[Closed] Company car time.

The new C class is a pretty nice place to sit. I've had a couple when my car has gone in for service. I'd probably look at one as an option since they are now pretty well built.

As this is STW - Skoda?

What about the Jag XE? Does that fit your criteria?

I've got a new C class estate. Quality is fine, comfort is not. It's the most uncomfortable car I've ever had. Steering wheel is off-centre from the seat, seat bolsters have plastic frames in them that dig into your hips, if you're tall the panoramic roof removes all spare headroom. Software in the COMAND infotainment system is shit, sat nav painful to use.

It's also very small. Two kids in car seats and they're kicking the back of the front seats with ease.

I should have got a BMW 5 series or another XF.

<cough>Mondeo</cough>

It would be helpful if you gave us an idea of size of car, model etc,,,

As a general rule I'd say

No to -

Audi A4 - small, not very comfy, limited standard equipment, harsh ride on Sline

BMW 3 series - pedal box offset did my head in and made it uncomfortable over long distance, limited standard equipment. + every wannabe low level salesman in the country have one and drive like idiots

Yes to -

Merc C220, mercedes seem to have their design team really well sorted out.

VW Passat (new ones on MQB platform are huge inside, super comfy and very refined

VW Golf GTD (if you want some fun and plenty of MPG)

BMW 5 series, very very capable and not quite as "aspiring regional manager" as the 3 series

However as this is a thread about cars someone will be along shortly to completely disagree with me on all of this.

One thing you have to do is take advantage of the extended test drives that you usually get from the lease company.

Why worry about quality if you are not responsible for repair costs? To be honest the lease costs pretty much take into account any issues above and beyond the warranty so just pick something you fancy.

My cocar is an Audi A4 which is perfectly fine, but I would probably go for a 3 series or a C class next time given your list. Although I do love the style of the Passat CC...

As this is STW - Skoda?

What about the Jag XE? Does that fit your criteria?

Why worry about quality if you are not responsible for repair costs?

I went with the hybrid Golf option (GTE) on BiK tax basis and the positive review of another owner. Arrives March, so can't offer own experience yet.

GTE if you're driving is short enough trips... If it's over the 35 mile charge, you'll only be reimbursed at 1.4L mileage rates, which is naff all

GTD though... gets my vote... Infact I'm just changing jobs so I'm on the Arval site now to change from my Qashqai (which is also nice)

I went for an Audi A5 Sportback rather than the default 3 series option. Happy with my choice.

BMW 5 series with a 2.0 let engine won't be over exciting and is the bottom end of the pile . I have had 2 5 series - but you want the 6 cylinder engine. ....
I now have a 3 series 3.0 m sport. Great car except for the infotainment
Merc - you need to be 60 or a German taxi driver. Uninspired comfy barges for people who want to be respected at the golf club.
Audi - my 3.0 Quattro avant was a thing of beauty , sleek, elegant ... And about the dullest thing I have driven. No driver feedback, handled like a stranded whale and the Quattro was surprisingly unassuming. It was quick in a straight line though. And the infotainment was great.
Passat - ersatz Audi A4. VW desperately trying to take it up market with the CC but will always been seen as the farmers / sensible estate car of choice.

I've got a 320d msport touring as a company car, to be honest it's great.

Standard equipment is everything you'll need, especially if you go for the professional media build. The one thing I did was change the wheels for the graphite ones over the silver as they look a whole load better with a estoril blue car.

I drove well over 300 miles in it yesterday and another 200 today and I've no complaints over those distances.

It's good round town and the ability to switch from comfort mode to sport makes sure it's comfortable for pootling and equally so for a bit of a more sprightly drive.

That budget will get u a 330d... or a 420d... or a4 sline ultra.

Or non german my lexus is300h. Why the german marques only?

Its the same budget as me and thats whats i choose out of almost any car

Ive had a Golf GTD as a company car since Sept last year. low emissions, good economy, great fun to drive and subtle to look at too.

Fast and Fun = BMW 125d
Fast and practical = BMW 420d Gran Coupe folding seats+ hatch back + good looking car
Different and nice quality= Infinity Q30
Good on Tax = Merc C250E
BMW 5 Series have very good support at the moment as does the Audi A6 Black edition (19" wheels option to ease the ride)

When reading reviews make sure you are looking at the latest models - isn't there a new A4 and 3 series just out?

Merc C250E

I have a 320d automatic estate and for virtually everything I do is great. It handles well, it carries bikes well, the family are all comfortable. The boot has a larger capacity than the current focus estate but it's a slightly awkward shape so it holds less suitcases so isn't amazing on the way to the airport, but it's fine when your driving to your destination and can wedge things in small spaces.

It's not fast but it's fast enough. Ideally I would have the 335i but I do too many miles for that so I think my next will be a 330d.

A mate has a 435i and it's a perfectly big and practical enough car if you don't need to carry a family around. The 4 series is probably better for a cyclist than a 3 series saloon as the rear seats fold in the 4 as standard but they don't in the 3 unless you tick the option or get the estate.

If you go for a BMW make sure you have the auto. It's brilliant! I don't find the pedals offset like a poster above so maybe that's the manual?

Whatever you choose, don't forget duedil;
http://comcar.co.uk/newcar/companycar/taxcalc/
Co car tax is being HIKED in the next few years so check it!

Have exactly the same budget and criteria as you. Moved from an A4 diesel to a new Passatt GT D two weeks ago, loaded the Passatt with options.

Just clocked the fist 1000 miles in it today, its quieter, comfier and drives better than the A4. The radar cruise control with DSG is amazing. Drove back from Bristol to Bolton today and only touched the brake and acc pedal to stop at the services for a slash!

Volvo S/V60 D4.

