IanF

The time is coming near when my lovely Vectra V6 Sri finishes it lease and I have to choose a new car.

The V6 is out of the question due to new tax laws based on emissions and the higher taxable fuel benefit for cars over 2000 cc.

Anyway I am allowed 4 demonstrators to drive for a week each. For tax reasons I need the list price to be around £15K. I also have to pay 3% per annum of the list price as my contribution to the car.

The four cars I have in mind:

Seat Leon 1.8 20 valve turbo
Vectra 1.8 Sri
Alfa 156 (1.6 model)
Alfa 147

So what do you think? Any thoughts? Have I missed any cars that are worth a look? The Seat is hot favourite at the moment.

I was wondering whether there is a new equivalent of the old Impreza Sport?

For me handling is more important than outright power.

Regards
IanF

P.S. Don't you just hate taxes!!!

polarbearit

Leon, dont go the vectra route (replaced in September!). 1.6 Alfa too slow so it is between the 147 (assuming you mean 2.0 and Leon). Drive them both, Leon is great value and will be faster, Alfa prettier, but given you can't see much of it when your in it get the Leon!

Jon

Chins

Totally biased, as I got the wife one. The Leon is a great car for the money. Plus it had a turbo, for the chip thing

Jonathan

Chris L

Seat has to be top choice. Much as I love Alfas (test drove the 156 - very nice), they are unreliable, to the extent that they have now been totally removed from our company car scheme (we've had numerous problems with them).

Vectra 1.8 don't even go there

It's not so much the cost of the car, but the emissions that will cost you. Might be worth looking at

SJobson

You get very nice leather in the Seat - there's one parked up my road and I keep thinking nylon rally seats maybe aren't it..

My fiancee loves those Alfa 147s though - could be good for pulling.

Thought about a Skoda RS? Autocar seemed to love it, can't believe that it's really faster than the Seat though.

Simon

SJobson

You get very nice leather in the Seat - there's one parked up my road and I keep thinking nylon rally seats maybe aren't it..

My fiancee loves those Alfa 147s though - could be good for pulling.

Thought about a Skoda RS? Autocar seemed to love it, can't believe that it's really faster than the Seat though.

Simon

ScoobyJawa

Leon, Leon, Leon, Leon, Leon, Leon, Leon,
Leon, Leon, Leon, Leon, Leon, Leon, Leon,
Leon, Leon, Leon, Leon, Leon, Leon, Leon,
Leon, Leon, Leon, Leon, Leon, Leon, Leon,
Leon, Leon, Leon, Leon, Leon, Leon, Leon,
Leon, Leon, Leon, Leon, Leon, Leon, Leon,
Leon, Leon, Leon, Leon, Leon, Leon, Leon,
Leon, Leon, Leon, Leon, Leon, Leon, Leon,

Does that answer you're question

Performance and equipment, it wins hands down, the much better car IMHO

TonyBurns

iTrader: (3)

Go for the skoda, ok its a skoda but you know its really an audi a4 or vw passat in disguise Its bigger than the leon, but if your use to your vectra then its probably better for you, more room in there, cost of only 15,100 quid, 105 quid more than the leon, its got a better tax benefit than the leon too! Performance will shock those bmw drivers cos you would only have a skoda, until you leave em on the motorway build quality is meant to be high!! and its going to be a little more descreet than a hot hatch! (and it looks pretty good too!)

Tony

[This message has been edited by TonyBurns (edited 22 June 2001).]

chuckster

Yep, Skoda. I'd do it for sure. Nice alloys, great drivetrain, quick and discreet.
Inverse snobbery value off the scale too!
Chuck

john banks

Leon. Do you have to get brand new? Can you take cash instead/get something nearly new?

Markus

Ian,
As to the sport question, looks like the new age version is the 2.0 GX manual, which OTR price is £15,750.00 (according to subaru uk website)

What would I go for, well, it'd be between the Leon and Skoda RS, and I think the Skoda win me over.

anyone know if the audi tuners would play with the skoda engine, as it's essentially the same (or am I mistaken?)

andy suter

skoda otavia RS...fappin ace...6.7 sec to 60, 148 mph, body kit, 17" alloys....built by VW all for £15K....if i had 15K lying around i'd be straight down my skoda dealer...

IanF

Thanks for the replies everyone.

First choice is probably the Leon.I will shortly get a demo car so will see how I go.

I cannot get a Skoda for some reason as it is above my lease limit. I guess the poor(er) residuals bumps up the lease costs.

I do have the option to go for cash, but if I take cash I do not get a fuel card. I do a lot of private mileage so this is a major benefit for me of having a company car.

I am not really that keen on the 156 as I always think of it as a wannabe Impreza. I can only get a 1.6 as well.

In the last couple of days I have heard about the Peugeot 307, so will take a 307 demo instead of the 156.

Regards
IanF