[Closed] Which company car to choose?

Badge aside, whats the best value for tax at moment ?

Maybe I'm a retard but where is the willy waving? Seems to be a fairly adult discussion on driving to me and I'm enjoying it. No rage, no anger - just opinions and discussion.

Let's not slag stuff off if possible though. You can be enthusiastic about your own choice of car without slating other stuff.

I've had fun driving all sorts from Ford Transits and Nissan Micras to Mitsi Evos and Ferraris. It's just the way you approach driving.

A TT is pretty nippy, fairly practical and fairly cheap to run. Two cars, however cheap to buy, cost a lot more to look after and the roads around the SE would kill a Cater-field very quickly. MX5s are great but again lack any space.

Best value for tax - for extreme economy, a Polo Bluemotion, for very good economy (and 109g/km tax) and power, a BMW 320d ED.

b r agree with that. I test drove a friends. I was expecting something fast/hot hatch whereas its more relaxed, smooth and progressive..

Mastiles - If your so keen on RWD, centre of gravity's, weight. Why didnt you just get a Ford Mondeo for during the week and a nice car ie Elise/Caterham/MX5 for the weekends? A cheap one of them will be much more fun to drive than a TT any day.

Not sure about a cheap MX5 being more fun than a TT though - Elise/Caterham/Westfield probably so 🙂

However you could be 'barreling' down the road at 60mph and miss the car as you are already around the corner and away from the danger

Very poor logic. You're just as likely to hit something having got to the corner earlier by going faster as you are to hit something by arriving late by going slower. The difference is that if you're going slower it's a lot easier to avoid stuff. Thats why we slow down going through bollards/tight spaces etc.

Best value for tax = new Prius. Bigger car, 135bhp and 89g/km CO2 emissions which is lower than anything on the road, tiny cars included.

The BMW 320d ED sounds interesting, I'd like to see how much fuel economy people get in real life as I think BMW fib more than most on the tests.

There's also Bluemotion Golfs and Passats - Passat Estate is good for 65mpg in real driving, but 105bhp isn't particularly handy in a car that big.

You're just as likely to hit something having got to the corner earlier by going faster as you are to hit something by arriving late by going slower.

You have clearly misinterpreted what I said. If you pass the scene of the incident earlier due to driving more quickly, you wouldn't be there to collide with the third part

Er I don't get what you are trying to say. For as many accidents as you avoid by going faster, you'll also meet by going faster.

For as many accidents as you avoid by going faster, you'll also meet by going faster.

For example...
Person A drives 60 miles at an average speed of 60 miles an hour so is on the road for 1 hour.

Person B drives the same route at an average speed of 30 miles an hour so is on the road for 2 hours.

Surely Person B is exposed to more risk - you must agree with this?

Mol - TBH, a fair few models of BMW are a bit worse than quoted mpg figures in normal driving. BMW are claiming over 60mpg for the 320d ED - I suspect it'll be more like 50ish.

My 335d is quoted at 40ish but I rarely get above low 30s unless stuck behind a tractor for miles.

An M5 gets under 10mpg in real World driving!!! Even people with tonnes of cash are finding that too much (the fuel tank isn't very big so range is dire) and selling them on. Porsche do fast + reasonable mpg rather well so often they move onto them.

A faster driver passes marginally fewer cars... because they both cover the same distance. Say there are x cars per mile coming the other way, you would pass 60x cars however fast you drive. In addition to this, cars moving of course and are entering and leaving the stretch of road all the time at a rate of y per hour. So car A in your example passes 60x + y cars and B 60x + 2y cars.

HOWEVER in the real world Car A woudl have an average speed of say 50mph and B of say 47mph so the number of cars passed would be only very slightly higher. And this would be easily outweighed by the increased risk of the faster driving. Extrapolating for example, if you were to drive the same road at 90mph you'd pass sligthly fewer cars again but be very dangerous.

This has to be the most tortured attempt at trying to convince us that driving fast is safer I have ever seen. You have to be trolling, surely?

Mat - 50mpg for a 163bhp car isn't bad, relatively speaking. Just goes to show the advantages of diesel.

My next car will still be a new Prius tho 🙂

For everything I correct you about, you come back with another argument and it is clear that this will continue ad infinitum so I shall graciously exit this futile conversation.

Bye.

Futile, yes, but I can't stand people trying to use flawed logic in arguments!

Didn't like my maths or what?

Mol - a lot of people just have poor speed perception. Sure they'll stick to 70/80 on a motorway but then they will do 40 in a 30 zone and get done for it. TBH if you get a ticket, you aren't concentrating enough - on your speed or your surroundings.

The cop driver I learned from was an amazingly good driver - massive observation skills, huge amount of car control and felt very very safe even though we were always driving briskly - inspired me to get better.

I'd much rather be driven by him than some inattentive bloke crawling along completely removed from what's happening outside his car.

Anyway we're not really getting anywhere but it's been fun debating it.

Drive safely everyone!

Every time you overtake another car, a daily mail reader is sent into mild outrage.

