Company car choice for a frustrated petrol head?
Discussion
Firstly, as anyone in a company car scheme will attest to even when you have a fairly free hand, new car choices when you’re given certain restrictions can be very boring. This means I am having a bit of trouble deciding on a new company car to replace my Golf GTD.
I appreciate that the GTD isn’t really revered amongst certain circles of the PH community, but I’ve found it to be very good – a decent enough drive on an interesting road, relatively quick, refined, good looking ( subjective I know! ), easy to live with on a daily basis etc etc. In fact I don’t normally manage to go this long without pleading with the powers that be to let me change, so it’s was clearly a decent choice and I am struggling to find something that offers much of an improvement.
Unfortunately whilst deliveries of the new mk7 start shortly, the GTD hasn’t even been announced yet. Therefore it isn’t likely to be available before the end of 2014 otherwise I would be tempted to wait for this, although I may still do if nothing else grabs me in the meantime. I have already considered the new 1-series and the new A3 but don’t really like either, so I have been starting to look at the class above for inspiration.
Whatever I choose will be my only car for the time being, with on street parking and house commitments meaning I have neither the space nor budget for anything interesting to supplement it as a weekend toy. Therefore it would be nice to have something that isn’t absolutely soul crushingly dull to drive. Our policy is to keep them for 3.5yrs, so if I choose something that I get fed up with after only a few months it’s going to be a long, frustrating wait for a replacement!
I must have mulled over just about everything that is available within my budget ( circa 25K ), but am going around in circles trying to make a decision so if anyone has any first-hand experience of the following I would welcome sensible comments, positive or negative. Likewise if I’ve missed something then feel free to chip in with a suggestion. My current shortlist is:
Volvo S60D5 R-design
BMW 320ED
Mercedes C220D SE
Citroen DS5 D-sport
Leasing costs are irrelevant as our policy is to buy outright, I am however free to haggle as much discount as possible from the supplying dealer – the choices above allow for this as each of their list prices would work out above the set budget.
It has to be brand new or possibly ex-demo, a diseasel and preferably with less than 130gr Co2, although ideally 109gr or less for us to write down the value against tax – hence the low emission spec BMW and Merc choices.
Unfortunately we don’t allow anyone to opt out and buy their own, otherwise the choices could be much more inspiring and I wouldn’t be posting this!
Initially I was favouring the Citroen DS5, whilst I loved the looks and the interior sadly the drive was something of a let-down, so this one is already slipping off the list as I suspect that I would tire of it quickly. But it is so well specified that it remains a contender regardless of its dynamic shortfalls.
So at the moment I’m going around in circles, one minute leaning toward the S60, primarily based upon its having the D5 – for which I could get the Polestar chip. Next thing my head says the 3-series makes more sense and i should go for that. Sadly the spec on the 3 is pretty basic and they are everywhere, so I then change my mind again!
Believe me, I know that they are all rather boring really and I would much rather run something with 6+ cylinders and a bit of soul, but sadly I can’t – so do your worst!
I appreciate that the GTD isn’t really revered amongst certain circles of the PH community, but I’ve found it to be very good – a decent enough drive on an interesting road, relatively quick, refined, good looking ( subjective I know! ), easy to live with on a daily basis etc etc. In fact I don’t normally manage to go this long without pleading with the powers that be to let me change, so it’s was clearly a decent choice and I am struggling to find something that offers much of an improvement.
Unfortunately whilst deliveries of the new mk7 start shortly, the GTD hasn’t even been announced yet. Therefore it isn’t likely to be available before the end of 2014 otherwise I would be tempted to wait for this, although I may still do if nothing else grabs me in the meantime. I have already considered the new 1-series and the new A3 but don’t really like either, so I have been starting to look at the class above for inspiration.
Whatever I choose will be my only car for the time being, with on street parking and house commitments meaning I have neither the space nor budget for anything interesting to supplement it as a weekend toy. Therefore it would be nice to have something that isn’t absolutely soul crushingly dull to drive. Our policy is to keep them for 3.5yrs, so if I choose something that I get fed up with after only a few months it’s going to be a long, frustrating wait for a replacement!
I must have mulled over just about everything that is available within my budget ( circa 25K ), but am going around in circles trying to make a decision so if anyone has any first-hand experience of the following I would welcome sensible comments, positive or negative. Likewise if I’ve missed something then feel free to chip in with a suggestion. My current shortlist is:
Volvo S60D5 R-design
BMW 320ED
Mercedes C220D SE
Citroen DS5 D-sport
Leasing costs are irrelevant as our policy is to buy outright, I am however free to haggle as much discount as possible from the supplying dealer – the choices above allow for this as each of their list prices would work out above the set budget.
