Company Car choices

[ALBA MELV]

Afternoon All,

My current company car (2010 Focus 1.6 Econetic Diesel) is due for renewal soon. I have been sent the lists to choose from but there is no clear favourite at the moment. Appreciate your inputs for / against any of the below.

Bit of background

Daily commute - 50 miles each way that takes about an hour. 40 miles are NSL (60mph) A road and 10 miles are NSL (70mph) dual carriageway.

P11d / MPG - Not really a concern as they are all fairly similar and will have extras added. I have a company fuel card too.

Family - Wife is allowed to drive the company car. Have a young son (16 months) and will have another sprog at some point the the next 2 years, all going well.

Other vehicles - Mrs Melv does have a Signum (2.2 petrol) that can be used for family days out but the tight arse in me would prefer to use the company car for any long journeys. I have a weekend toy at present that will get sold on and possibly replaced with a Clio 172/182 for weekends.

The list
A1 5DR SPORTBACK 2.0 TDI S LINE
A3 5DR SPORTBACK in either 2.0 TDI 150 SPORT, 1.6 TDI 105 S LINE or 1.6 TDI 105 SPORT S TRONIC trim
1 Series 5dr Hatch - Everything from 114d 1.6 Sport Professionsl Media up to and including 120d SE business media auto
FOCUS 5DR ESTATE 1.6 TDCI 115 TITANIUM X NAVIGATOR
MONDEO 5DR HATCH or ESTATE 1.6 TDCI ECO TITANIUM X BUSINESS EDITION
A180 5DR HATCH 1.5 CDI AMG SPORT
A180 5DR HATCH 1.5 CDI SE MAP PILOT AUTO
GOLF 5DR HATCH 1.6 TDI 105 SE EDITION DSG7
GOLF 5DR HATCH 2.0 TDI 150 6SP GT
GOLF 5DR ESTATE 2.0 TDI 150 6SP GT
JETTA 4DR SALOON 1.6 TDI 105 BMT SE
JETTA 4DR SALOON 1.6 TDI 105 BMT SE DSG
JETTA 4DR SALOON 1.6 TDI 105 BMT SPORT
PASSAT 4DR SALOON 1.6 TDI 105 6SP BLUEMOTION
PASSAT 4DR SALOON 1.6 TDI 105 6SP EXECUTIVE
PASSAT 5DR ESTATE 1.6 TDI 105 6SP BLUEMOTION

That's it. No other cars and diesel only.
I have not included the Mini Countryman or the Renault Scenic range that are on the list as I really don't fancy them.

Go for it.....

Edited by ALBA MELV on Wednesday 5th March 17:11

[simo1863]

Do you have the benefit of private fuel or not?

If not, how do they deduct you? A lot of businesses now adopt an 'actual' method rather than by the traditional HMRC advisory fuel rates.

[trickywoo]

Highest spec most powerful 1 Series available.

[coogy]

GOLF 5DR HATCH 2.0 TDI 150 6SP GT

Only one that stands out imo.

[ToothbrushMan]

if you change every 3 to 4 years and youre on the verge of having sprog no.2 id think an estate is high on the list like the Passat. Might only have 105ps but it will be plenty enough for a family of 4 and luggage.
failing that an MPV.

i think you might regret the golfs and focus etc - maybe too small for a family of 4 plus "stuff"

had kids not been in the equation it would have been the Golf GT 6 speed for me.

[BritishRacinGrin]

120d, Mondeo estate if you require more room.

[Chris Stott]

If the Golf is big enough for the family (current and expected), I'd take that. If not, the Mondeo - doubt you'd need the estate though as the hatch is already massive!

[NPI]

I'd have a serious look at the Mondeo hatch.

No idea what its engine is like though. Make sure you and the missus can live with size of it - current Mondeo is huge.

Golf would very good too, but without wanting to get into an argument about how much stuff kids have, there are times with 2 small children when the Golf will struggle for space.

[stumpage]

Golf estate (which I assume will be much the same as our Octavia estate for space) will be a good option with 2 kids, loads of room and a big boot.