I made a massive spreadsheet when I chose my company car, detailing the total cost of ownership (contributions and tax)to the list price to make sure I was getting value for money. It helped that we had to choose from a dedicated list (about 300 cars though!) Sometimes the leasing companies get good deals that bring your contributions right down, although the will still depend on the list price.

I ended up with an Avensis, the Diesel engines are strong and the boot is vast. I Imagine the estate can swallow entire cities.

if you want to go fast, then get on your bike and pedal harder.... all this fast car spoddy stuff is boring!

time to get a life and see cars for what they realy are... a necessary burden for to many of us.

where as bikes are just fun....

Agree MisterT, but then you drive a Impreza WRX with a supercharger mod and your heart learns how to skip a beat again.

Diesels are ok but frustrating.

[i]Most[/i] Diesels are ok but frustrating.

EFA 😉

Mister T - ermmm - why write on this thread then?

A bit like me moaning on a football thread.

I still remember the chav-looking one I drove. Looked horrid, darm green, gold wheels and then ......it scared me. The only car I've felt scared just driving.

If you want to be the envy of your friends - get a sports car.
If you want to be a good friend to your friends, get an estate and a towbar rack.
If you think you don't need a car to get to some good riding spots - you should borrow a car and try some new places.
If work give you a car - it is your solemn duty to load it with bike kit a tromp out somewhere fun every weekend.
If your car is a burden - get rid of it.

but then you drive a Impreza WRX with a supercharger mod and your heart learns how to skip a beat again

I wasn't driving it, but it still made my heart skip 🙂

Agree MisterT, but then you drive a Impreza WRX with a supercharger mod and your heart learns how to skip a beat again.

.... oops! (time to walk away, I'm not a spod realy)

And now I know how MisterT is!

3 litre Outback yet claims of fast cars being silly?!!!

Of the 3 cars the OP wanted recommendations on I'd go for the Passat, Mondeo and Mazda in that order.

If it was my choice though, I'd go for an Audi TTD or Golf GTD.

3.0R?

Of all the cars on the road the Impreza WRX are:

a) the ugliest
b) the most pathetic
c) the chavviest
d) the least tasteful

If you want a sports car, get one. Don't get a normal car souped up into a pretend rally car.

Fast - yes. Stylish - HA!

Drive a 2.0TDI Sportsline Audi. You'll marvel at the quiet nature of the Audi, its cache in the Golf club and pre-ride carpark, its torque and its mpg..

Then drive the WRX...

I recently drove an A6 2.0 TDI and it was downright dangerous - I almost fell asleep at the wheel, such was its soporific nature. 😉

[i]fairly adult discussion[/i]

Sounds like the sort of arguments my argumentative friend and I would have when walking home from school!

[i]MM - your power to weight ratio is 145bhp/tonne. Mine is 175bhp/tonne.

If there was such a thing as torque/weight ratio (there isn't) then your TT is 153.33 lbs-ft/tonne, mine is 260.[/i]

Just to turn the willy waving on its head, when I'm towing each weekend with my van, my power to weight ratio is less than 19bhp per tonne, and my torque is less than 32 lbs-ft/tonne.

[i]And pulling onto motorways has never been a problem even when I had a 1.1l MKII VW Polo. If you feel unsafe with less than 150bhp you're doing it wrong.[/i]

I have no trouble joining motorways even on uphill sliproads with the above lack of power. I may not be able to get out of third gear until I crest the hill, but forward planning makes it a non-issue 🙂
(changing lanes on the 8 lane section of the M25 whilst a dick undertakes and moves into your blind spot whilst holding his handsfree kit in one hand, mobile in the other and child leaning through between the seats was a bit hairy though, the only reason I managed to avoid him was I saw his shadow blocking the sunlight between the trailer and the van. He didn't notice me even though I had aborted my lane change and was sharing 3 feet of his lane as he completed his undertake!)

I had a Mondeo 130TDCi which was plenty quick for me...it did mean I tried to use it at every opportunity and it was a constant battle to stay at legal speeds due to the car constantly willing you to go faster. Replaced it with a horrible little 8v Punto, at least 70mph feels fast now. (as does 50mph)

Hora - agreed. I really can't stand 2.0TDI Audis, especially with twin exhausts and S-Line expensive chav "outfits" on. Made to look like an RS4 yet only 140bhp... Many owners don't seem to realise they aren't actually in an RS4/6 though and drive like complete tools.

Spooky - that's impressive. I think our Jimny is about 75bhp/tonne and takes 14.5s to 60. Anything over 70 is mildly terrifying, especially in a cross wind! Fun at low speeds though and amazing off road.

Undertaking is very very bad news...

P.S. When the van isn't towing, its about 40bhp/tonne @ 3 tonnes weight, and its faster than the Punto 🙂

I'm detecting extreme dislike for your Punto?!!

Made to look like an RS4 yet only 140bhp

You do know there's a 170bhp version of that engine too don't you? I just checked the Audi website and there's some interesting stats there... the A3 sportback comes in 1.8 TFSI and a 2.0 TDI. The petrol has 10 less bhp but is .2 seconds quicker to 62 (presumably because of weight) and has only 6 more g/km CO2. Couple that with negligible NOx emissions, particulates and the possibility of petrol being less energy intensive to actually produce, and I reckon the petrol engine is significantly "greener" than the diesel in that particular car. Nice!

