Company Car List - help please!

[seismic22]

Need some help......

Currently driving an E36 323i Coupe and recent daily drivers before this have been a Mk1 Mx5, Primera GT and a 1.7 Puma. Just changed jobs and on offer is either a car allowance or company car. The maths has been done down to the finest detail and the company car easily wins. Im going to miss driving something older with bit of character but the plan is to sort a cheap (likely in 328i or Mx5 form) weekend/track car in a year or so and up until then enjoy sorting the finances out a little. Soo, need some help in choosing, the below is what has been shortlisted from the list I have been given:

VW Golf 3DR Hat 2.0 TDI 150ps 6sp SE MK7
SEAT Leon 5 Door Hatch 2.0 TDI CR FR
Audi A3 3 Door Hatch 2.0 TDI 150ps SE
Audi A3 5 Door Sportback 2.0 TDI 150ps SE
MINI Hatch 2.0 Cooper SD Chili
MINI Clubman 2.0 Cooper SD - VW Golf 3DR Hat 2.0 TDI 150ps 6sp GT MK7
VW Golf 5DR Hat 2.0 TDI 150ps 6sp GT MK7
BMW 118d 3DR Spthat 2.0 SE F21
Audi A3 3 Door Hatch 2.0 TDI 150ps Sport
Volkswagen Scirocco 3DR Cpe 2.0 TDI 140 6sp Bmt
SEAT Leon 5 Door Hatch 2.0 TDI CR 184 FR
Audi A3 5 Door Sportback 2.0 TDI 150ps Sport
BMW 118d 3DR Spthat 2.0 Sport F21


List is ordered by total cost to me per year (top to bottom - includes tax & and tiny contribution if required) and there is about a £210 difference per year between the leon and the 118d. I dont think the 184bhp leon is availble yet so may have to be taken out of the equation.

Im single, 25 and (obviously!) enjoy driving. I drive alot for my job so MPG is important and though my previously mentioned cars dont exactly suggest so..I do reluctantly admit that the image the car gives off is a slight factor too. This will be my only car for quite a while and so it has to do everything. If I could have had a 120d this thread probably wouldnt be required...but hey Im very grateful for what I can get. I like the Rocco out the list best really but i'm a little concerned that its now a little "old tech" compared to the new Golf/leon/a3 (down on hp and mpg).

Need to decide soon rather than later, any suggestions with reasons etc etc would be welcome and very appreciated!

Cheers

[31mph]

They all look like similar diesel engines, so fuel shouldn't be too different between them.

I'd have the Scirocco personally

Edited by 31mph on Sunday 24th February 22:41

[CarlT]

A3 Sport

[Nigel Worc's]

That would be a list from hell for me, so much so, I'd let them just supply one, they're all ste !

It'd have to be quite some job.

Can you have anything that isn't diesel ?

[Emley]

Scirocco or BMW118d Sport for me
I had a 120d for a while as a company car, it was ace, but too tight in the back when family came along.

If I were single i would have one as a daily hack again like a shot

[Deva Link]

Do you really want to do a lot of miles in a MINI?

I'd pick the car you'd be least likely to buy with your own money. Is there an Alfa available on the full list?

[seismic22]

No Alfas on there I'm afraid.

Yes there are petrol and diesel cars on the list that are plenty faster but they just dont make sense cost/mpg wise. The company car is meant to be saving me money!

Being a young chap with only two years in the industry I think I'm pretty lucky to get cars like these on the list, theyre not exactly bad are they, just not inspiring!

Theres a 160bhp focus and 160bhp insignia on there but the new focus just looks so tacky to me and the insignia is a bit snoozeville and big!

[stewies_minion]

Given that list and the fact you'll be soon a decent annual mileage - I'd go for the one that you fit in best and is comfiest.

Going a step further, I'd see what extra an auto with cruise would be.

[MondeoMan1981]

Could you map the 118d and keep it quiet?

If so don't get the optional sports suspension, if you drive a lot it'll drive you mad, very very firm. Think all my filings have fallen out since I got my 120d

[seismic22]

Not sure! Cost though!

[SidewaysSi]

If that were my list of cars, I would buy my own or just shoot myself

[okie592]

Rococo then 1 series then a3 sport but spec them with xenons and a non rep spec colour

[Defcon5]

I'd have the Scirroco

[northandy]

MondeoMan1981 said:

Could you map the 118d and keep it quiet?

If so don't get the optional sports suspension, if you drive a lot it'll drive you mad, very very firm. Think all my filings have fallen out since I got my 120d

Is yours an f20?.

I ask as i have a 118d m sport running 18 inch runflats, i think it rides very well, and way better than the E87 version.

[edc]

The BMW engine is the most revvy and refined of those.

[dfen5]

Business miles in a mini? Other than that, check out the BIKs on COMCAR or you'll get a shock come tax time..

[Meths]

seismic22 said:

but the new focus just looks so tacky to me and the insignia is a bit snoozeville and big!

Go to a ford dealership and test drive one. I think they're well sorted.


118d is probably the one I'd have though. Avoid the sport suspension, Doesn't make it any faster. Just ruins the car.

[northandy]

Im a bit biased but i really like our 118d's (timing chain issue aside) as its a company car thats no issue for you.

If you go that route, be warned the standard halogen headlights are crap, the xenons are expensive but brilliant.

We do a fair few miles, one of ours is a year old next month and on 26k, its comfy on long trips as we find the seats very good.

[Glade]

make sure you or your company update hmrc with the value of your Benefit In kind asap, and issue a new tax code ....

otherwise you will underpay and get stung later

[Cpl nobby nobbs]

There is some nice cars there, I get stuck with a 1.6d passat estate.

Out of that list if I didn't have the family it would be the 118d no question. Too small if you have kids but for 1 or 2 people great fun to drive. OK not the fastest but very nice to drive. A few of our guys had them and even back when the 118 was only 122bhp they where still good. bloody good mpg too.

My 1.6 passat is crap on short ish runs because you have to rag the tits off it all the time.