Another car question – my lease is due, help me choose a new one

Morning all.

Another first world problem.

I have a lease car through work which is about to be sent back (BMW320D – I love it). I would have another beemer without question…. However, my employer has changed the rules. We have certain criteria to meet; there is a limited list of manufacturers to choose from and the car must be less than £25k with emissions below 139g CO2. In a positive way, the limit means I’l save a bit of money as the employer only contributes towards the cost – I have to top it up (and pay the BIK tax).

So far I have narrowed my list down to:

New shape Mazda 6 estate – 2.2D SE-L – favourite so far. Reasonably quick and most economical. Very good reviews.
VW Passat estate – 2.0D blueline – nice but a bit bland.
Skoda Superb estate – 1.6D SE+ – mahooosive, but a bit sluggish perhaps?

Available manufacturers to choose from are: Alfa, Audi, BMW, Citroen, Ford, Honda, Mazda, Merc, Mini, Nissan, Peugeot, Renault, Seat, Skoda, Toyota, Vauxhall, VW, Volvo.

Models must meet the above criteria as well as my own: good to drive, comfortable (I do 30k miles/year), able to carry family, luggage, bikes etc.

All suggestions welcome – Ta! 😀

Volvo have got some really good offers on their ‘Business Edition’ big estates at the moment V60 and V70. I was thinking about booking a test drive myself as my lease is up soon too.

Mighty Mondeo?

The Superb really is very good. Worth a look.

Do the efficient dynamics BMWs not meet the CO2 criteria?

V60 is possible, the V70 is out of my range unfortunately.

EDIT: Correction – the V70 Business edition is on the available list. Adding anything over the standard config takes it over the P11D limit – £100 for a grocery Bag Holder!!! FFS….

The Mondeo… hmmmm…. I have a ‘thing’ about Fords. Irrational dislike (possibly borne out of buying a cut & shut Escort when I was a lad)

The Superb is a late entry – I’d almost disregarded Skoda’s as I wanted an Octavia VRS; couldn’t have one because of the emissions criterea. Then spied the Superb. But a 1.6D?? I’ve spend the last three years driving around in a pretty rapid 320D.

The ED’s easily meet the CO2 criterea – but start above the £25k ceiling, unless I opt for a 1-series, but they’re too small.

does the v70 D3 Business not slip under the 25k mark

I was looking recently using http://www.comcar.co.uk and it seemed to?

EDIT – too slow!

db – yes it does, see my cheeky edit above. Any additions, however, take it over.

EDIT: 😳 apologies

You might want to check that change in scheme rules is 139g. Sounds like the company has responded to the change in tax regime from 1 April 2013 where there’s a restriction in the tax treatment of leases for cars with emissions over 130g.

I just got a new merc c220 cdi as a company car, same criteria as you almost, its great. Dont bother with the passat, I had one before, it was awful compared to the merc. The merc fits 3 bikes in the back easy. Needs to be an estate though, the saloon dosent have split rear seats.

Toyota Avensis Tourer D-4D or what about new Skoda Octavia estate?

(both on my list to look at)

The emissions limit isn’t in response to changes by HMRC. If I was a higher band, the imposed ceiling would be removed.

The Merc looks nice, although there’s nothing under £25k.

The Avensis is okay, very reliable but a bit bland.

The Octavia is just a wee smidgen too small.

Do you have to go for something brand new? I got a deal on a 6 month old car. That made it suitable for finance and I got a better car than my limit despite the car costing much less than the limit.

That saving more than offset the additional NI the company had to pay on the higher benefit.

Left field option…
Nissan Qashqai +2
Obviously not sporty like BMW but when I looked lease was good price + lots of standard kit

In a positive way, the limit means I’l save a bit of money as the employer only contributes towards the cost – I have to top it up (and pay the BIK tax).

Create a checklist of ‘must-haves’ (for my last car it was, auto/petrol and 5 doors) , drive the ones that qualify.

Choose the cheapest (for you) from the ones you like driving.

oldbloke – unfortunately, yes. We have to select the car through the companies chosen lease provider.

db – my Dad had an almost new Nissan Quiche and got rid of it after 8 months. Too many problems.

br – my must haves are 5-door hatchback / estate, diesel, comfortable, quick.
Unfortunately, I don’t have time to go and test drive them all. A decision has to be made by the end of the week.

How about a B Class Merc? That’s what I went for. Much cheaper than the C Class, low emissions, well spec’d (Sport models), huge boot and a great auto box if you can stretch to that? Not quite as quick as the BMW, but plenty quick enough for me. Spec the slightly smaller wheels and it goes in under 119g.

bloody IT managers wasting time talking about nice cars….. ;o)

What about an A3 Sportback? The 1.6TDI is ludicrously cheap on scheme.

<waves @ pook>

B-Class is an interesting option. I’ll have a look in a bit 🙂

OH had a Superb as a company car for a while – they really are Superb!

Which engine/spec did you have FF?

Skoda superb estate would get my vote.

colleague at work with similar criteria on his Company Car recently went for a Hyundai i40 Tourer – blue motion type thing with loads of toys – nice car

I’m driving the superb saloon 2.0 diesel (new style 59 plate) just now and its grand. cant comment on the estate, but i wouldn fancy the saloon with 1.6 engine.

2.0 litre and unladen and it goes like shit off a shovel!

I really like the look of the i40 – but unfortunately, Hyundai aren’t on the list. Bobbins.

Smudger – that’s my worry about the Superb, the 1.6 is the only one available.

Skoda Yeti

If it is lease then I’d be tempted at a Citroen DS5. Not sure what the list price is though. Would never spend my own money on a Citroen tho…

Which engine/spec did you have FF?

It was top spec, Diesel, Automatic. Can’t recall engine size, probably the 2.0.

Alfa gulietta too small i guess?

Yeti would be nice if I could have the 4wd version (emissions too high) – otherwise not much point.

DS5 – hmmm.. hadn’t consideres Citroens. I like the DS3 as a funky little car, but not sure about the larger models.

Gulietta – yes, unfortunately too small.