Next Company Car??

[ST270]

I am currently quite fortunate with my company vehicle in that I am allowed a performace blue Focus ST. However after having this as my daily & business driver for almost 3 years you end up getting used to the performance. Quite soon I shall have the task of finding a replacement car. This could be easier said than done as I would ideally like something a little more restrained but with similar power levels. First thoughts were another ST in a more sombre shade, a BM E92 coupe but for the same performace levels this would be a 330 or 335i, which may be pusing the budget (and I don't do the high milage to warrant a diesel) Or an Alfa Brera perhaps. Car would have to be within it's warranty period to satisy the company.

Your thoughts would be appreciated!!

Cheers

[homerjay]

i had an st3 but replaced with 123d last year

the 123d is as fast as the st, handles better, is better built and TWICE as good on fuel.

twas a no brainer for me.


plus as a co car, it will cost you feck all in tax (compared to other vehicles).


another option would be a leon fr diesel.

Edited by homerjay on Wednesday 9th June 10:36

[ST270]

Yeah a little better fuel economy would be nice but the character of the petrol engines kind of outweighs it for me. A straight 6 BM would be great but a 1 series is a bit small for my use.

[Mansell90]

Id go with a sea grey ST, like mine , either that or a sliver one, both look very subtle, and only really look different to a "normal focus" to the trained eye. Oh and 123d as fast as the ST? Pffft!

[ST270]

Yeah I did wonder about the 123d being as fast!? Maybe the initial torque may be quite close but it's a diesel!?

Yeah I've looked at the Sea-Grey models, or a white one for that matter, the facelifted models look much closer to the normal models than the first shape ST's like i have. How many miles have you done in your Sea-Grey? I'm up to 46k now and it's never wanted for anything - except tyres!

Other issue is I have had BMs befrore and the RWD would be a welcome return but the surge of the ST as you know is very addictive!

[rob.e]

I compared the ST with a Golf GTI - golf was massively cheaper in the tax due to the lower co2.

I have just swapped the GTI for a skoda vrs. Same performance, naff badge, huge boot (for the kiddie clobber) but another big saving in tax due to lower c02 AND a much lower list price.

comcar website lets you do a comparison.

[Crusoe]

Not a huge fan of either but the ST and 123d are a close match for performance. Hard to get like for like figures but on the road the 123 might even have the advantage IMO with wider tires, better weight distribution and more torque.

Bmw 123d 1495 kg 201 bhp at 4400 rpm, 295 lb ft at 2000 rpm
Focus ST 1437 kg 220 bhp at 6000 rpm, 236 lb ft at 1600 rpm


123d Focus ST
0-60 6.5 6.4
0-100 17.4 15.5
30-50 3rd 2.9 3.0
Top Speed 143 150

[Mansell90]

True, the diesel torque may make the figures look similar, bearing in mind the rwd bmw will get a lot better traction off the line, im sure the st would be quicker 30-70 through the gears. Mines a facelift sea grey ST with the mountune upgrade (which makes it far far faster than a 123d, think more on terms of a 335d) And ive done 6000 miles in mine so far, and as i would have hoped, no problems at all so far. However, my liking for trackdays means that tyres do go rather swiftly yes.

[ST270]

Ah it's just about run in then! I thought about the Monutune option but opted for Dreamscience and de-cat - it runs about 275bhp and 330lbft. As much as diesels have good torque the delievery is not for me i don't think. Hence why i have considered maybe a 2-3 yr old 335.

I can't use mine on track days due to it being a co car but i can imagine the tyres don't hold out too well! I've just put 4 Vredesteins on after having Dunlop XP Maxx on since i got it. Have to say the suit the car very well - even wehn the roads are greasy after sun and rain like now. Worth a try imo

[Crusoe]

30-70 in 6.7 secs for the 123d and Focus ST (220bhp) 6.5 sec looking at autocar figures so nothing in it really on the road. Both could be tuned for a bit more and the newer facelift ST has more power as standard.

[Arese]

ST270 said:

it runs about 275bhp...

You need to change your username then

[Beefmeister]

I'd say the Mk6 Golf GTi is the car for you. It may not be as outright quick as the ST, but they handle really really well, and are a fantastic place to sit.

