My partner has the option of leasing a car through her work. We have looked at a few. Which of these 3 would the collective recommend. No solid idea of costs just yet. I know the Golf is the most expensive - but is it worth it?
Citreon C4
Ford Focus
VW Golf
any other suggestions for this type of car?
cheers
I know the Golf is the most expensive - but is it worth it?
All a matter of preference. Test drive them and find out.
I'd also add a Civic to that list.
I have a Focus (ST) and I recently drove my friends Golf (GTi). Whilst it wasn't the longest of drives, I much preferred the Focus over the Golf. I also wouln't be without the heated windscreen but I appreciate that for those living down south this might not be too much of an issue.
what do you need the car for? do you use the rear seats regularly? a car of the class down (ie polo, ds3, etc) will be cheaper.
if it's leased, the golf may not be much more expensive, as the residual value is taken into account.
Test drive, it's the only way.
I found Golfs feel a bit agricultural to drive.
Focus's are a quite nice (hate to admit it)
Citroens will surprise you but probably feel a bit plasticy.
But at the end of the day it's personal choice, as is what's practical and what's not.
Focus, even VW admit to using it as a reference point for the new golf rather than the previous golf! Though TBH cars are cars, not exactly worlds of difference these days. Test drive and pick one you like.
Look at whats included in the contracts.
Work pays for fuel but not serviceing/breakdowns, get a petrol.
Work doesn't pay for fuel but does serviceing and breakdown costs get a diesel.
Work pays for everything, whatever you want.
Diesels do more mpg, but has several £1k+ components to fail that a petrol doesn't (DPF £700, DMF £800, Injectors/pumps £???, turbo £???, where ??? could be £500, or could be 10x that if the turbo spills its guts into the engine).
spoon - agree in principle, but normally lease cars are brand new - so all of the expensive diesel bits are covered by warranty anyway, meaning they don't really come into the equasion
I preferred Golf over Focus, I liked the interior much more. Great handling not as much of an issue for me since I am mostly on motorways it seems.
As it is a lease, it'll be going back at the end of the term so get what you like the best - don't consider residuals etc.
I'd have the Focus personally - nicest looking and full of toys compared to the Golf.
Are they all similar CO2 emissions?
The income tax liability is partly calculated on that
I have just taken out a lease on a Golf 1.6 TDI BlueMotion Match. It was far cheaper than an equivalent Focus or a Fiesta for that matter as the residuals are so much better and the lease companies also get good discounts across both brands. The Focus is brand new so they aren't giving silly discounts yet.
The BlueMotion residuals are better than the standard models so they work out cheaper plus in theory I can look forward to 69mpg (well see).
A Focus handles a bit better but they are less comfortable so it depends wether you want sporty or not so sporty, there isn't a huge amount in it.
nicest looking and full of toys compared to the Golf
When I looked, the Focus was cack on toys, the Golf better and the Civic best of all. They were older cars tho.
jp - how do you find that bluemotion engine? Heard stories that there was no low torque and the engines could get bogged down really easily making it dangerous to pull out into small gaps etc...
Depends on the model but *normally* Fords are better specced than VAG - although much of that is assumption rather than up to date knowledge.
Go on - knock yourself out if you want to compare the two because I can't be bothered 
jp - how do you find that bluemotion engine? Heard stories that there was no low torque and the engines could get bogged down really easily making it dangerous to pull out into small gaps etc...
I decided to take the 1.6 rather than the 2.0 (I used to have a 140bhp mk5 golf) and I was worried about the same thing but it is surprisingly willing, it is a bit long in the gear but if you put your foot down in 3rd or 4th it makes fast and smooth progress. It is certainly faster than the 1.6 petrol focus it has replaced.
By the way the Match trim on the Golf is superb with a touch screen media centre with Ipod, USB & SD card inputs and touch screen bluetooth phone & DAB etc etc. Much better than a Focus spec.
I could only get cruise control on a Focus if I went for the top spec leather seat model at considerable expense. Sod that. It's a £200 option on Golfs and free on Civics.
JP - interesting. When/if I change the Passat I'm looking at the 2.0 bluemotion which isn't really a bluemotion since the engine is the same as ever, they've jsut tweaked it a bit. 105bhp isn't enough in a Passat esp when towing 
I have just taken out a lease on a Golf 1.6 TDI BlueMotion Match.
