New Company Car dilema - Power or Toys???

[Woody]

Guy's,

Not the normal company car thread - I hope!

Due a new company car next month and had narrowed it down to a couple of Diesel:

Golf GT Sport or Honda Civic Type S.

Took the Golf 170bhp for a test drive today - what a car, possibly the best diesel I've driven. Might not even bother taking the Civic for a test drive.

Now the 170 is pretty much on the limit of my budget so I'm limited on the extras I can spec. Now if I went for the 140bhp I could have a few more 'toys', but I'd be down 30bhp

So, should I stay true to my Petrolhead roots and say 'stuff the toys - I'm taking the POWER ' or take a lower power and spec the car to the max??

Chris

[JakeR]

power

[OllieC]

get the civic with the 2.2 diesel if its within budget

a much smoother engine than the golf, a better range of power, albeit a lower power figure

[Kubica]

I'd say get the toys then get a tuning box online somewhere for a couple of hundred quid. When the car goes back in what? 3 years? then sell the tuning box on Ebay. Job done - power and toys!

[hot66]

if its the same 170bhp diesel that I have in my A4 it is a superb engine & pretty revvy considering its an oil burner I went for power over toys too . With the Audi, the only thing I would have done different was specc'd S-line because the SE suspension is to wallowy on the Yorkshire Dales roads I drive

The only thing I have found is it is not that fuel efficient, I have averaged about 36mpg over 20K miles. I have friends with the 140 motor who easilly average 10mpg more

Edited by hot66 on Thursday 13th September 20:32

[kentmotorcompany]

Have you driven the 140bhp Golf?

I think that because of the torque in these diesel engines, you cant feel the 30bhp difference as much as you might think?

I have not driven the 170, but I have driven the 140, and thought it was great.

[hugh_]

I have a 1.9 TDi (110) in a Seat Toledo, so pretty similar size and weight to an A4. Even a brisk run will see 50mpg, and if I'm careful well over 60mpg can be had.

Oh and if anyone with a diesel hasnt tried Shell V-power diesel yet, DO IT. It makes a massive difference to mine, itfeels more powerful, doesnt run out of power high in the revs as much, its smoother, and ~5mpg more efficient.

Edited by hugh_ on Thursday 13th September 20:41

[MadDad]

Faced with a similar choice a couple of years ago........Audi A4 1.9 TDI 110bhp vs 130bhp - money saved on the 130 would have given a few extra's in the toy dept but went for the extra 20 horses anyway and didn't regret it (I think it was more psychological than physical!!)........

[rob.e]

Is that 170bhp diesel in any other vw group products? e.g. seat? Might be able to get power AND toys if you don't have the vw badge?

TBH i think a real PH'er would say boocks to a diesel - get a proper GTI.

[OllieC]

rob.e said:

Is that 170bhp diesel in any other vw group products? e.g. seat? Might be able to get power AND toys if you don't have the vw badge?

TBH i think a real PH'er would say boocks to a diesel - get a proper GTI.

unless you want to line mr browns, sorry, darlings, pockets then you have to get a diesel company car

[Woody]

rob.e said:

Is that 170bhp diesel in any other vw group products? e.g. seat? Might be able to get power AND toys if you don't have the vw badge?

TBH i think a real PH'er would say boocks to a diesel - get a proper GTI.

Unfortunately it's only VW on the list, and the GTI is out of my budget.
And to be honest I don't really need two petrol cars (got a TVR S3), and the added economy and cheaper tax of the diesel is a bit of a bonus.

Chris

[cardigankid]

Sell your soul, change the badges if need be and get a GTi 2.0 DSG. Wait a month or two and the will ALL HAVE 230 BHP. You only live the once you know. What exactly are you working for anyway? What good are toys to you if you have only got 140 bhp? Power is the cake. Toys are the icing.

[Woody]

cardigankid said:

Sell your soul, change the badges if need be and get a GTi 2.0 DSG. Wait a month or two and the will ALL HAVE 230 BHP. You only live the once you know. What exactly are you working for anyway? What good are toys to you if you have only got 140 bhp? Power is the cake. Toys are the icing.

As I said - I can't afford either the GTI or R32 on my allowance. Stretching it to the max for the 170 GT Sport.

I'm thinking POWER anyway now......

Still might look at the Civic S though - just not convinced about the looks .

Chris

[Balmoral Green]

The latest Octavia vRS is the Golf GTI TD170 anyway, has more toys, and DSG too if you want it, for a fraction of the price of the Golf, even with every option ticked. And they look great in race blue.

[fizz876]

Whatever you do dont bother with the civic type S. I drove the type S at a Honda expereince day about 3 weeks ago both on a track and on the road. I was really disaapointed...really bad gear changes and not that pleasant.

[Will2425]

i know i probably shouldn't say this on here but go toys.

140 is just as fast as 170 stuck in traffic (which is most of the time in this country)

neither will be slow. neither will be fast. one will be slightly faster than the other

you have a TVR for when you want driving pleasure.

We are talking an oil-burning daily hack here. sod performance and make it the nicest possible place to be in.

[jambo99]

I have a GT diesel company car and highly recommend it, especially with the dsg gearbox, exactly what i need for a company car..

What toys would you be going without? They come pretty well equiped..

[Woody]

jambo99 said:

I have a GT diesel company car and highly recommend it, especially with the dsg gearbox, exactly what i need for a company car..

What toys would you be going without? They come pretty well equiped..

Can't get the DSG as the budget won't stretch to it.
To be honest after looking at the specs and options lastnight the only one's I'll go for are the iPOD connection and the heated folding (tilt reverse) mirrors. Don't really need any of the other stuff!

Chris

[mat205125]

What toys do you "need" that ain't in the 170bhp standard package?

[Plymouth Prowler]

Balmoral Green said:

Octavia vRS... for a fraction of the price of the Golf, even with every option ticked.

At recent optimistic Skoda prices, that fraction is probably about 0.9