It's 153 vs 147 g/km CO2 incidentally, and there is a version of the diesel with 99g/km, best petrol is only 124.

Mol - I do - they have a red "I" but that extra 30bhp doesn't make a big difference to performance. Yes they are a bit quicker but still shouldn't be "wearing" twin exhausts and silly S-Line bodykits.

That TSFI engine is actually very good. I'd say more advanced than the 2.0TDI which is a bit coarse and unrefined.

Some small supercharged petrols are producing amazing bhp for their low emissions ratings.

There's still the issue of not a lot of torque though...

but that extra 30bhp doesn't make a big difference to performance

Eh what now? Only some of the BHPs are active at certain times or something? 🙂

I rather like my 2.0 TDI actually. You're not confusing the new common rail 2.0TDi with the old PD one are you? The PD 2.0 unit was famous for being like a tractor engine.

Small forced petrols were something I was saying they should do for years - win/win situation. But as for the torque - only one I've been in was an older 1.8T in an Octy VRs. It felt a lot like a CR diesel actually - really strong and kept on pulling. Torque curves are pretty decent when I've checked (for a previous STW argument..) Turn the stereo up, cover up the rev counter and you'd not be able to tell them apart easily I don't think.

surf-mat - yep thats the fleet, t5 and 993. Well half a t5 at the moment. Looks like i might strike a deal for a 08 California though or possible an 08 LWB 2.5 instead. Just deciding once i find out the damage to fix the current T5.

Col - the Cali interior left me a bit underwhelmed TBH - very plasticky and almost clinical. It also doesn't have a proper fridge (needs hook up - no gas) and a tiny two ring burner. Very cool in many ways but just lacked any feeling of being a sort of "home" I think I'd be tempted to get a Sportline van and then convert it.

What model 993? Best shaped 911 IMO.

Mol - when it comes to cars, I don't do "confused..." 😉

Yes the current 2.0TDI unit - I just think Merc, BMW and even the French do better units.

That 30bhp extra - just look at performance figures for that and the lesser 140bhp one - not as much difference as you'd expect. Yep they are fairly rapid but nothing to worry a remotely hot hatch about. Still seem to feel the need to try to tailgate/race me as often as possible despite the near 130bhp and 170lbs-ft deficit. Oh well.

Estate cars... pah, you want one of these...

[img] [/img]

NZCol,

What happened to the T5?

Filthy, now that is a thing of beauty. Love to swap my '06 T5 Kombi for a new LWB 4-motion Kombi. Dream on!!

It went BANG. DMF ? Driveshaft ? Gearbox ? - dunno yet. SOunded $$ and they have a history of expensive problems in that area it seems ...
Its a 993 Targa, 1996, blue/blue - beautiful.

Oh and can;t get a Sportline here, want a Cali so i can take rear seats out most of time for bike storage and sleep upstairs. A few mod cons better than no mod cons, running fridge off battery via solar on roof is the plan.

NZCol, I have a 12v Weaco Compressor fridge running off 170Ahr of leisure batts, it will go for three or four days without the batteries dropping below 12.2v (50% charge). Probably do a week if I didn't care about longevity of the batteries. Power consumption will increase in the summer, but I think a decent solar panel would keep the batteries charged indefinitely.

If you are planning on using a 3 way fridge on 12v then you have no chance, they draw several amps!

Mat - Mercs sound like nice diesels but their fuel economy on paper leaves a lot to be desired.

As for refinement, engine is inaudible on my car when moving along, so that's refined enough for me.

Problem is with French diesel engines is that they come in French cars. Having said that I like modern Citroens but I just don't know if they'll be reliable.

molgrips - Member
Problem is with French diesel engines is that they come in French cars.

And Fords, Jags, LandRovers/Range Rovers and Volvos to name a few. 😉

I believe (but may be wrong) that France is producing some superb diesels. And I really like Citroens current range.

Filthy - been close to buying a T5 (.5) many times but an estate car is quicker, much faster, handles better, is much more comfortable, easier to park, safer, better on fuel. However I will always like VW vans - the T5 is a cracker.

NZ Col - a shame. The Sportline looks amazing. I'm sure the Cali could be mildly tweaked to make it a bit comfier. A 993 and a Cali in NZ (South or North Island) - that's just showing off. Did both islands for part of a 6 month honeymoon and loved it. Kaikoura is one of my favourite places in the World.

Mol - new 250CDI (twin turbo 4 pot) Merc engine is very good indeed. But the 23d engine (same set up) in the 123d is better. Not tried the Audi bi-turbo (180PS) that the latest T5 uses but assume it's good. A bit old fashioned but the new four pot 2.0 litre in the current T5 just seem a bit lame - it's more powerful but I'd rather have the old 5 pot 2.5 to pull one around.

but their fuel economy on paper leaves a lot to be desired