Best company car for less than £24,000?

[bryanlister]

I've got to order a new company car PDQ and need some help. The following all have to be taken into consideration:

1. C02 emissions
2. no 2 door/cabriolets etc (this has to be a 'sensible' car
3. front wheel drive makes more sense for where I live when winter comes as RWD cannot get up the hill (so no BMW, Mercs etc etc - not that I would anyway!)
4. Comfortable - I do alot of miles

My current fav is the new Saab 9-3 2.0 T Aero - 210 bhp and under £23K.

Any better suggestions out there chaps???

[tuffer]

Impreza STi....not too sure on the CO2 but it should be lots

[broccoli]

MINI Cooper S with all the options might give a fiver change from 24k

Audi S3
Golf R32
147 GTA

Worth a look.

>> Edited by broccoli on Thursday 28th November 13:37

[Alex]

Boring, but the BMW 3-series is the best car you're going to get at that price point. It's rear wheel drive, what more do you need to know? Saab? Crap.

[sp60]

I know they're not very exciting, but how about a golf TDI. I've driven the new pd150 and the engines are fantastic. They're great as motorway cruisers, comfy and quiet. For that money you could get an anniversary edition which would set it apart (slightly)!
I'm sure I'll get flamed for this, but it is a decent practical choice and they are good cars.

:sitsbackandwaitsforabuse:

[mel]

Worried about the tax bill?

If "yes" - Golf TDI PD 150 leather large and toys

If "no" - Ask someone else as I didn't bother looking too much, my answer was "yes"

[Froth]

The 4 wheel drive Jaguar X-Type starts at £22000 for the 2.5, gets great reviews looks mint and would give great traction up the hill.

[s2ooz]

my friend just spent 2 months reviewing and test driving for the same reasons, he ended up going for the audi A4 1.8T, second best was the volvo C70 I think, but not enought gadgets, and sloppy old man comfortable ride.

[rev-erend]

Seat Cupra R ! (18K)

[bryanlister]

Alex said: Boring, but the BMW 3-series is the best car you're going to get at that price point. It's rear wheel drive, what more do you need to know? Saab? Crap.

OK - The BMW 3-series is a good car - but I've had them in the past and they are no good in the snow. I currently have a Lexus iS200 SE - and that has been good too - but no good in the snow either as I discovered last winter. I omitted to say that I need something bigger than Golf/S3 as I have to carry stuff around with me sometimes. Other cars I've had include Passat 1.8T - which was OK but handled like a mattress.
Subaru is appealing - but emissions are huge so that's a no no.

Never had a Saab but it seems to have a good level of kit/performance/style for the money (not my money either!).

So please keep the suggestions coming......

[andymadmak]

MG ZT 190+

or

Volvo S60 2.4Tse

Both quick, mega comfy, nice looking, handle well, good safety, sounds etc etc.
Andy 400se

[Alex]

Didn't realise 'snow ability' was so high up your criteria!

I've driven a few cars in the class and the 3-series is miles ahead in the driveability stakes.

[CarZee]

[not-reading-previous-posts-properly]
i) BMW
ii) Westfield XTR
iii) Mini Cooper S
[/not-reading-previous-posts-properly]

[the cat]

Sounds to me like the X-Type is the best car for you as it's got 4 wheel drive and great handling.

[Terminator]

Depends what you mean by 'best'..

If you want to reduce your company car tax liabilty to £500 per year (£200 tax at 40%) then get one of these

I'm ordering one for March delivery - leather, aircon, etc. etc. plus a little hook for hanging your jacket up in the back.

[thub]

£24k might cover a new A4 Avant with the PD130 diesel engine. Not too many toys though..

[bryanlister]

the cat said: Sounds to me like the X-Type is the best car for you as it's got 4 wheel drive and great handling.

You may be right!
Snow ability is important. It caused a laugh for the neigbours last year when the car stayed motionless whilst produce plumes of steam from the back wheels and I went.......precisely no where. Traction control, snow control, blah control.....no control. I'll give the X-Type a look.

[mel]

:bigalarmbells:

Warning tax man is looking at closing the door on the "King Cabs" to many people have been taking the piss with their "vans" latest I got told was that they were now assessed individually to see if they are genuinely being used as vans or if they have been bought to dodge a tax bill, one of the key driteria is "extras" i.e leather seats, aircon, dvd's in the backs of the seats etc (I think they allow the little hook though )

[miniman]

I had exactly this dilemma when selecting my new motor recently.

The X-Type has horrific CO2 figures, plus it is over 2.0l (even the 2.0 is actually 2.1) so this hits the fuel scale charge.

I tried the Saab and was really impressed, it is a much better car than the previous 9-3

In the end I chose an A4 1.8T Sport with quite a few options which ended up at £25k. If you drop the leather, it will be around the £24k mark. I'm well pleased with it.

[Terminator]

mel said: :bigalarmbells:

Warning tax man is looking at closing the door on the "King Cabs" to many people have been taking the piss with their "vans" latest I got told was that they were now assessed individually to see if they are genuinely being used as vans or if they have been bought to dodge a tax bill, one of the key driteria is "extras" i.e leather seats, aircon, dvd's in the backs of the seats etc (I think they allow the little hook though )

I know. Knowing my luck, Gordon and the IR boys will close the loophole the day before I take delivery. But I'm keeping the BMW 328Ci as a 'pool car'