It has to be brand new or possibly ex-demo, a diseasel and preferably with less than 130gr Co2, although ideally 109gr or less for us to write down the value against tax – hence the low emission spec BMW and Merc choices.
Unfortunately we don’t allow anyone to opt out and buy their own, otherwise the choices could be much more inspiring and I wouldn’t be posting this!
Initially I was favouring the Citroen DS5, whilst I loved the looks and the interior sadly the drive was something of a let-down, so this one is already slipping off the list as I suspect that I would tire of it quickly. But it is so well specified that it remains a contender regardless of its dynamic shortfalls.
So at the moment I’m going around in circles, one minute leaning toward the S60, primarily based upon its having the D5 – for which I could get the Polestar chip. Next thing my head says the 3-series makes more sense and i should go for that. Sadly the spec on the 3 is pretty basic and they are everywhere, so I then change my mind again!
Believe me, I know that they are all rather boring really and I would much rather run something with 6+ cylinders and a bit of soul, but sadly I can’t – so do your worst!
320d all day long.
We just sold a previous gen (e90) 320d ED, and in all the time we owned it it didn't put a foot wrong.
Road tax is only £20, and in 40,000 miles without effort it was averaging 55mpg overall (mixed roads).
From a co. tax point of view it is also only 109, so lowest band (18%?) with he exception of Prius and other hateful POS.
It doesnt feel lacking (163bhp), and due to the balancer stuff it has, is extremely smooth. No runflat tyres and smaller alloys may not look so bling, but the ride and handling are excellent.
We just sold a previous gen (e90) 320d ED, and in all the time we owned it it didn't put a foot wrong.
Road tax is only £20, and in 40,000 miles without effort it was averaging 55mpg overall (mixed roads).
From a co. tax point of view it is also only 109, so lowest band (18%?) with he exception of Prius and other hateful POS.
It doesnt feel lacking (163bhp), and due to the balancer stuff it has, is extremely smooth. No runflat tyres and smaller alloys may not look so bling, but the ride and handling are excellent.
edo said:
It doesnt feel lacking (163bhp), and due to the balancer stuff it has, is extremely smooth. No runflat tyres and smaller alloys may not look so bling, but the ride and handling are excellent.
Exactly this. It'll go down a bumpy back road like a ferret down your trousers. They get dismissed out of hand as an economy special but they have a wonderfully supple chassis. Look dull but great to drive. Well recommended.I've a D3 S60 R-Design. Very comfortable cruiser (most comfortable car I've owned), handles ok for what it is. Never going to set the world on fire, but can pull a reasonable turn of pace when needed. (D5 should be better in this regard). Only downside is the crappy turning circle/rear visibility which makes parking awkward at times.
thinfourth2 said:
EDLT said:
tl;dr
Just get the cheapest and a second car that is actually fun.
no no no this is wrongJust get the cheapest and a second car that is actually fun.
Get the cheapest car that you can get in a bright colour so you can find in the sea of grey
Then buy your own second car for fun
Hi,
320d/ED, OR 320i/ED (became orderable in November) this year.
I'd have the 320d (in fact I do, and I'm halfway through ordering another, newer one).
The 170ps 1.6 turbo petrol 320i/ED is 124gCO2/km, which is the same tax band as the 109gCO2/km diesel 320d. If you're not into diesel, perhaps worth a punt? It's £2000-odd less than the 320d as well.
C
ETA: bugger, missed out the diesel only thing on the OP.
I just test drove the F30 ED 320d against the C220 CDI Exec, and there's absolutely no reason I can think of to go for the merc. The F30 320d/Ed is an astonishingly good car.
320d/ED, OR 320i/ED (became orderable in November) this year.
I'd have the 320d (in fact I do, and I'm halfway through ordering another, newer one).
The 170ps 1.6 turbo petrol 320i/ED is 124gCO2/km, which is the same tax band as the 109gCO2/km diesel 320d. If you're not into diesel, perhaps worth a punt? It's £2000-odd less than the 320d as well.
C
ETA: bugger, missed out the diesel only thing on the OP.
I just test drove the F30 ED 320d against the C220 CDI Exec, and there's absolutely no reason I can think of to go for the merc. The F30 320d/Ed is an astonishingly good car.
Edited by CraigyMc on Tuesday 18th December 20:24
I'm having a similar dilemma.
I have discounted the Alfa, it looks good but interior is lacking quality and its getting old now so the interior tech is behind the market IMO. (And I'm an Alfa fan)
Have you considered the new a class? I test drove one last week and was impressed.
I was looking at the ds5 today and its huge!
I have discounted the Alfa, it looks good but interior is lacking quality and its getting old now so the interior tech is behind the market IMO. (And I'm an Alfa fan)
Have you considered the new a class? I test drove one last week and was impressed.
I was looking at the ds5 today and its huge!
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