Any PH help for next company car?
Discussion
Hello Pistonheads,
Long time lurker here, finally signed up as I'm hoping for some PH wisdom and experience. So can anyone help with opinions on potential company cars or any deals they may have clocked lately?
I'm currently running a Golf GTI mk 6, manual, 3 door. Absolutely love it, best car I've ever had. It goes back in a few months and since I got it, my circumstances have changed somewhat, in that I need a more 'family oriented' car. I have the option of another year, but as much as driving it is a pleasure (even after two years), I simply need a bigger, infinitely more practical car.
I can't bring myself to go down the slow and boring route but I need five doors and a big boot for future camping trips and to store a few mid-life crisis toys. The spanner in the works is that although I can choose whatever car I like, I have quite a tight budget to play around with this time. Company's doing well but it's the usual 'financial climate' b
ks so I have to play along.
So based on a budget of £300 (maybe up to £330 based on some serious toe touching) per month on 3+23 or 3+35 has anybody got any suggestions? One other thing, as it's bound to end up being somewhat less driver focused than the golf (don't get me wrong, I know it's not an MX5
), then fuel effeciency is a consideration.
So far I've been looking at:
C-Class 250 CDI sport estate. Some good offers right now but I test drove 250 and a 350 both in auto (saloon versions) and was severely underwhelmed. Tried to boot the 350 out of a roundabout and the gear box went crazy on me. Salesman said it will learn how I drive. Ho hum. Drove away in my Golf and wondered what in hell I was even doing at the dealers! Still nice looking cars and maybe I'd get used to the engine and gearbox combo (350 is out of budget and too muck BiK anyway). Wouldn't have a manual diesel either as I had a 120d before on manual and hated the shifting.
VW Tiguan. Look quite nice, not fast but not slow for size. But perhaps it's just a tall, heavy golf without the planted drive though?
Freelander 2. Would probably go down this route but would only be able to stretch to the base model.
A3 Sportback. looks bigger than golf but maybe it's deceptive. Anybody have opinions on boot space? Camping trips will be two adults, two kids, all the gear and a massive tent (we're about to get a new 8 man palace
).
Golf GTD 5 door. No any bigger but more practical. Look nice if you like Golf's too. Would severely miss the tsi when sat in practically the same car though. Probably a non-starter really.
So those are what I've been toying with so far (including an Octavia vRS which is actually out of budget), but I'm open to suggestions. Anything more practical than a Golf GTI with a little bit of the fun on that tiny budget? Am I dreaming? Has the 'financial climate' finally started to affect my quality of living and my next car will be a Kia!? (Actually, briefly considered a sportage...).
Any advice or experience of the cars listed is much appreciated. Cheers
Long time lurker here, finally signed up as I'm hoping for some PH wisdom and experience. So can anyone help with opinions on potential company cars or any deals they may have clocked lately?
I'm currently running a Golf GTI mk 6, manual, 3 door. Absolutely love it, best car I've ever had. It goes back in a few months and since I got it, my circumstances have changed somewhat, in that I need a more 'family oriented' car. I have the option of another year, but as much as driving it is a pleasure (even after two years), I simply need a bigger, infinitely more practical car.
I can't bring myself to go down the slow and boring route but I need five doors and a big boot for future camping trips and to store a few mid-life crisis toys. The spanner in the works is that although I can choose whatever car I like, I have quite a tight budget to play around with this time. Company's doing well but it's the usual 'financial climate' b
ks so I have to play along.So based on a budget of £300 (maybe up to £330 based on some serious toe touching) per month on 3+23 or 3+35 has anybody got any suggestions? One other thing, as it's bound to end up being somewhat less driver focused than the golf (don't get me wrong, I know it's not an MX5
), then fuel effeciency is a consideration.So far I've been looking at:
C-Class 250 CDI sport estate. Some good offers right now but I test drove 250 and a 350 both in auto (saloon versions) and was severely underwhelmed. Tried to boot the 350 out of a roundabout and the gear box went crazy on me. Salesman said it will learn how I drive. Ho hum. Drove away in my Golf and wondered what in hell I was even doing at the dealers! Still nice looking cars and maybe I'd get used to the engine and gearbox combo (350 is out of budget and too muck BiK anyway). Wouldn't have a manual diesel either as I had a 120d before on manual and hated the shifting.
