Please help, (another boring) need to choose company car!

[stupot1379]

Hi all,

My first post but I have watched this site for years as I love cars...this is a bit war and peace so apologies in advance!!

I have to choose a new car next month, the list has over 100 cars to choose from, mainly VW, Audi & BMW, none of the above I can spec up as they are at the maximum monthly budget.

Short list is the following but budget will not allow the perfect car so comprises are as follows.

1, Audi A3 150 TDI S line S Tronic - Great interior, looks, auto box with paddles but not the 184bhp model.

2, VW GTD MK 7 6 speed - Manual gearbox, fully loaded and 184 BHP but not keen on the less cockpit type interior or check seats and cant select leather.

3, 116d M Sport 8 Speed Auto - Love the cockpit style cabin, rear drive, m sport looks, gearbox but unsure if 116bhp will be dull.

4, 120d Sport Auto - got power and auto but not the m sport looks.

5, 118d Sport Auto with Pro Media - decent power, top grade sat nav kit but not the full power or m sport.

6, 218d Sport 6 speed manual - looks nice but would i always want the auto box, M-sport kit.

I would ideally like a 120d / 220d m sport auto with pro nav but it aint gonna happen, so compromises will have to be accepted.

Nav is not the decider here so can lose that, so is it to be a specced up BMW sport or lesser engined M-sport or Audi with decent power, cabin and S Tronic.

Any ideas or thoughts as my head is a shed?

ps, have a weekend test drive of BMW 120 D Sport Auto lined up for next weekend and already drive an Audi A3 140 BHP so can appreciate the vag ness of it.

thanks in advance.

S

[Thorny]

Personally I would go with GTD or 118d Sport with pro nav, makes a big difference and I can't believe you'll notice a huge difference in power day to day. The GTD is a great all round package and superb standard spec.

Ps just bought a 3 series sport and it looks pretty good.

[itz_baseline]

I was in a similar position. I took the cash allowance instead as by the time I added the options I wanted plus BIK, I could get something I actually wanted with the cash which was fun and reliable.....and it paid for a stack of track days, plus track tyres, pad and oil changes etc.. May not be an option for you, but if there is a cash alternative then it might be worth doing some maths and working out what it will be actually costing you vs. funding your own. Depends on mileage etc.

[stupot1379]

Thanks for your thoughts but I can't opt out now so have to decide, I will be stuck with whatever choice for 4 years or 100k miles so don't want to regret it. Golf is a no brainer but not sure of the driving position and check seats etc.

Will be doing 4 days a week, 8 hours a day in car so the prospect of a good nav system with I drive and auto appeals.... Should it be m sport 116d or 120d sport? Or the lovely audi interior with paddles etc?

Please help with thoughts...

[rs990]

I would take a 120d Sport over a 116d M-Sport any day.

I think that your real decision is whether you want Pro Nav or not.

[Deerfoot]

The GTD Golf would get my vote.

[Mr MXT]

My GTD is on order...

[stupot1379]

Hi,

I have the latest garmin so nav is only a bonus...can imagine 116bhp with 8 speed auto is pretty dull, I just love the m sport kit.

Is the s line a3 with 7 speed s tronic and 150 Bhp a good all rounder, prob won't drive as well though due to fwd?

Thx

[ScoobyChris]

I was in a similar position a few years back (although I could add options) and looked at both the 116d M-Sport, 118d SE and 120d Sport. I thought the Sport interior was a bit more budget (no digital dual zone climate or M-sport wheel/trim pieces) but the engine was significantly better. The 118d SE sat squarely in the middle with a reasonable engine and a reasonable interior (excelling at neither and I missed the Sport seats). I'd have the 120d every time.

As it happened, I went for a Cooper D and went mad with options and then when I left the company and had to hand the car back, bought myself a 120d M-Sport.

Not sure that's any help to you though

Chris

[stupot1379]

Haha minis are on the list can get a pace man chilli media but just not my thing

Thx

[Welshbeef]

The BMW 8 speed auto is an amazing piece of kit
Pro Nav is really good - 3 & 5 series have not seen it on the 1 series
Do you want auto and stick shift?
GTD is a fine looking car

Are any of the short list cars where you'd get some cash back in your salary for underspending ?
What's the car tax difference in BIK?

The last two are not probably earth shatteringly different but I'd wager the 8 speed auto 116i M sport is the cheapest.

How big is your family? Is this your only car?


Seats will be different sport to M sport etc so worth trying to see which is most comfortable.

[stupot1379]

All good questions,

Have a young child but have a new sportage which ticks all the boxes.

Can't trade down to receive money back.

Car is gonna do 25k pa and I'm 6' 5 " so going three door for easy access.

Vw cc is on list but is being replaced so don't want an old model on 12 months.

Always liked BMW over vag because of rear drive and driving position.

There is a 118d m sport manual no nav, that's another option but I just like the auto aspect of 8 speeds with internet and I drive nav, albeit without m sport

Thx

[A900ss]

120d Auto for me.

It's the most powerful, auto box for the 25k grind and rides better an the MSport.

What's not to like? Tom Tom app on the iphone is better for navigation than Pro Nav.

Good luck.

[Welshbeef]

A900ss said:

120d Auto for me.

It's the most powerful, auto box for the 25k grind and rides better an the MSport.

What's not to like? Tom Tom app on the iphone is better for navigation than Pro Nav.

Good luck.

Pro nav is a whole lot more than Nav.

Personally I'd not buy a BMW without ProNav especially after having it on my last car the current ones are in a different league to what I had well worth the extra.



OP out of interest is opt out even an option for your company?

Also 3 door with a young family/child seat..... My wife refuses 3 door as if you did have an accident getting them out without a rear door would be much harder(I've not even attempted to debate it its one of those comments where you just know no pint you'll always lose)

[stupot1379]

Hi,

My idea with pro nav is to also for £95 also have internet too.

Opt out now not an option as I accepted the near out of contract pool a3, hence why the order must be made July

Other half and I have a 14 plate sportage, I would hope it doesn't fail, see where your coming from but I need the bigger doors to get past the pillars. 6'5" but not overweight...

Thx

[A900ss]

Pro Nav is a gimmick that you use for about an hour.

The Auto you'll use every day. Likewise the more powerful engine is tangible every time you drive.

Think about what you want long term in a car and it may not be a short term gadget.

Best of luck.

[Mr Tom]

What sort of driving will it be? Motorway, A-roads etc..

Tom

[stupot1379]

Mix of motorways, 4 appts a day 4 days a week, waiting in between meetings in car parks - I do territory management so car is an office.

Auto I think is high on agenda, got a sat nav but a nice pro nav with internet would be good. To combine all this with m sport and power would be great but alas it will end up being sport with kit or m sport with 116d or sport spec with all...

Thx

[Fox-]

stupot1379 said:

There is a 118d m sport manual no nav, that's another option but I just like the auto aspect of 8 speeds with internet and I drive nav, albeit without m sport

Thx

Surely a car that drives well and has the features you want is better than a car that looks faster and better than it really is but lacks the interior bits you really wanted?

Auto + Nav first, if that means losing the sheep in wolfs clothing bodykit then so be it.

[Mr Tom]

If it were me I would get the most comfortable car with the most spec that will keep you entertained for longest. If you aren't bombing around the back roads then handling won't be everything. I think in this case you need to test drive them all and see what is best.

I think I would probs go with a low powered bmw with as much spec as you can afford. Should get good economy if you take it steady and the pro nav will be good. My second choice would be the golf but then you will be lacking the auto which may become tiresome?