ScoobyWon't

Been discussing this with my mates over the last few days just to waste some time.

The set criteria is a budget of £20k and the use would be that you would be travelling up to 6 hours a day (motorway and town driving), must be able to carry a bag for overnight stays and a laptop.

Fuel, body-style, specs etc is negotiable.

What would you choose?

scoobyDAZZA

this

Autotrader - Seat Leon 2.0 FR 550 TDI 170HP

Andy M3

BMW 120d [177] just use the BMW company calculator......

stilover

Depend what your after though. Petrol? Diesel? Are you wanting something sporty'ish when off the motorway?



For £20k, you could have a Focus ST. Will be quick enough on the motorway, and pretty decent off the motorways.

ScooByer Trade

Lexus IS250 sport, don't know squat about this car though.

J4CKO

iTrader: (1)

Mondeo if you need any space, Focus if you need less space, 120d if you need no space whatsoever.

Steve vRS

The best car on my co. car list up to £20k was the one I decided on. The Octavia vRS TDi.

We basically had the choice of any 4 door diesel car from the VAG or Ford (Volvo, Ford, Jag etc) ranges. I wasn't important enough for a BMW. I don't remember seeing ant 1 series on the list.

You'd be amazed how many people choose 1.9 90bhp A3's just so they can have the Audi badge!

Steve

J4CKO

iTrader: (1)

We have a diesel only policy, my allowance gets me a Ford or Vauxhall, I can add to and get a German something but when the Fords are so good and my ego can cope with a non German badge I will take the Ford.

Varboy

If I had to go back to company car ownership and had about a 20k bench, I would probably go for the Seat.

Andy M3

Octavia vRS = £131.33 / month [49.6mpg combined/1350 litres in the boot]
BMW 120d = £118.00 / month [58.9mpg combined/1150 litres in the boot]

Octavia cost per year based on the above [18k/annum] = 3504.91
BMW cost per year based on the above [18k/annum] = £3039.85

Additional £465.06 / annum.

wrxsti280

iTrader: (6)

lexus is250, or if funds are not sufficient, the brand new mazda 6 sport as it looks exactly the same and im happy with my current mazda 6 daily driver

Blueblaster

With that kind of mileage I would get the car with the seats you find the most confortable. Next would be an excellent stereo and the CO2 rating. Get good seats!

ScooByer Trade

I found a Lexus IS250 (not listed as sport version) in the Lexus Bristol dealership, it is a 2008 08 plate and has covered only 100 miles from new. The price is £19,850.

Autotrader - LEXUS IS 2400 cc 250

The Trooper 1815

iTrader: (31)

Legacy Sport Tourer/Saloon 2.0l Diesel R £20000 and less CO2 than the equivalent Mondeo/Passat. Loads of toys and not very rep mobile either.

Accordinging to What Car and TG the best diesel money can buy at the moment.

Legacy 2.0D Sports Tourer

(5MT, AWD)
Dimensions: L x W x H : 4,720 x 1,730 x 1,470 mm
Engine: Horizontally-Opposed, 4-cylinder, Turbocharged DOHC,
16-valve, diesel engine
Capacity: 1,998 cc
Max output: 110 kW (150 PS) / 3,600 rpm
Max torque: 350 Nm (35.7 kgfm) / 1,800 rpm
Combined Fuel Consumption from 48.7 mpg 151g/kms CO2
Diesel prices start at £19,995 On The Road

Safety

• ACTIVE FRONT HEADRESTS
• COLLAPSIBLE WINDSCREEN WIPERS
• DOOR OPEN WARNING INDICATOR
• DRIVER AND FRONT PASSENGER DUAL-STAGE AIRBAGS‡
• DRIVER SEAT BELT WARNING INDICATOR
• ELECTRIC WINDOW LOCK
• FOUR CHANNEL ABS WITH EBD
• FULL-TIME SYMMETRICAL ALL-WHEEL DRIVE
• HEIGHT ADJUSTABLE FRONT SEAT BELTS WITH LOAD LIMITED PRE-TENSIONERS
• HIGH-MOUNTED STOP LAMP
• IMPACT ABSORBING BONNET
• IMPACT ABSORBING FRONT BUMPER
• IMPACT SENSITIVE SAFETY DRIVING PEDALS
• OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE GAUGE
• PARKING LIGHT
• PASSENGER SEAT BELT WARNING LIGHT
• REAR DOOR CHILD PROOF LOCKS
• REAR DOOR IMPACT PROTECTION BARS
• RING SHAPED REINFORCEMENT FRAME
• SIDE AIRBAGS‡
• SIDE DOOR PROTECTION BEAMS
• STEERING COLUMN SUPPORT BEAM
• THREE REAR SEAT BELTS (3 POINT ELR x 2) LAP & DIAGONAL CENTRE, INCLUDING ISOFIX CHILD SEAT MOUNTINGS IN REAR