VW Tiguan. Look quite nice, not fast but not slow for size. But perhaps it's just a tall, heavy golf without the planted drive though?
Freelander 2. Would probably go down this route but would only be able to stretch to the base model.
A3 Sportback. looks bigger than golf but maybe it's deceptive. Anybody have opinions on boot space? Camping trips will be two adults, two kids, all the gear and a massive tent (we're about to get a new 8 man palace
).Golf GTD 5 door. No any bigger but more practical. Look nice if you like Golf's too. Would severely miss the tsi when sat in practically the same car though. Probably a non-starter really.
So those are what I've been toying with so far (including an Octavia vRS which is actually out of budget), but I'm open to suggestions. Anything more practical than a Golf GTI with a little bit of the fun on that tiny budget? Am I dreaming? Has the 'financial climate' finally started to affect my quality of living and my next car will be a Kia!? (Actually, briefly considered a sportage...).
Any advice or experience of the cars listed is much appreciated. Cheers
That's ok 300, I guess you're right. A 3 door Golf GTI is an incredibly practical family car.
Yes, the reason for wanting a five door is to make ferrying kids around a little easier. Just wondered if I'd missed any obvious choices or if anybody has experience of the cars I'd been considering.
Thanks for the replies though, if I end up keeping the Golf, I'll prob invest in a roofbox.
Yes, the reason for wanting a five door is to make ferrying kids around a little easier. Just wondered if I'd missed any obvious choices or if anybody has experience of the cars I'd been considering.
Thanks for the replies though, if I end up keeping the Golf, I'll prob invest in a roofbox.
Mazda 3, maybe even the MPS depending whether an improvement in mpg is vital. They seem very reasonable on the monthly amount, 5 doors, practical...
New 1 series, not sure if it's any more practical than Golf but does have 5 doors and rwd.
Citroen DS4, great looking family car imo.
Kia Sportage, again a decent looking family car with good kit levels for the money.
Seat Leon FR, Volvo S60, Insignia Estate...
Just a few ideas and I have no real experience of any of them, but all seem to be around your budget and perhaps you haven't considered them yet?
New 1 series, not sure if it's any more practical than Golf but does have 5 doors and rwd.
Citroen DS4, great looking family car imo.
Kia Sportage, again a decent looking family car with good kit levels for the money.
Seat Leon FR, Volvo S60, Insignia Estate...
Just a few ideas and I have no real experience of any of them, but all seem to be around your budget and perhaps you haven't considered them yet?
Thanks for the suggestions...
New Focus ST Estate would be nice but maybe next time around as I'm sure it will be out of budget for now and isn't out for a while as far as I know. I've also considered an MPS in the past, lots of power but maybe not much more space than the GTI - not a fan of the scoop and have read about poor handling of the power. Both would be pretty expensive on BIK and fuel. I actually checked out an S3 sportback a while ago (I'd imagine around same power as these, maybe a little more) It's actually nearly 50 quid a month more in BIK than the GTI! The S3 research was when I thought I may have a £370 budget and hadn't thought that I could/should take the opportunity to be more fuel effecient with my next car.
As for 320D, they are out of budget. I'm trying to steer clear of BMW if at all possible (although the Touring's are nice in my opinion). Had a 320i Coupe as company car before and the thing was at the dealer being fixed every 6 weeks. Piece of ste. I'd overcome that opinion for a 335 or an M car of course . Not going to happen on my budget though.
All good stuff though, appreciate your replies.
