Mad Scientist

OK, time for a new company car. Got a shortlist and wondered if anyone had any opinions on them.

The contenders are........................

New Audi A4 2.0T FSI Quattro 6 speed with S line pack (hope they don't write all that on the boot!)

Saab 9-3 Aero 2.0T

BMW 320 CI sport (maybe a 325)

Has anyone driven any of these? My thoughts are that 4wd is better than lame FWD, so the Audi beats the Saab.............but the BMW is a rear wheeler


Someone help!

Cupramax

Get the latest WHATCAR, theres a test between the very Audi you mention, A 325i, the Merc C230 and one other which I cant remember at this second. Surprisingly the Merc wins...

Mad Scientist

Cheers Cupramax, will pick that up later.

willy

How long will you have the car for?
What type of roads will the car be used for?

*****

Mad Scientist

It will be 3 years mate. Lots of motorways but lots of b roads too. What are you're thoughts then *****?

Wish

iTrader: (2)

Audi !

JoeyDeacon

Don't forget the new BMW 3 series is going to be released soon so if you buy that it will look very dated very quickly.

Mad Scientist

Yeah, I had thought about that. Not mad keen on being a BMW driver though anyway.

I'm off to the Audi and Saab dealerships shortly..................might have to pop to Subaru too and check out the 05's.


Cheers all,

Mad

MattW

When I bought my Golf, the dealer said they were having no end of trouble with the FSI engine as it likes very clean petrol only.

Might be worthwhile asking the Audi dealer about it.

willy

The Saab will do the A roads and Motorways the best..
Havent Saab and Subaru lanched a joint venture car in th UK yet.. I`m sure they have/about to.
Audi has to be the drivers choice if you dont like the BMW.
If you get any more choices, post them up and we can all have another think for you.

*****

brickboy

To echo a point above, the VAG FSI motor needs Optimax / Ultimate / Esso Supreme ALL the time to work well.

To reawaken an old debate what about a diesel? The diesel variants of all the cars you've mentioned (A4 2.0TDi, Saab 2.2CDTi and 320d) are all good engines which give far stronger performance in all conditions than the direct petrol equivalent, are much more economical and more tax efficient ... and you'll save a bundle if you're paying for your own fuel.

I'm biased, but I switched from a company Volvo T4 to a Passat PD130 Sport ( I pay my own fuel ) with all the toys and I save over £1000 per year on benefit-in-kind tax and fuel costs. And I do not miss the T4.

Barnesy

There's only one choice Pete, 05 sti ppp, you know you want it!!!
Stu

Cupramax

Nope, it just runs at slightly lower power exactly the same as the current 225hp 1.8T does when filled with 95ron....

Chris L

Anything petrol is going to be heavy on tax. If you're prepared for that, then I would seriously consider the Saab - best damn seats of any car I know (with the possible exception of Volvo). Why can the Scandanavians get it right and rest so wrong? Maybe just a little bit different from the Audi and Beemer too.

cw42

iTrader: (1)

mad, get yourself a beemer m8, then you and gav can go pose on the highstreet, outside his winebar
Don't get the same colour as him though, or you'll never work out whos is whos when you mums call you in for tea

All the best for the new year m8, hope to see you in january for a bevvie or two on ****** smacs xmas doo.

chris.

Mad Scientist

Cheeky b*gger Chris! Its Gav that still lives with Mummy! Limp wristed golfing pr4t!!!!

Cheers for all the comments guys. CC tax isn't an issue, as the way my company works they pay you extra to "buy" you're own car. Took a look at them all yesterday and had a few drives. The Saab is a very nice car, as is the Audi........worries about that FSI lump though. Also drove a Mondeo ST220...............nice car but the blue oval and rep. image is disturbing me.

Another spanner did get chucked in the works yesterday.................potentially I could get an 05 STI.....................i'd love to own an STI with next to no running costs, but I don't know if I could drive nearly 1000 miles a week in one.

Choices choices!

Iwan

A bloke on http://www.p1woc.co.uk was recently given a budget of £x by his company and told "buy what you like as long as it's within budget". So he got a jap import 22B.

Mad Scientist

I've got certain restrictions.

Got to be new, 4 adult sized seats, no convertibles. Also got to have high level brake light, Air con and ABS. Also must be UK supplied.


Test drove an 05 sti yesterday...............gave it a good shoeing and worryingly it hadn't done its first 1000 miles running in yet! Don't buy an ex demo!

Gav

Your full of hilarious jokes arn't you mr wilkinson And Pete there's no point in you having a 05 sti because you drive like a girl anyway

Well all i can say is BEEMER all the way, had mine 4 months now and i love it. It's so smooth, comfortable, quiet everything my scoob wasn't (but you cant compare them, they are totally different cars)

And most importantly, the birds in Wilmslow dig it ( especially with the shoes Pete )

You know it makes sense And BTW we cant all be gifted sporting athletes



Gav..

Mad Scientist

Drive like a girl!

At least my wrists aren't girl sized like your's!