[Closed] Which company car to choose?

Can't say it's good til I see the fuel economy stats 🙂

I suspect mercs don't come out particularly well cos they are heavy. My dad was looking at a C class recently and seemed impressed with 44mpg. I wouldn't be with a car that size.

MF - of course, silly me for talking about my own interests. I could say the same thing about torque stats and bhp and whatnot that you lot are obsessed with. And why would I not be relaxed? It's something I am interested in, leave it at that.

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

Quite interesting as I'd a boss in the past who'd the 535d and he barely got 30mpg too, although he did boot it well (for an old guy).

Makes it only 10mpg better than my 535i; the sums still aren't adding up for me - I do 12-16k pa and the cost (of fuel) difference between a 335d/535d and a 535i is only between £700 and £1000 per year. I can save far more than this on the fact that for the same age/mileage a large engined petrol is far cheaper to buy (saving minimum of £5k) - or I'd get a newer and lower mileage car, which is less likely to need expensive bits in the future.

Obviously looking s/h, company cars as stated are down to tax/cost/profit.

BR why look at cars that do 30mpg? You could get one that does 50 and it'll go two and a half times further on the same amount of fuel than your 535 🙂

BR why look at cars that do 30mpg? You could get one that does 50 and it'll go two and a half times further on the same amount of fuel than your 535

The point I was making - some people buy cars for other reasons than fuel economy. For me it would be one of the last considerations.

I've got a Fiat Panda. It's silver, with blue seats and has a button that I can't remember what it does.

has a button that I can't remember what it does.

but then you tell people they should choose cars based on your preference

You don't generally do a good job of getting my point, or I don't do a good job of putting it across. I don't recall telling anyone what car to get. I've just been discussing various cars, mentioning fuel economy as well as power etc.

And trying to point out that fuel economy is an important factor BEYOND your own preferences. Which is a fact, let's face it. Although I have barely mentioned it here.

<ignore all Molgrips posts>

Shame on the STW massive for missing out the obvious not-obvious choice. Any self respecting refusenik should surely choose a Saab. The diesels are quick and you can get them uprated without affecting the warranty. Plus no whiff of chav. And in budget. Job done.

But which tyres?

[i]BR why look at cars that do 30mpg? You could get one that does 50 and it'll go two and a half times further on the same amount of fuel than your 535[/i]

Just looked back in the post, and find that you drive a Prius - jesus...

Looking on Autotrader
A 5 year old Prius with upto 60k on will set me back £7500, while an equivilent petrol Focus is coming in at £3500. Thats one hell of a saving on fuel I'm going to need.

Also try this:
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/driving/used_car_reviews/article3552994.ece

Priuses are expensive.. although to be honest I'd be stunned if I could get £7.5k for mine! I think the free congestion charge bit is really holding up prices in some areas.

EDIT: LOL at that article. The guy doesn't know how to drive a Prius it seems. Never have I seen a tank average below 50mpg.. I average over 60 in the summertime on motorways with the cruise at 70. But I must be lying, right?

Oh and open your mind a little further - the Prius is aimed at the American market where NOx emissions are a major issue. In terms of total tailpipe emissions never mind just CO2 the Prius kicks any diesel into a cocked hat. But let's not let facts get in the way, just quote your favourite newspaper instead! Especially as they were driving the old 2003 version which at the time was streets ahead of the diesels.

That article even opens by saying that the Prius is some kind of badge of eco-ness.. it's just a f*cking car for christ's sake.

Quite interesting as I'd a boss in the past who'd the 535d and he barely got 30mpg too, although he did boot it well (for an old guy).

Makes it only 10mpg better than my 535i; the sums still aren't adding up for me - I do 12-16k pa and the cost (of fuel) difference between a 335d/535d and a 535i is only between £700 and £1000 per year. I can save far more than this on the fact that for the same age/mileage a large engined petrol is far cheaper to buy (saving minimum of £5k) - or I'd get a newer and lower mileage car, which is less likely to need expensive bits in the future.

Obviously looking s/h, company cars as stated are down to tax/cost/profit.

TBH I didn't get it for great mpg - it's not bad and the range is quite good (a more important factor for me) but it's the torque and the way it drives that sold it to me. I looked at the 335i too but it just doesn't have a "trump" card like the 335d does. Jag/Land Rover now have a diesel with more torque (just) but less bhp - the BMW is still quicker due to it's lightness. It was the only powerful diesel I knew of that's not too heavy, handles well but just has that epic shove at any revs. It even sounds quite good when pushed.

Re Saab - no no and no again. Just like Alfa, they have been "GMed" and are just expensive Vauxhalls. In fact they handle worse and are slower when packing the same engine (Fiat sourced diesels). Both were quirky, interesting brands. Both are now just tarted up Vauxhalls in drag.

Mol - that statement wasn't actually aimed at you. It was a general comment!

Don't know if it's been said already 'cos I can't be aresed to read all the posts, however, for what it's worth I would recommend a Ford S-Max Titanium 2.0 Tdci

It's pretty much the same inside as the Mondeo trim wise but WAAAAY more practical. 7 seats, loads of boot space, performance is on a par the same engined Mondeo.

Wouldn't bother with the X option on the Mondeo as it's very poor value for money and the spec list on the ordinary Titanium is pretty darn good.

For £25k you should be able to get the 2.2 Tdci for a bit more poke but fuel econ isn't as good obviously.

I've had two and I can heartily recommend them.

Saab - no no and no again

S Max is a very good idea actually. I even like the look of them.

Heh - 5 pages later and we are getting somewhere near a consensus (well one person agrees with another anyway LOL)

It makes a change for me to be the catalyst for agreement, it's normally the other way round. 😉

br - by my calculations at £1.20/l you'd need to drive 66k miles to break even at those car prices 🙂

Oh and if it helps, I also like the Focus Smacks.

"Heh - 5 pages later and we are getting somewhere near a consensus (well one person agrees with another anyway LOL)"

No way, the best company/family car has got to be this...

http://www.astonmartin.com/eng/thecars/rapide

Very nice'n'all that but can you fit two mountain bikes, tools, spares, a pressure washer plus kit bag in the boot and still have room for a full size air bed and sleeping bag laid ready for a kip. I think not.

It's always a dilema: bling v practicality

Poison - surely you need even more than a van for that? Maybe a Winnebago?!

Surely if you have the Rapide you have "your man" following in the Winnebago prepping the bike and having everything ready after your ride.

That's all in the back of the S-Max! (With rows 2 and 3 seats are folded down)

Very cozy it is too.

You mean, the fag in the Ford.

And we're supposed to live in a classless society 🙄

This thread has been subject to the mother of all hijacks.

Poison - really?! I'm impressed.