[sjg]

Golf estate for me too. Big without being too big - the current Passat wagon is huge. Golf still has 605 litres, plenty big enough for holidays, kids clutter, etc.

[ALBA MELV]

Wow! Thanks for all the replies so far. Greatly appreciated.

simo1863 said:

Do you have the benefit of private fuel or not?

If not, how do they deduct you? A lot of businesses now adopt an 'actual' method rather than by the traditional HMRC advisory fuel rates.

I have to submit business mileage totals to the company every month. HR report private miles to HMRC.

trickywoo said:

Highest spec most powerful 1 Series available.

Why? Is it because RWD Good, FWD Bad?

I have never owned a RWD and think I'd prefer FWD for winter. I've never had a problem with any other FWD in winter weather, colleagues who had RWD didn't get on very well. Possibly because of "normal" tyres and 5"+ of snow.....

coogy said:

GOLF 5DR HATCH 2.0 TDI 150 6SP GT. Only one that stands out imo.

That was my first thought but maybe the estate version would be better given the sproglet that may appear down the line before my next change in 4 years time.

ToothbrushMan said:

if you change every 3 to 4 years and youre on the verge of having sprog no.2 id think an estate is high on the list like the Passat. Might only have 105ps but it will be plenty enough for a family of 4 and luggage. Failing that an MPV.

i think you might regret the golfs and focus etc - maybe too small for a family of 4 plus "stuff" had kids not been in the equation it would have been the Golf GT 6 speed for me.

Mrs Melv likes the idea of the Passat estate. She does have a Signum (2.2 petrol) that can be used for family days out but the tight arse in me would prefer to use the company car for any long journeys.

BritishRacinGrin said:

120d, Mondeo estate if you require more room.

Thanks. I'm not too much of a BMW fan although I've never owned one or any other RWD for that matter. RWD and snow here in winter can be a pain in the arse, especially as the company cant be persuaded to fit winter tyres.

Saying that I fitted winters to the front of my Focus this year and we've rarely had any snow on the ground. They don't seem to be any better than "normal" tyres for damp roads / roundabouts.

Chris Stott said:

If the Golf is big enough for the family (current and expected), I'd take that. If not, the Mondeo - doubt you'd need the estate though as the hatch is already massive!

Cheers, agreed on the mondeo too. Borrowed a 60 plate hatch from a colleague to transport the family, 3 suitcases, travel cot, etc from Aberdeenshire to Manchester when going on Holiday and everything fitted into the boot with a bit of tetris like precision.

stumpage said:

Golf estate (which I assume will be much the same as our Octavia estate for space) will be a good option with 2 kids, loads of room and a big boot.

Thanks, I think I will be adding the Golf GT estate to the shortlist for test drives.

NPI said:

I'd have a serious look at the Mondeo hatch. No idea what its engine is like though. Make sure you and the missus can live with size of it - current Mondeo is huge.

Golf would very good too, but without wanting to get into an argument about how much stuff kids have, there are times with 2 small children when the Golf will struggle for space.

Thanks. As above regards the Mondeo hatch. I like the service from the local dealer (Not Arnold Clark) when it comes time for servicing.

sjg said:

Golf estate for me too. Big without being too big - the current Passat wagon is huge. Golf still has 605 litres, plenty big enough for holidays, kids clutter, etc.

Thanks. The Golf and A3 have the more powerful engines too which will certainly be more beneficial when it comes to safely accelerating and passing 40mph HGV's on A roads.

[MrBig]

Mondeo if I wanted the space. Otherwise the A180 AMG Sport.

All the rest are competent motors I'm sure, but just the thought of them bores me!

[BritishRacinGrin]

ALBA MELV said:

BritishRacinGrin said:

120d, Mondeo estate if you require more room.

Thanks. I'm not too much of a BMW fan although I've never owned one or any other RWD for that matter. RWD and snow here in winter can be a pain in the arse, especially as the company cant be persuaded to fit winter tyres.

Saying that I fitted winters to the front of my Focus this year and we've rarely had any snow on the ground. They don't seem to be any better than "normal" tyres for damp roads / roundabouts.

Fair play. As you say, a 1-series will get about fine on winter tyres but if you aren't fussed about the BMW badge or the RWD then yeah, discount the BMW because the drivetrain does eat into interior / boot space.

