What do I choose?

 

Nothing VW based until the emissions scandal is sorted. It could have a bearing on your P11D once the new figures are revealed.

Not the Zafira as it might go up in flames!

 

All se which look Kak but if I had to choose maybe the elite nav insignia lots of toys...

But prob the BMW active tourer

 

Looking at that list..........the cash alternative???

 

My mate got a 118d seven speed auto looks nice and my mom got a merc a180 again looks nice but abit underpowered as a 1.5d but great on fuel.

 

your mom?

I have the Elite Insignia and I love it. Top of the range low-mid range car. Does everything a merc does, just doesn't look as fancy.

 

I had a similar choice a few years back and went with a Volvo good combination of luxury and prestige without being common as muck, I quite liked it but it cost me a fair bit and at the end of it all I wished I'd have gone for a mondeo or a focus because it was effectively the same as a focus but in a fancy, expensive frock.

So my advice would be the one that costs you the least because once the initial euphoria wears off (about a month) it's the cost that bothers you.

 

LOL, I was thinking that, never noticed just how many boring cars there are out there until it's all put in one list.

Merc A class for me- depending on spec. I'd want to see it first though as poverty model Mercs can be woefully drab places to be inside.

If you aren't into cars or driving the Lexus CT200h ; it's a flashy Prius without the sycophantic image. Smooth and quiet, but it's not a drivers car in the slightest.

The Mazda 3 with the 2.2 should move along nice (Is it diesel or petrol?) be warned the Mazda diesels do like to fill the sump up with diesel. So you may get issue unless it's changed between services which maybe difficult to get authorised by the lease company.

The insignias I deal with seem to suffer from too many niggly faults; boot handle, climate control/radio display dyeing, steering racks failing, boost hoses popping- these are all on newish cars that do approx 40k per annum.

Mondeo; bit soft in the handling department for me (maybe because all the ones I drive have 17"wheels and Eco tyres? ) but one annoying flaw for me in my seating position for motorway driving is it has a quite a large blind spot by the driver's side B-pillar. The mirrors are big enough but regardless of position can miss a car along side me; Looking over my shoulder doesn't work because the b-pillar is so large and too close to the seat so all I see is plastic trim! You'll won't notice it's an issue until you join a motorway whilst a car is in that blind spot, never had that issue in other cars. I also wouldn't advise jerking the steering to avoid side swiping a car; it went into a pendulum motion; seemed the shocks and /or ARBs were too soft - squidgy sidewall tyres don't help I guess.

 

i had a choice of a ford focuse zetec, astra or cash, i took the cash hahaha

personaly i'd get an older car, if doing lots of motorway an older e39 5 series, cost you about a grand a year even if you replace it every year. if not doing lots of milage then just summit cheap.

are you getting all fuel paid or gotta put fuel in yourself? do you get paid for the comute?

 

Cash alternative is 3600 per annum and is subject to tax abuse. I'll opt out of the fuel card as I only live a mile from work, but I'll be expected to drive to work and use said car in the event of going on company business.

I suspect I'll max 4000-6000 personal miles, and perhaps another 6000 business miles if I'm lucky!

 

Skoda Superb

 

From experience the insignia is a great car i had 2, not sure how the 140bhp one fairs as I had the 163bhp, assuming the insignia is a manual (as I believe VX dont do auto on start stop yet) the S/S function is rubbish in fact it'll drive you insane as it won't work when you expect it to and will when you don't. (all down to many criteria it needs to tick for it to work) apart from that a car with plenty of kit on it all the ones you would want too.

The Volvo V60 i have currently myself as my company car (had it since Oct) mine is the D4 with 181 bhp and I am suprised to see the CO2 on your list as I thoughts the D4 saloon was 99 grams/co2.

the car itself is really nice to drive, comfortable and does exactly what it's supposed to but the business edition although has NAV lacks quite a few of the goodies you would get with the insignia, which is also slightly bigger than the V60.

In regards to anything for well, I would steer clear but thats a personal preference and I know plenty of people who buy them....like iphones I suppose there is always someone for something.

Some of the other could be interesting to have but you need to remember you will probably be stuck with it for 3 years depending on what your company does.

I would suggest doing a shortlist and then going to test drive some if nothing else you will get the driver experience and be able to make up your own mind.

