What 'Business' car - 10yo, 40+mpg, 160g/km?

[Rabbo]

I have opted out of my company car scheme (only small-engined diesel Fords atm) and the car allowance comes with the following stipulations:

• No 'sports' cars or convertibles
• Under 10 years old
• Over 40mpg on combined cycle
• Under 160g/km CO2

I would intend to run the car for at least 3 years, so needs to be no older than 2010. I would prefer an auto and 4/5 doors. Doesn't need to be any more frugal than 40mpg (I have a fuel card).

I would prefer not to spend more than £12k, but might be convinced to go to £15k.

Current candidates:

Audi A4 2.0TDI of some sort - ubiquitous, boss has one and terrible ride
BMW 3er or 5er - needs to have sports seats so M-Sport. 320d or 520d are plentiful, but I think the 6cyl N57 just sqeaks under 160g/km?
Honda Accord
Lexus IS
Mercedes C or E 220d/C250d
Skoda Octavia vRS
VW Passat or CC - CC might be too big
Volvo S60 - old model dated, new model fugly

I'm guessing I should just buy the best 320d I can find like everyone else...

[xjay1337]

I'd go for an Octavia vRS (Common Rail tdi) and give it a remap.

Lots of fun. Very reliable. My Dad had one, put 30k on it without issues. And even with some suspension mods (H&R springs, ball joints giving camber and Polyurethane bushes) it was very comfortable.
He had a Revo Stg1 Remap and it was plenty pokey enough and still managed to do 60+ MPG and 800 mile tanks.

[egomeister]

Lexus:

https://usedcars.lexus.co.uk/en/used-lexus/Lexus/I...

[xjay1337]

My Dad had a Lexis IS220D before the Octavia.
He much preferred the Octavia

Granted, the 220d is probably the worst of any engine ever fitted to any Lexus.

Albeit the sound of the Mark Levinson stereo in the Lexus was hard to replicate, very good.

[NickdeBug]

is that a real mpg of 40, or a manufacturer's claimed mpg - with a slight decline and a following wind?

[Rabbo]

NickdeBug said:

is that a real mpg of 40, or a manufacturer's claimed mpg - with a slight decline and a following wind?

Real mpg unfortunately!

Something different always appeals to me (I've owned and loved a Passat W8 in the past, for example), so the Lexus is a possibility. Believe it or not, a new Golf R is 160g/km for the 3dr DSG version, and 40.4mpg combined. If I didn't really need 4/5 doors, I'd be all over it. I've been keeping on Golf GTI lease prices too, perhaps tempted if they come down a little bit more

[Liggle]

I've got a MK3 Octavia vRS TDI and love it. You can pick them up in your price bracket easily, I get mid 50's MPG tank to tank without fail and its plenty pokey enough for daily use whilst being a bit different to the plethora of Golf's, A4's etc. around. I had a 2008 325d Coupe before this and the Octavia is a much better car all round.

[angels95]

I'd be looking at a previous-gen C350CDI, but the face-lift model (2012 and later) with 265bhp. Just about sneaks in under 160g/km as a saloon and good ones are just about in budget. Automatic and four doors as standard.

A handful around for under £12k, but stretching to £13k gives you a lot more choice.

They're really nice to drive and very quiet for a diesel. Very quick as well!

Just an example:

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2017...

Edited by angels95 on Friday 2nd June 19:28

Edited by angels95 on Friday 2nd June 19:38

[talksthetorque]

Fleet prices.co.uk have a Mazda 6 2.2d SE-L on a good lease deal at the moment.


Apparently they arae very economical, so at a minimum of 40 mpg, you can probably fill a jerry can for free every time you visit the supermarket petrol station to run a generator.
Then you can buy a Nissan Leaf with the money you didn't buy the work car with and run that for free too!

[kurt535]

egomeister said:

Lexus:

https://usedcars.lexus.co.uk/en/used-lexus/Lexus/I...

+1

[ZX10R NIN]

2012 2.2d Mondeo Titanium X Sport 20k 200bhp 159g/km C02

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2017...

2013 2.0d Auto version of the above 33k 160bhp 149g/km C02

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2017...

2014 Kia Optima 3 27k

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2017...

2013 Auto 37k

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2017...