Company car choices
 

Got to be diesel so it looks like it is down to

New Astra 1.9 CDTI (150ps Alfa/Fiat engine) SRI
Vectra same spec
Mondeo Ghia X or maybe ST TDCI
Golf GT TDI 140

Could have a Renault Laguana but keep hearing stories they are unreliable and diesels aren't exactly top of the heap. Peugeot 407 too damn ugly.

Opinions?

If its a company car then reliability not an issue really.

Go drive them, and see which one you like.

Is there a significant difference in the tax on the emissions front?

Can provide some feedback on the Mondeo. I have run a LX TDCi as a company car for almost 2 years now. It has nice steering and handling. The driving position is reasonably comfortable and it has plenty of space. The diesel engine is very strong and economical. On a recent trip across Europe it easily accelerated to 125mph (indicated) and was still averaging about 42-45 mpg.

Downsides: some of the interior plastics start to look tatty after use. The brakes arent particularly wonderful and when you press on understeer starts to dominate the handling.

Cheers
Guthrie

I have a diesel Laguna and it is fine for what I need. Very comfy on long runs. Returns around 47mpg - mixed motorway and town driving, couple of rattles but nothing major. The main reason I got it though was because my last car was written off in a motorway pile up, I wanted something as safe as possible in my budget, and the Laguna was the best I could find on the Encap site - http://www.euroncap.com/content/safe...?id1=3&id2=158

Cheers

Steve

As above.

If you don't mind getting a car that's end-of-life, the Passat PD130 Sport is good value as they're throwing loads of toys into them now, the list price is low and emissions low too.

The PD motor is a bit agricultural until it's run in (20,000 miles plus) but it IS quick and extremely economical.

The Mondeo is a better car to drive -- the handling is good and the TDCi motor is smooth and powerful -- but I preferred the Passat interior.

Mondeo Ghia X or ST TDCi would be my choice. Either go for the gadgets on the Ghia X, or for the sporty bits on the ST, but either of them will come with the new 2.2 TDCi engine which is a stonker, 155hp & 295lbs ft.

I've read a number of reviews that say the big wheels & low profile tyres on the ST muck up the ride ... well worth a test drive first. Didn't know about the 2.2 TDCi motor ... sounds handy :)

Honda Accord Diesel? Saab 9-3ss 1.9 TiD? Neither of these attract the 3% surplus on company car tax.

I've got a Skoda Superb PD130 diesel, and although fairly nippy, I hate the smoke and the racket. Wished I'd paid more tax and gone for a 1.8T (or a vRS Octavia.

Dont seat do an Ibiza diesel that get to 60 in about 7.6 secs now?

Kevin, how many miles have you done in the Superb? Do you have the 6-speed gearbox?

I was initially disappointed with the engine clatter from my Passat, but once I'd done 10K miles it got a lot quieter. Just passed 20K miles and the engine is now quieter in the car than my old Volvo T4 (apart from cold starts :)). And no, I haven't gone deaf in the meantime ;)

The Superb has the same basic chassis and front end as the Passat so acoustically it should be similar too.

Also, mine does NOT smoke visibly -- the rear bumper stays clean.

The Skoda might benefit from a good ragging .... try a 30 - 40 mile motorway run in 4th or 5th (depending on your gearbox) so the revs are at 3,500 for a long time.

Ahh the most excellent Italian tune-up usually sorts out the soot problems, won't do any harm giving it a clean out, just make sure the people behind you can still see the road.

Fabia vRS Sounds interesting (if potentially a little small).

If nothing else it's different :D.

Reffro -- Italian tune-up works for me every time ;):D

Seriously, VAG PD motors take a LOT of running in. Once they've done 1000 miles they need to be caned to bed the piston rings in. Honest.

To get decent value from the co. car scheme has to be Ford, Vauxhall, Renault or VW. They must give the biggest dicounts.

can you get the BMW Compact 320d? better than all them,if you can't,sorry i mentioned it

Is SEAT an option for you? Same VW diesel engines but arguably better handling, good build quality and maybe you'll save a bit on company car tax as it has a lower list price than the Golf?

The ibiza Cupra diesel does 60 in 7.6 and 138mph .......all that for £16K and it looks good too. Not bad me thinks and more torque than a boxter

......and you could get a Jabba remap!

;)

gets my vote too... :)

The best Mondeo's are the ones on softer suspension and smaller wheels. I had an ST220 for 6 months and actually prefered the Zetec S. Haven't tried the ST TDCi although I suspect it may have ST220 suspension underneath.

I would take the Ghia X. Extremely spacious, comfortable cruiser. Masses of boot space. Fantastic handling. Downsides would be the styling and interior plastics for me.

Amen to that.

My passat 130 sport has done nearly 90k and just gets faster!!! In the wet, you get a very slight bit of wheelspin in 3rd!!!!

Otherwise if you can live with the badge the Skoda equivalent is better specced with same engine and chassis.

OK, BMW not available without big extra contributions from me. Seats are on the list but actually cost more than VW versions(!) hence the comment regarding the discounts. New list actually released today and Mondeo's have all moved category so either a Ghia X or ST now need contribs from me. I'm now swung back to the Astra as I can have the 1.9 CDTI SRI 150 with the exterior pack (bodykit and 18" alloys included) and still get a bit back out of the scheme each month to offset some of the tax. Its the Fiat/Alfa engine but seems to be generally well regarded in the Vectra and Saab 9-3. Anyone else got a view?

The new Golf now has independent rear suspension so i doubt the seats will handle better - it also got 4 stars in a recent EVO review the same as the new BMW 1 320D - i don't think any of the Seats have got the 2 LITRE Diesel yet either

Seat Altea has the 2.0 TDi available.

As for the 1.9 CDTi yes it is a good engine, and the new Astra does look good on the road too.