 

If it were my choice I think I would probably consider the BMW 2 or the Skodas.

 

The BMW 2 is the Active tourer model, don't confuse that with the 2series saloon;

The Active tourer is front wheel drive and based on the chassis from the Mini Countryman.

Not saying it's a bad car, but it's not like any BMW that preceded it.

 

I would probably do the Mondeo or Volvo.

 

What a shocking list!

 

Rob if you only do that many miles buy 1.
the amount you save on TAX as well as the allowance will be enough for a 450 500 quid a month car... ISH

Both myself and mate both cashed in as we only drive to work and do business Miles when needed, i do 5k a year.

Company cars are a con now, unless your doing 15k plus IE salesman.

You can get a BMW 520D for less than 400 a month now... I know what id do...
To put it in context Myself and my mate earn a lot of cash, hes on 12k a year more as hes a director and can bath in Cash, but he chooses to be under the 50% Tax as it become a ball ache. Anyway i take cash he doesn't he has the Audi A6 Bi turbo beast and a fuel card, i take homes 1000 more a month than him....

Hes just sacked it off and bought a lease car for 620 a month personal a loaded BMW X5 Msport.

Honestly ring around, it is cheaper....and you can get what you want....

 

I'm slightly fooled into thinking I am being followed by an Aston Martin when a new Mondeo appears behind me.lol.Think it's the grill

I quite the look of them

 

My allowance isn't much to be honest, then after taking into account the tax, I'm paying around £300 - £320pm for a company car.

In relation to what's been said with the choices, and the personal car, I've been looking at 320D m sport circa 2006-2008.....

I'll have a good look at other options......

 

no I think the same - very similar design cues

 

For the sort of milage you'll be doing I'd be looking at petrols, cheaper to buy and saves any hassle with all the problems that modern diesels suffer from, real life fuel consumption is also not that far apart, plenty of modern petrols getting mid 30's even my WRX does 36mpg @ constant 70/80mpg, with petrol being cheaper than diesel that equates to around 40mpg (man maths) in a diesel which is a more realistic real word 2/ 3.L diesel car mpg.

Just some food for thought.

 

Your probably right Ditch, I assume you mean motorway, ie "constant 70/80mph".

I need to make a decision, yes/no, on the company car by next week really. So I'll be surfing the Internet for ideas this weekend.

I had to travel to Manchester yesterday, so I called into a Volvo garage, I have to say I wasn't blown away, although they have come a very long way with design concepts.

Rob

 

Did you manage to drive the Volvo?

 

No, I should have, but it was more of a passing through, get out of car for 10 minute look around sort of saga with no pressing sales man.

 

I'm having the same issues making my choice. I get £400 a month or a car but don't fancy any of the cars.

Not sure what you can get for £400 a month yet but fancy an A6 avant black edition.

 

Yeah typo, 70/80 mph = 36mpg, repeated for over 4yrs generally fully loaded too and that's an 11yr old subaru with over 120k on the clock, even gets 28mpg around town if you go easy on the loud pedal.

I'm sure more modern cars can do even better.

 

Thats a shame, driving one is always a bonus they are so comfortable even in the back I am told lol.

 

No one has actually pointed out the Peugeot 308 2ltr BlueHDI Feline 150, its acutally very comfy and handles well, has enough room in it to bung any kit in you need and is very well specc'd up (sat nav, front and rear parking sensors, auto lights/wipers/dimming int mirror, reversing camera, half leather, 18 inch wheels, panoramic roof with electric blind etc).
Suppose to do 76mpg so more like low 60's which isnt bad for a car with 150bhp and 273lbs of torque.
I pick mine up in around 9 days, the electric handbrake takes some getting use to but the rest of the car is really nice and its nice to drive also.
I should mention that they dont do the Feline any more so you may get the GT spec instead

Just to show you what you get

http://www.usedcars.peugeot.co.uk/ve..._#.VlBrAtLhBaQ

 

Update.

I refused the company car scheme, and have opted to get my own. I currently have an Astra that I use (had for 2 years) but isn't worth much.

My options are endless, but I have been considering the below for both "elegance" and "power". Help needed please.

2006+ BMW M5 V10
2008+ STI Hatch
Much more....

Rob

 

For the same money as either of those you could get yourself an incredibly well-specced Lexus LS600h. Heated reclining rear massage seats? Go on, you know you want to