None of them look like bad cars so I don't think you can go too far wrong.

Despite being a bit of a German car fan, I do rate the Mondeo- it does most things very well. I've no experience of the 1.6 engine though, which I presume is a PSA unit?

[ALBA MELV]

Old thread bump but I hate it when threads like this aren't updated by the OP.

After receiving the list of cars on a spreadsheet via email I had decided to order the Golf GT estate. On Thursday (15 May) I got the sign in details to the lease company website, searched for the Golf GT estate but it wasn't there, typical!

Every cloud....... Turns out that the Golf GTD was now available so I went for that instead having discounted the BMW (not a fan), Merc 180 "AMG" (1.5 diesel that is slower than my current Focus), anything Ford (Arnold Clark dealer servicing) and anything else being big and heavy with a weedy 1.6 diesel.

Ordering the GDT didn't leave me much room for options. I had to add metallic paint for residual values meaning that other choices were limited due to the value. I managed to get passenger and rear airbags added. I could have taken a rear camera for parking but went for the safety feature over a tech feature that would get used once in a blue moon.

Anyway, enough of my rambling. I'm away to sign into the lease company website to check the progress of my order every half hour......

[CraigyMc]

ALBA MELV said:

Old thread bump but I hate it when threads like this aren't updated by the OP.

After receiving the list of cars on a spreadsheet via email I had decided to order the Golf GT estate. On Thursday (15 May) I got the sign in details to the lease company website, searched for the Golf GT estate but it wasn't there, typical!

Every cloud....... Turns out that the Golf GTD was now available so I went for that instead having discounted the BMW (not a fan), Merc 180 "AMG" (1.5 diesel that is slower than my current Focus), anything Ford (Arnold Clark dealer servicing) and anything else being big and heavy with a weedy 1.6 diesel.

Ordering the GDT didn't leave me much room for options. I had to add metallic paint for residual values meaning that other choices were limited due to the value. I managed to get passenger and rear airbags added. I could have taken a rear camera for parking but went for the safety feature over a tech feature that would get used once in a blue moon.

Anyway, enough of my rambling. I'm away to sign into the lease company website to check the progress of my order every half hour......

That Merc is "powered" by a renault 1.5 diesel, just out of interest.

[edc]

What have metallic paint and residuals got to do with you as the user of a company car? The extras bump up the price and your subsequent BIK tax.

[ALBA MELV]

edc said:

What have metallic paint and residuals got to do with you as the user of a company car? The extras bump up the price and your subsequent BIK tax.

Company policy. No choice in the matter, no exceptions.

[CraigyMc]

ALBA MELV said:

edc said:

What have metallic paint and residuals got to do with you as the user of a company car? The extras bump up the price and your subsequent BIK tax.

Company policy. No choice in the matter, no exceptions.

It's usually because the residuals are damaged so much by matt paint that metallic is the default.

I wanted a black 3 series out of choice, the company made mine a metallic black one out of policy.

[Muzzer79]

CraigyMc said:

ALBA MELV said:

edc said:

What have metallic paint and residuals got to do with you as the user of a company car? The extras bump up the price and your subsequent BIK tax.

Company policy. No choice in the matter, no exceptions.

It's usually because the residuals are damaged so much by matt paint that metallic is the default.

I wanted a black 3 series out of choice, the company made mine a metallic black one out of policy.

I suspect this is the case.

Funnily enough, I have heard that all options on company cars have been outlawed in a recent policy change (we used to be able to order extras up to a certain value, which we then paid for)

So, we will have a fleet of non-metallic white, red and black cars. Great

[CraigyMc]

Muzzer79 said:

I suspect this is the case.

Funnily enough, I have heard that all options on company cars have been outlawed in a recent policy change (we used to be able to order extras up to a certain value, which we then paid for)

So, we will have a fleet of non-metallic white, red and black cars. Great

My lot are quite flexible - you get a choice of two providers (leaseplan or alphabet), 2,3 or 4 years, and pretty much any car, which you can spec just about any way you want (except the stupid metallic paint thing).

I'm sure it won't last.