New Focus ST Estate would be nice but maybe next time around as I'm sure it will be out of budget for now and isn't out for a while as far as I know. I've also considered an MPS in the past, lots of power but maybe not much more space than the GTI - not a fan of the scoop and have read about poor handling of the power. Both would be pretty expensive on BIK and fuel. I actually checked out an S3 sportback a while ago (I'd imagine around same power as these, maybe a little more) It's actually nearly 50 quid a month more in BIK than the GTI! The S3 research was when I thought I may have a £370 budget and hadn't thought that I could/should take the opportunity to be more fuel effecient with my next car.
As for 320D, they are out of budget. I'm trying to steer clear of BMW if at all possible (although the Touring's are nice in my opinion). Had a 320i Coupe as company car before and the thing was at the dealer being fixed every 6 weeks. Piece of s
te. I'd overcome that opinion for a 335 or an M car of course . Not going to happen on my budget though.All good stuff though, appreciate your replies.
Your scenario replicates my own.
I ran a Mk5 GTI as a company car and loved it - no problems with space either when we had just the one kiddie.
When the second kiddie came along I also found that the golf just wasn't big enough.
Refusing to go to something naff, slow, boring etc I got a skoda octavia vRS. Mechanically its all Mk6 GTI, just with a different badge and a huge boot. It also saved me about £8k vs. and equivalent spec GTI.
HTH.
I ran a Mk5 GTI as a company car and loved it - no problems with space either when we had just the one kiddie.
When the second kiddie came along I also found that the golf just wasn't big enough.
Refusing to go to something naff, slow, boring etc I got a skoda octavia vRS. Mechanically its all Mk6 GTI, just with a different badge and a huge boot. It also saved me about £8k vs. and equivalent spec GTI.
HTH.
JQ said:
Are people looking at the budget? Where can a 320d be had for £300 pcm?
I personally don't think you'll get anything anywhere near comparable to the Golf for £300pcm, so I'd keep the Golf for another 12 months.
How about this one then:I personally don't think you'll get anything anywhere near comparable to the Golf for £300pcm, so I'd keep the Golf for another 12 months.
http://www.contracthireandleasing.com/car-leasing-...
Plenty of 3 series around the £300 mark, on 3+35 10k
Amateurish said:
JQ said:
Are people looking at the budget? Where can a 320d be had for £300 pcm?
I personally don't think you'll get anything anywhere near comparable to the Golf for £300pcm, so I'd keep the Golf for another 12 months.
How about this one then:I personally don't think you'll get anything anywhere near comparable to the Golf for £300pcm, so I'd keep the Golf for another 12 months.
http://www.contracthireandleasing.com/car-leasing-...
Plenty of 3 series around the £300 mark, on 3+35 10k
Personally,if I ever go back to a company car,, then I will be looking for a Prius or similar. With the money that I save in tax I will buy and run a car that I like to use on my own time.
I remember when all that mattered was that the car cost less than £20,000 - if only it was still so simple and so cheap to take a company car...
I remember when all that mattered was that the car cost less than £20,000 - if only it was still so simple and so cheap to take a company car...
GC8 said:
Personally,if I ever go back to a company car,, then I will be looking for a Prius or similar. With the money that I save in tax I will buy and run a car that I like to use on my own time.
Personally I'd rather crawl to work on broken glass than commute my 20k miles a year in a Prius, even if I do agree with your reasons why Edit for spelling.
Edited by antspants on Wednesday 14th March 15:30
Yep, 5 door Golf GTI would fit the bill and I'd be a very happy with one (especially with roofbox for camping). Completely out of budget though. Wasn't happy when I found that out.
Rob.e, started looking at the Octavia vRS (estate) this week, until I found out the monthly payments - as much as, if not more than a 5 door GTI. Is yours a saloon, do you think it gives you a lot more space than the golf? The 2.0t monthly costs vary massively by the looks of things but maybe the right deal is available. Think I may go and take a look at the local dealers...
Thanks
Rob.e, started looking at the Octavia vRS (estate) this week, until I found out the monthly payments - as much as, if not more than a 5 door GTI. Is yours a saloon, do you think it gives you a lot more space than the golf? The 2.0t monthly costs vary massively by the looks of things but maybe the right deal is available. Think I may go and take a look at the local dealers...
Thanks
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