Steve P.

What`s your budget and do you have to go for new ?

Have just changed to an AWD Turbo - DIESEL....and am most impressed with build quality and practicality. Would the BMW engine be OK ? ; if so then the Land Rover Freelander Td4 is a surprisingly good tool. Yep, it`s fugly but that`s the trend nowadays. When running in it was doing 33mpg local - 35/40 at the legal limit but down to 22mpg when slightly...above.

Hardest thing is getting used to the `roll` but it handles fine. One other endearing factor is the superb allround vision from up high; extremely useful especially on motorways in foul weather.
Boot is not as large as an estate but split, flat folding rear seats help.

Our first `British` car (and diesel) for twelve years and well pleased to date.

Good luck !

[Edited by jamesa - 11/2/2001 12:44:54 PM]

 

well unfortunately a company lease car beckons with a new job i've just acquired so the scoob is probably gonna have to go and my plan of an Evo or STi are also going to go nowhere

now the current choices given the list i'm able to work from are all turbo diesels :

anyone got / driven and can give me a verdict / info on the following :

Golf GT PD 130 (150 around the corner ?)
Saab 2.2 TiD SE
Audi A4 130 Sport (damn expensive!)
Passat 1.9 TDi 130 Sport

Maybe new Laguna ? Vectra ! ?

Company i work for will not allow me to choose from certain car manufacturers..ie subaru / bmw / lexus and many more. also car has to be under group 15 insurance.

given new company car tax stuff based on Co2 i'm planning on replacing the scoob with a boring diesel....v sad and i dont want a company car but i dont have a choice given the miles i'm going to be clocking up. (and i wont use the scoob for business cos its not worth it)

Opinions please and alternatives to the above i should consider which you think are valid possibles ?

thanks

Steve

 

One of the MG Rover cars? XS/XT?

 

not on the list m8

ins groups ?

 

Saab diesel is supposed to be 'not the best'. Looks like the Golf. How about the Seat Leon diesel, or the Alfa 156 JTD?

 

bmw 330d?

 

wots wrong with the saab ? looks nice / got good toys and is a bit different ?

yeah alfa nice looking car ? how it drive / handle / go ?

seat bit boring but no doubt good build ?

 

wake up neil.....read me post

cant have bmw's...not on the list !

[Edited by Steve Perriam - 10/31/2001 9:53:15 PM]

 

Out the list I'ld go for the Golf and hang out for the 150bhp Turbo Diesel.
I had a GTi Turbo b4 getting into the expensive world of Subaru's Can't fault them for quality, good engines, nice to drive, wicked interior at night plus the Golf image that comes with the package.

That'ld be my choice..

 

Passat

Boring as F & keep scoob for fun

(Well I have to drive the Vectra TD to work & back but it does the job)

 

Steve - downer mate . Fortunately have steered clear of diesels so cant really offer any advice.

Puff - Lets get this straight you have a Mini Cooper for the Wife, The Magic Wagon for the Weekend, and a Vectra TD for Work ? - Bet the Vectra is the only one your Wifes boss doesn't drive - Sorry mate couldn't resist

 

Change jobs? The Laguna diesel has had a good write up.

 

Steve NO WAY M8!
Get a poxy car and buy Johns Westi (John was looking 4 a scoob 2) so he may part ex. Then u'll have a REALLY fast toy and 80mpg
I've got a westi and there sooooooo much fun

 

hi dizzy, yeah now thats an idea !! i'm gonna look at trying to keep the scoob but i aint an IT contractor anymore so money not what it was u gonna join us on CS soon m8 ? and when u on Ultima ?

Neil : yeah couple of the guys have just got Laguna estate diesels so i'm gonna drive one.

steve

 

Audi A4, Audi A4, Audi A4.

 

Having lived with a diesel (granted a 330d ) I can honestly say I don't miss the Scoob at all. Add into that the the money I have saved in 8 months has paid for a 350bhp/tonne 'weekend car' Best of ALL worlds


With your selection, I would go for the Golf (unles you can pursuade them to put the new 320d on the list). I have driven the PD 130 golf and was stunned. Not as smooth an quick as my 330d, but a very impressive car - the PD 150 will be a cracker!!

I looked at the A4 2.5 TDI and thought it was crap (noisey, very peaky) the 1.9 can only be worse French diesels are very well respected, but they are very 'dieselly' - smokey and noisy!!

 

cheers gary.

no hope of bmw's going back on the list i'm afraid.

the golf is my 1st choice if i can get the 150.

i like the A4 130 sport but its not cheap.

Bal : do u have an A4 ?

steve

 

can you opt out and take cash instead of a car?

 

gregh : not a chance.

 

Steve

Go for the Golf!

I've had both the Golf and the Passat, and the Passat handles like a brick in comparison to the Golf. If you don't need the extra space, then the Golf is the better of the two.

If I am correct, the engine in the Saab is the Vauxhall unit, so Puff knows all about it.

Duncan

 

Originally posted by Steve Perriam:Nothing wrong with Saabs per se, it's just the the diesel (allegedly) isn't up to the refinement of the VW PD.

 

I'd go with the Alfa. the 156 seems to be geared for some degree of driving pleasure plus it looks good and I think its miles more interesting than and VW/ Audi car.

Unless the tdi is miles betetr then the petrol GTi then its a very boring hasty to drive car that is well built. The blue dash i horrible and made my eyes ache like crazy. My ex had one as a company car and both of us prefered to drive her Punto sporting.


AllanB

 

james : budget difficult....i get max allowance per month and i have to pay 2/7ths of the monthly lease cost. also if monthly lease cost of car i choose exceeds my limit i pay 7/7ths of the excess !!

list is restricted as well....no BMW's or Lexus or Scooby!!!!! no ins group > 14, car assembled in GATT country...so no Jap stuff.

and other rules to like no coupes, convertibles or 4*4's !

allan : yep was thinkin saab cos different and then alfa.

all depends on if i try to justify keeping scoob as well ??

if i do then summat real cheap like Octavia 1.9 diesel or a focus !! is on the cards...............

ta for repl;ies, keep them coming....................

driven Freelander....not impressed.