My brother has just done the same thing and can't stop raving about the car. He really likes it. He has a Golf a few yrs ago & hated it, but he's always going on about how great this one is.
Bloke at work had the Fabia with the same engine up until a few weeks ago. I never drove it, but it was definitely eager enough & was by no means sluggish. Not sure if the Bluemotion pack gets longer ratios in the gearbox that would perhaps slow it down a bit??
It does, but that just means more changing down.. and presumably lower revs on the motorway and hence less noise.
I wonder what rpm it does at 70mph..?
molgrips - MemberCruise Control is another standard on the Match trim. I would also go 2.0 on a passatI could only get cruise control on a Focus if I went for the top spec leather seat model at considerable expense. Sod that. It's a £200 option on Golfs and free on Civics.
I wonder what rpm it does at 70mph..?
Bloke with the Fabia (non eco-hippy model) reckoned his revved a little over 2k at 70mph. Not sure how much longer the Bluemotion would be in top gear.
My Ibiza sits just below 1800rpm at 70mph, but that's got 6th and quite a lot of diesel oomph for a small car.
I have just test driven a new Mazda 6 'Sport' Estate 2.2 180bhp diesel.
zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
But it ticks the 'practical' boxes I need to tick this time around.
Tell me - what interesting, fast, practical family cars are there (on a sensible budget) that I could consider as an alternative?
mastiles - does it need to be a diesel?
if so, bmw 335d is probably the fastest 'practical family car' (excluding the v10 diesels) around.
if not, E55 AMG
Doesn't have to be diesel but I was hoping the low end 'grunt' diesel is meant to deliver would give me some cheap thrills. (I won't be revving hard enough to get much out of a petrol as I now have the kiddies in the back for the majority of the time).
I think the BMW will be way out of budget, otherwise it would be a good call.
Not all items are covered by all lease companies if they go wrong. For instance Mazda warranty covers the first forced regeneration of the DPF then it depends if it's you/your company or the lease company who cover the bill.
a little over 2k at 70mph
Same as my Psst.
MF - you don't consider a 180bhp car to be fast? Sounds like you need to re-adjust after your TT. That's about as much power as you're going to get in a practical car, so get used to it!
You could get an old 75bhp Passat, drive that around for 6 months, then the Mazda will seem like a rocket ship
For instance Mazda warranty covers the first forced regeneration of the DPF
Presumably only required if you ignore the instructions, which would count as mis-use and therefore be out of warranty...?
MF - you don't consider a 180bhp car to be fast? Sounds like you need to re-adjust after your TT. That's about as much power as you're going to get in a practical car, so get used to it!
I also need to adjust my driving - I kept bogging it down as it couldn't handle pulling away at the really low revs like the TT does. I really, REALLY, REALLY will miss it when it goes back in September.
And it takes nearly 9 seconds to get to 60 FFS!!! NINE SECONDS! I can walk quicker than that.
The Mazda is fine really, just not exactly, like, WOW! But I knew that would be the case so that is why I am looking at the Mazda over Audis - at least I get more toys and a really good sound system to make up for the fun bypass.
If I were you I'd not try and compete with the TT but go completely opposite. Gentle relaxing drive, good economy, comfy springs etc.
Is there a fuel economy hit on the 180bhp? In VW land the 170 is almost identical in economy to the 140.
Gentle relaxing drive, good economy, comfy springs etc
Just not WOW!
I have no idea about economy...
Just looked in the brochure - a combined of 52.3 as opposed to 54.3 on the low output variant.
Save it for the bike
Focus or C4. Golfs are too tall for my liking (but I'm 5'7" short). Add Civic, 308, Alfa 147 
Might I suggest a Passat then, 60mpg from those. If you're going to slow down you might as well benefit from it
Mleh - a bit boring looking.
More boring than a Mazda 8?
6, not 8.
To be honest they are all boring looking so I have just gone for the one that has some decent offers on it (it is around £60 a month cheaper than the 1.6 Bluemotion Passat on a business lease).
As much of a fan as I am of bluemotion cars I'd not go for the 1.6. It's just not enough for that size of car. I was talking about the 140bhp 2.0.
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