Security

• SHIELDED DEADLOCKING DOOR LOCKS
• THATCHAM CATEGORY ONE ALARM AND IMMOBILISER

Comfort

• DUAL ZONE (DRIVER AND FRONT PASSENGER) CLIMATE CONTROL
• CRUISE CONTROL
• FOLD DOWN REAR ARM REST
• HEIGHT ADJUSTABLE HEAD RESTS × 5
• SPEED SENSITIVE POWER STEERING

Exterior

• ALUMINIUM BONNET
• COLOUR CODED BUMPERS AND DOOR HANDLES
• FRONT WIPERS (WITH VARIABLE INTERMITTENT)
• HEATED BODY COLOURED DOOR MIRRORS WITH BUILT IN SIDE INDICATORS
• SPACE SAVER SPARE WHEEL/TYRE

Interior

• ADJUSTABLE DASHBOARD ILLUMINATION
• BOOT-THROUGH REAR SEAT
• CARGO AREA CONCEALED STORAGE TRAY
• CARGO HOOKS × 2
• CENTRE CONSOLE STORAGE COMPARTMENT WITH 12V POWER OUTLET AND LID
• CHROME FINISH DOOR RELEASE HANDLES
• ELECTRIC WINDOWS - FRONT AND REAR
• ELECTRONIC BOOT RELEASE
• FRONT CIGARETTE LIGHTER / 12v POWER OUTLET
• FRONT SEAT REAR STORAGE NETS
• FRONT WINDSCREEN DEMISTER
• ILLUMINATED IGNITION SWITCH
• INTERIOR BOOT RELEASE WITH SECURITY ISOLATOR SWITCH
• INTERIOR FUEL LID RELEASE
• REAR WINDOW DEMISTER
• ROOF MOUNTED GRAB HANDLES × 4
• TACHOMETER
• TWIN FRONT SUN VISORS WITH ILLUMINATED VANITY MIRRORS
• TWIN MAP READING SPOTLIGHTS
• TWIN TRIP METER

ScooByer Trade

You could have this car if you don't want to spend £20,000 and save £6,000 too.
Good GT too so should be good fun along motorways.

S M CAR SALES : M6 Coupe

Steve vRS

True and RWD to boot!

However, I needed space in the back and it wasn't on my list as the lease per month was too expensive!

Steve

Andy M3

Research is all the advise I can give.

RobEvo5

iTrader: (9)

If you have the option for allowance and most firms are giving it these days. I would give serious consideration to buying your own car. 2 year old cars are worth a fraction of new, and you can run a very nice car way beyond your company car choice for similar money and at the end of the 3/4 years the car is yours.

ScooByer Trade

Why not have a look at one of these motorway munchers

Autotrader - BMW 7 SERIES 4400 cc 745Li 4dr Auto

jonc

6 hours a day travelling is for me an awfully long time. Therefore £20k I'd get something thats comfortable, economical, reliable and good to drive and has great seats and driving environment. I'd choose a BMW 530d.

davyboy

BMW 118d

Isn't it about £60 a month less tax than other cars mentioned in this thread?

Andy M3

£317.57 / month + 35mpg @ 18k / annum = £227.57

530d [2005] = £545.14 / month <hmmm cheap.
120d [2008] = £253.23 / month + time share in St.Lucia's Windjammer resort.
118d SE [2008] = £214.83 / month + time share in St.Lucia's Windjammer resort + 'ring' fund with the boys!!!
Octavia = £292 / month + time share in St.Austell!

ScoobyWon't

There's been some good responses, many of which myself and my mates suggested.

I'd be happy with a Mondeo to be honest as I'm not that fussed. The car for my job was ordered before I was even interviewed so I don't know what it is, but I doubt it'll be a BMW as I have privately. I suspect I'll be covering 50o miles a week, any more will be flying.

Thanks for the responses, any more will be interesting.

jonc

Who said anything it had to be cheap to run?! I thought 530d were 44mpg combined? Besides, the BMW is a great motorway muncher and if I were to spend 6 hours travelling in a car, I'd rather it be the 530d instead of a cheapeo hatch. If you're gonna suggest an Octavia, you may as well consider a Focus or an Astra as they're even cheaper.

Anyhow, the decisions been made and it will probably be an Astra/vectra or a Focus/mondeo!

MooseRacer

6 hours a day - don't go for a BMW with their stupid suspension settings and runflat tyres.

Sad as it may seem Volvo or Saab would be top of my list with that amount of driving to be done.

Andy M3

If ride is the most important, aren't some of the big citroens meant to be good?

farmerwrx

my mates wife just had a lexus 220d as her company car and i had a drive of it on the weekend wow! lovely motor

The Trooper 1815

iTrader: (31)

Not the Legacy then? Never mind.