Anything remotely PH with a CO2 rating of 120g/km?

[paulmnz]

So, work is offering a tax efficent car lease scheme for 'eco friendly' cars...

... are any PH'ers still reading at this point?

I already have a DC2 integra and a mrk 1 MX5, both of which are gradually getting less distance-friendly (cages, lack of carpet etc). So a 3rd option could be a eco lease car for long distances rather than going down the barge route.

Diesel is likely to be most poke/gm I'm assuming...

Having browsed a website to see just what falls into the 120 g/km band, these are the remaining contenders:

BMW 318d touring
Audi A4 3 door (s-line / sport thing whatever) with a mighty 140ps
Prius (because i love the idea of tracking one ;-) )
various golfs, passats, vaxhauls, fords etc.

bearing in mind I drive cars with limited PAS, TC and reasonable power-to-weight ratios, will I have any fun at all in these eco warriors?

most have a 0-60 in the 9s to 10s range, can you completely disable the TC in the modern BM?

I appreciate few modern cars excite, but I'd at least like to enjoy the odd wet round-a-bout or an ironic trackday...

Any body running cars like this?

[roverspeed]

None of the above will be remotely exciting to drive.

I would recommend going something a bit smaller, so what little poke you do have goes further and you will actually feel whats going on around you.

A Prius!!!!! are you serious man!!!!

How about an Aygo? I think they are £35 per year tax, and are great fun to drive.

I have drive petrol and diesel and would plump for the petrol everytime.

Certainly won't be as refined as any of the others listed but alot more fun to drive. Think slower Mk1 Golf GTI.

Lift off oversteer is easy and controllable.

[paulmnz]

I was hoping a prius might amuse if it had switchable stability control / TC, or a 'cheaper' version you can buy without it...

surely any PHer would be amused to see a prius lift-off oversteer into a round-a-bout...

I've driven a few pretty amusing low bhp/ton cars (fiat 500, fiestas etc)...

However you may be right.... <humm>

back to the idea of barge then!

[t955daytona]

Is 120g/km your cut off? The new engine in the Mini Cooper S is 184bhp and 136g/km.

Edited by t955daytona on Thursday 8th April 08:20

[paulmnz]

yes, 120 is the cut-off...

If I could have gone a little higher I'd be considering the Pug RCZ as a contender...

Chris Harris reckoned it was a good steer...

t955daytona said:

Is 120g/km your cut off? The new engine in the Mini Cooper S is 184bhp and 136g/km.

Edited by t955daytona on Thursday 8th April 08:20

[Lefty Two Drams]

Could you get around it by running a classic car with no recorded CO2 output?

[AB]

If you have your fun cars then I'd seriously be considering sitting back and cruising around in a 318d.

It's by no means painfully slow like it's petrol engined brother.

[Ecurie Ecosse]

Is the 320d Efficient Dynamics on the list? That has recently been released (I think) and only outs out 109g.

http://www.autocar.co.uk/CarReviews/FirstDrives/BM...

[Lefty Two Drams]

Ecurie Ecosse said:

Is the 320d Efficient Dynamics on the list? That has recently been released (I think) and only outs out 109g.

http://www.autocar.co.uk/CarReviews/FirstDrives/BM...

I would imagine 100% of these cars will be company cars. Who else would pay £28k for a small saloon with 160bhp?

[Mr Gear]

Honda CRZ comes in at 117g and looks very nice to me.

[Twincam16]

Lefty Two Drams said:

Ecurie Ecosse said:

Is the 320d Efficient Dynamics on the list? That has recently been released (I think) and only outs out 109g.

http://www.autocar.co.uk/CarReviews/FirstDrives/BM...

I would imagine 100% of these cars will be company cars. Who else would pay £28k for a small saloon with 160bhp?

Especially as the new MG6 is on its way with that same power output for £15-18k, comparable low kerb weight, and being petrol-engined, a better throttle response.

You may laugh, but Autocar tested one last week and said it had best-in-class ride and handling - better than a Focus.

[edo]

BMW 320d ED hard to beat for co2 for performance.

13% BIK
109 C02
68.9 MPG
163 BHP
0-60 8.0

[Chris71]

MINI Cooper D? I know I harp on about them, but they're an amazingly complete car - very low emissions (104 g/km I think) and over 70mpg claimed, yet still more fun and far more refined than most of the warm hatches.

[Ecurie Ecosse]

The MG6 looks interesting, but its higher CO2 emissions and probably not as good residuals may actually make the 320ED cheaper per month as a company car.

[Mr E]

Mr Gear said:

Honda CRZ comes in at 117g and looks very nice to me.

Would be worth a punt I reckon, and Ling will lease you one for sensible money.

[teamHOLDENracing]

paulmnz said:

most have a 0-60 in the 9s to 10s range, can you completely disable the TC in the modern BM?

Yes you can, in two stages - one with limited TC and the other with no TC at all (press the TC button and hold it)

[bmthnick1981]

Just over your limit, but how about a BMW 123d?

I think the figues are something like 200bhp/300lb ft, 0-60 in 7ish and 150mph. All for 140g/km CO2.

Reviews I have seen have been fairly favourable too...

[The Wookie]

I'd go with something from BMW. They seem to be the best at type approval cycle-beating at the moment, so you'll get the most bang for your CO2 related buck.

[dylan0451]

paulmnz said:

surely any PHer would be amused to see a prius lift-off oversteer into a round-a-bout...

i'd just love to thrash one to death, really re educate the public into how green they can be

i think lift off sounds a bit hopefull in the chassis tuning though, considering they're designed for old people and those with no interest in driving

think terminal understeer might be more on the cards

[Gizmo!]

Ecurie Ecosse said:

Is the 320d Efficient Dynamics on the list? That has recently been released (I think) and only outs out 109g.

http://www.autocar.co.uk/CarReviews/FirstDrives/BM...

I drove one of those the other week. Really very good - didn't feel like an 'Eco' model at all. Not M3-fast obviously, but perfectly good, handled as well as you could reasonably expect for something on low rolling resistance tyres and if I was given one as a company car I'd be very happy.