no clutch pedal. Suggested MSRP on the Ferrari is $257,412. If money's tight, you can get a new Porsche for about $150K less. :wink-new:

EDIT: ~HERE~ are some slushbox MGs in the UK.

 

[NutmegCT]

"Suggested MSRP on the Ferrari is $257,412. If money's tight, you can get a new Porsche for about $150K less."

A mere $150K? Jeez, I'll get a pair! (I think ... I ... feel ... faint ...)

 

[JPSmit]

There is a Daimler 250 sedan not too far from me. Almost certain it is automatic and, while it needs work would be really inexpensive to get in your drive - and I have heard it run. Would need some pinhole type bodywork and likely a new interior.

 

[NutmegCT]

hmmm - something like this?

 

[JPSmit]

Yup. Not as good shape though. Engine purrs - and its a hemi - undercarriage is solid and, I suspect $1500 - $2000 CDN would drive it home

 

[NutmegCT]

JP - is this shown for sale online anywhere?

I'm trying to get some idea of who has it, what it looks like, history, etc.

Thanks.

 

[Sarastro]

I just lucked into a 2003 Toyota MR2 Spyder, in great shape with only 27K miles. It has the "sequential manual" transmission, which is one of the automatically controlled manual transmissions. You have to shift it--there's no fully automatic mode, but there is no clutch. My clutch leg is OK for now, but thanks to my messed-up left ankle, I can see the day when I won't be able to deal with a clutch. I like the MR2; it's a lot like the British cars in many respects. Not quite as much fun, but almost. The worst thing about it is zero cargo space. I think that a later MR2 might be worth considering.

 

[JPSmit]

JP - is this shown for sale online anywhere?

I'm trying to get some idea of who has it, what it looks like, history, etc.

Thanks.

PM sent

 

[billspohn]

Not many auto MGBs made, but quite a few MGCs, so that would be a good bet.

You might find an MG Magnette with the rare Manumatic gearbox, but that might be a mixed blessing if you needed to service it.

 

[aeronca65t]

Bill just reminded me of something.

The old, Austin America (1300 in the UK). I had two of these.....both automatics.

https://www.austinamericausa.com/


...and you know, the NEW Minis with automatic aren't bad either.

 

[Silverghost]

One of the guys in the Chicagoland MG club has a 69 MGC with an automatic for sale. When I get home, I'll look up the ad in the club news letter and send you the specifics.

 

[Tybalt]

You may not like the best answer to this problem.........Miata.

Otherwise, VW Beetles came with the A.S.S (automatic stick shift.....no clutch pedal but you shift gears).
Or SAAB Saxomat (similar to the VW A.S.S. system). .....

We had another name for the A.S.S. where the middle word was rather similar to the last word but had one fewer letters. As for the Miata, not sure that I'd want an NA or an NB with a slushy, but from what I understand the slushy in the NC (2006 - 2015) with the flappy paddles is pretty good.