Drive one, and you'll be amazed. The tax is much lower than an ST as well, as an added bonus.

[300bhp/ton]

ST270 said:

I am currently quite fortunate with my company vehicle in that I am allowed a performace blue Focus ST. However after having this as my daily & business driver for almost 3 years you end up getting used to the performance. Quite soon I shall have the task of finding a replacement car. This could be easier said than done as I would ideally like something a little more restrained but with similar power levels. First thoughts were another ST in a more sombre shade, a BM E92 coupe but for the same performace levels this would be a 330 or 335i, which may be pusing the budget (and I don't do the high milage to warrant a diesel) Or an Alfa Brera perhaps. Car would have to be within it's warranty period to satisy the company.

Your thoughts would be appreciated!!

Cheers

VXR8?

[velocemitch]

What about the new Alfa Guiletta cloverleaf, the 1750 Turbo is a damned efficient little engine and most reviews reckon the chassis is a cracker. Bit down on power but even more efficient as a company car is the 1.4 multiair version, 170BHP isn't bad from a 1.4

[havoc]

Megane 250? Change from the ST, but just as quick and should probably handle a little better too...

[off_again]

I have known a few people try to run an E92 M3 as their company motor on their healthy allowance schemes. In general the planning and numbers work, but rarely does it actually add up. Tyres, servicing and the odd issue see them being generally reliable but quite expensive to run. MPG averaging at between 20 and 24 depending on traffic is good for the performance, but it all adds up at 22p a mile.....

Its possible and it does work, but its a costly process and if they go wrong, they are expensive to fix. Great cars though.

[300bhp/ton]

off_again said:

I have known a few people try to run an E92 M3 as their company motor on their healthy allowance schemes. In general the planning and numbers work, but rarely does it actually add up. Tyres, servicing and the odd issue see them being generally reliable but quite expensive to run. MPG averaging at between 20 and 24 depending on traffic is good for the performance, but it all adds up at 22p a mile.....

Its possible and it does work, but its a costly process and if they go wrong, they are expensive to fix. Great cars though.

Yeah but its still cheaper to run if you are given an allowance though. Most people have to make do paying for everything on their own.

Or look at it this way, if the company will part pay, then what is left over is probably the same personal costs as running a Fiesta.

[Mansell90]

Crusoe said:

30-70 in 6.7 secs for the 123d and Focus ST (220bhp) 6.5 sec looking at autocar figures so nothing in it really on the road. Both could be tuned for a bit more and the newer facelift ST has more power as standard.

Must say im suprised, i seem to have little problem dispatching bmw diesels in mine... mind you as i said earlier, I have the mountune kit, and they do make a big difference whilst still keeping the warrenty, evo rolling roaded there's at 280bhp and 400lb/ft of torque!!!!!

[Mansell90]

Dont know if it'll help but when i eventually look to replace mine (not for a while yet... but I always am looking toward my next car haha) I think ill be looking toward a 135i (I think you said these might be too small for you) Or the new audi s4 when they come into budget... as they are meant to be very very good cars by all accounts and by comparison to other audi S cars. The renaultsport megane coupe might be worth a look also as mentioned before, a very good car by all accounts. If you need space also... Passat R36's I think are very interesting... and should be within your budget now for a good example. I would steer away from the brera personally, as although they are very pretty, I think you will be disappointed with the driving experience after the focus. Leon Cupra R has already been mentioned I think and could be worth a try. Saab 9-3 aero's are pretty quick aswell im lead to believe, although not really my cup of tea.

Hope this helps!

[300bhp/ton]

Crusoe said:

30-70 in 6.7 secs for the 123d and Focus ST (220bhp) 6.5 sec looking at autocar figures so nothing in it really on the road. Both could be tuned for a bit more and the newer facelift ST has more power as standard.

Trouble is 0-60mph is an almost pointless metric unless you are doing standing starts all the time, and it then doesn't tell you how easy it is to achieve.

20-80mph, 20-100mph or 1/4 mile ET and trap speed would tell you a lot more about how they are likely to perform from a rolling start.