Company car options..

[Scottish_ninja]

After deciding to bin my car allowance in favour of a company vehicle, i've been presented with a somewhat limited list of cars and just wondered if anyone fancied offering their opinion with regard to the best of the bad bunch.

Vauxhall Insignia 2.0 CDTi SRI 5dr (160ps) £24,089.78
Vauxhall Astra 2.0 CDTi SE Sports Tourer £23,885.01
Vauxhall Insignia 2.0 CDTI Exclusiv Ecoflex Sports Tourer (160ps) £23,535.00
Vauxhall Astra 2.0 CDTi SRi 5dr (160ps) £22,459.47
Vauxhall Zafira 1.7CDTi SRI Ecoflex (125ps) £24,235.00
VW Touran 2.0 TDI Bluemotion Technology SE (140ps) £24,195.00
Vauxhall Insignia 2.0 CDTi Exclusiv Ecoflex 5dr (160ps) £22,264.79
Vauxhall Zafira 1.7 CDTi Excite EcoFlex (110ps) £22,405.00
VW Touran 1.6 TDI Bluemotion Technology SE 5dr (105ps) £22,430.00
Audi A3 1.6 TDI SE 3dr (105ps) £19,500.00
VW Golf 2.0 TDI GT Bluemotion Technology 5dr (140ps) £22,405.00
VW Passat 2.0 TDI Bluemotion Technology SE Saloon (140ps) £22,410.01
VW Passat 1.6 TDI Bluemotion Technology SE Estate (105ps) £22,620.00
VW Passat 1.6 TDI Bluemotion Technology Sport Saloon (105ps) £22,350.00
BMW 116D 2.0 SE 3dr (116bhp) £20,965.00
BMW 116D 2.0 SE 5dr (116bhp) £21,525.01
Honda Insight 5dr 1.3 IMA ES CVT (88ps) £18,667.76
Vauxhall Astra 1.7 CDTI Ecoflex SRI 5dr (125ps) £21,854.46
Vauxhall Astra 1.7 CDTI Ecoflex SE 5dr (125ps) £22,259.47
Vauxhall Astra 1.7 CDTi SRI Ecoflex Sports Tourer (125ps) £22,869.98
Vauxhall Astra 1.7 CDTi SE Ecoflex Sports Tourer (125ps) £23,280.00
VW Passat 1.6 TDI Bluemotion Technology S Saloon (105ps) £20,030.00
VW Passat 1.6 TDI Bluemotion Technology S Estate (105ps) £21,335.00
VW Golf 1.6 TDI SE Bluemotion Technology Estate (105ps) £20,915.00
VW Golf 1.6 TDI Match Bluemotion Technology 5dr (105ps) £20,499.99
Toyota Prius 1.8 VVT-I T3 Hybrid 5 door (98bhp) £21,058.72


having never driven any of them, i was thinking along the lines of the GolfGT TDi or the 116d.

Stephen.

[Lefty]

VW Golf 2.0 TDI GT Bluemotion Technology 5dr (140ps) £22,405.00


But check out the tax implications over the 1.6

[Scottish_ninja]

oh and as an insight, im a 25yr old guy with no kids.

[briers]

VW Golf 2.0 TDI GT Bluemotion Technology 5dr (140ps) £22,405.00


Without a doubt.

[mnkiboy]

Not that i'm in any way a fan of Vauxhalls, but i'd probably choose the 2.0CDTi Astra Estate from that list. Either that or the 2.0 Golf.

116bhp in a 1 series isn't a great deal, i'd be crying out for more power.

[briers]

P.S.

The 116d is a massive pile of crap

[Rocksteadyeddie]

Is there not a cash alternative?

[Scottish_ninja]

Is the engine in the 116 just the same 2litre block from the 120d?

Thinking a simple remap could sort out any power issues and deliver around 150bhp?

[jake15919]

Well it's the Toyota Pious obviously isn't it?

Ask for your allowance back in my opinion. I'm guessing you are getting about £500 pm. You can find something interesting for that.

[EVLXGE]

Rocksteadyeddie said:

Is there not a cash alternative?

First line of his post.......

I would probably go 2.0 litre 140 bluemotion golf. or the 116d.

Out of interest what makes the 116d a pile of .....?

[Scottish_ninja]

Rocksteadyeddie said:

Is there not a cash alternative?

Yeh but its only £350 a month and i would have to service/insure/MOT it etc, and with a 147GTA and a ZX6R already on the road im looking to reduce my outgoings.

Stephen.

[sday12]

Scottish_ninja said:

Rocksteadyeddie said:

Is there not a cash alternative?

Yeh but its only £350 a month and i would have to service/insure/MOT it etc, and with a 147GTA and a ZX6R already on the road im looking to reduce my outgoings.

Stephen.

Pocket the money and drive the 147GTA.

[briers]

Scottish_ninja said:

Is the engine in the 116 just the same 2litre block from the 120d?

Thinking a simple remap could sort out any power issues and deliver around 150bhp?

The block is the same but a lot of things are different afaik

Gearbox, injectors, oil cooling, balance shafts.... and brakes as well it seems.

I'd be VERY surprised if you can remap a company lease. You are paying for a name in the 116d. It doesn't have the RWD heritage (what i mean by that, it's a country mile from a 6cylinder with at least 240bhp), it is way down on power even with a remap and the interior isn't great + it sounds rough. The VW has a lot more class off the bat, plus a lot more stock power.

Edited by briers on Tuesday 10th May 12:42

Edited by briers on Tuesday 10th May 12:46

[blambert]

VW Golf 2.0 TDI GT Bluemotion Technology 5dr (140ps) £22,405.00

Definitely.

[Scottish_ninja]

sday12 said:

Pocket the money and drive the 147GTA.

Not really an option, i wont get a fuel card with anything over a 2.5litre, the tax would be horrendous and i do around 20000 business miles a year, oh and i think its too old now anyway.

Would look funy to see a 147GTA pull onto a site with a beacon on the roof and high vis livery down the sides.lol.

[antspants]

I'd go for either the SRI versions of the Astra or Insignia, or the Golf you mentioned. Mainly as they have the better engines and possibly specs as well, suppose it depends if you're too bothered about the tax implications of the larger power outputs?

OT - don't you just love that you've already made your mind up to get a company car, and still get lots of suggestions to take the money. Give it an hour or so, and somebody will have been on explaining how you can easily run a Monaro or a TVR for the cash alternative

[langers1]

Hey Stephen, you dont work for Amey do you, you have exactly the same list as me as I was thinking the same as you, what car to pick lol

[lionrampant]

I'm with the two litre golf vote.

[jonah35]

VW Golf 2.0 TDI GT Bluemotion Technology 5dr (140ps) £22,405.00

[rossw46]

I would theoretically go with the 2.0 golf too.

Only thing that (in my case) put me off,was a warning on our company car providers' website of long waiting times on golfs.

Audi A3s also had this problem,so I ordered a Polo GTI (which wasn't on the long wait list).I ordered the Polo about 6 weeks ago,estimated delivery date : 09/01/2012