Someone suggested 420d GranSport which Is effectively a 4-door version of a 2-door version of a 4-door car, which I just don't get.

If it doesn't need to be entirely practical could you wangle a 420d coupe? Nice looking piece of machinery those.

430d would be better if you can stomach the company car tax.

£ 2,750 A month company car tax if you have a Lambo Huracan !!

I'd go for the cheapest (tax and cash-back) car that ticks the boxes you want.

When I last did this exercise, while my 'default' car was a 530i I actually ended up with a petrol Vectra auto - and was nearly £100 net per week better off, once I'd factored in tax savings and car allowance (spend less on the lease and get it back).

Did 70k in 2 years with nothing but services and tyres - and paid the school fees 🙂

Since then I've always had my own car, but don't need to do the mileage you do.

Interesting that the 5 series was thrown into the mix but the 118d wasn't. I think the Golf is going to be a little small for longer journeys (it's 200 miles to the office)
For tax and enviro reasons I'd probably jump at the 330e, we'll see how that goes. Probably at the original thought of the 320d, or a 420d, or an A4 or perhaps an A5 coupe or a C220 or a.............. Aaaargh! 😀

I've got a 150bhp golf estate and I'm really happy with it. Comfortable, poky enough to be a fun drive and good gadgets on the dash. Not as lumbering as the new Passat (which is he-yuuuuge).

As above, watch your BIK because it's going up and up to 2020 and diesel has a 3% surcharge still. It's now at the point where our scheme which is contributory is more per month that I can get an equivalent car of my choice on personal hire. As I rarely use the car for anything other than work it's becoming less a perk and more a burden.

I would be very wary. At £500pm your tax bill could be very big in a few years time. How long is the lease and how long is your commute ?

I've just ordered a BMW 330e M Sport. Much cheapness due to hybrid tax status. Looking at comments above the Merc 350e isn't the good value car it was perhaps but still worth looking if you can wait 6+ months for delivery

Surely £500pm will get you a very nice 5 series or 330d (bearing in mind tax implication)

What lead time were you quoted for the 330e, funkydunc?

I was once given a BMW as a courtesy car and had to take it home and park it outside my house. The embarrassment is still etched on my memory.

I would be very wary. At £500pm your tax bill could be very big in a few years time. How long is the lease and how long is your commute

Wrecker - so far I have been told early June. I am awaiting the exact date.

Just read OP's original mileage of 35k electric definitely not the way to go.

320 ED Sport will do bonkers mpg on motorway driving at 80ish I get about 65mpg in mine if I did 70 I imagine it would be about 70-75mpg. Plenty quick enough car too

Perks and commutes are why company car tax is so high!!!!

Wrecker - so far I have been told early June. I am awaiting the exact date.

Lexus CT200h Advance Plus?

If not, why not??

bikebouy - Member

Lexus CT200h Advance Plus?

If not, why not??

Because Lexus have all the charisma of a pot of Yoghurt, and a slight whiff of 'golf club' about them??

Not that I can really criticise - being the driver of a supremely dull but wonderfully Engineered company Passat..

Interesting that the 5 series was thrown into the mix but the 118d wasn't.

Because one is a spacious car that you might want to do some miles in, the other is a tiny, tiny box that a veal calf might find 'a bit cramped'

bikebouy - Member

Lexus CT200h Advance Plus?

If not, why not??

Sorry for the tangent but, how are Lexus regarded these days?

I remember, perhaps incorrectly, that when they first appeared here they were supposed to be a proper luxury marque, is that still the case (was it ever?) or are they Just Another Car nowadays?

[img] [/img]
They really are the Japanese Mercedes.

Is that a bad thing?

I went with the lexus because

looked best
best interior
best customer service - audi were ok, bmw = total ****s
109co2 but 2.5l petrol engine with north of 200bhp
45mpg
best to drive (gearbox aside)
loads of standard toys(digital dash is awesome) - only option I ticked was fancy paint

looks like this

I had 3 audis before and the lexus was a step up in terms of luxury for sure

I really like that, TBH.

109co2 but 2.5l petrol engine with north of 200bhp

And yet only has an 8.3 sec 0-62.

I know the OP had a limited choice, which is a shame really because the Lexus ct200h is a really great car.

You might think it smells of yoghurt and comes fitted with golf clubs, but thats only because you've heard someone [i]else[/i] say they do. If you look carefully, you may like em;.

I did, I bought one late last year, a Red one like this. (not this car though)

[img] [/img]

You might think it smells of yoghurt and comes fitted with golf clubs, but thats only because you've heard someone else say they do. If you look carefully, you may like em;.

Ahhhhh I know, good lease rate deals.

Never mind, BClass Merc ? B200d with all the bits then.

i find the 2.0 Diesel BMW more than fast, powerful enough for normal driving. Current Company Car is a 520D Tourer - when it goes back end of this year and I move onto a car allowance I will likely get the same again on a PCP. It is the main family car though, so I need the space.

Never mind, BClass Merc ? B200d with all the bits then.

I went for a Seat Leon ST FR (184 same engine as the Golf GTD). Got a decent spec for the same basic list of the GTD with a bigger boot. I prefer the interior style in the Leon over the Golf. Strong engine, though low 40's mpg is as good as I get over the range of the tank. Rides well, great handling, and comfortable.

I'm about to move from a Golf GTD to a merc c220d estate sport.

Have I done wrong?

Will I die?

What tyres for .......

I pretty sure I'll go for the 320d or the 520d

I went for a Seat Leon ST FR (184 same engine as the Golf GTD). Got a decent spec for the same basic list of the GTD with a bigger boot. I prefer the interior style in the Leon over the Golf. Strong engine, though low 40's mpg is as good as I get over the range of the tank. Rides well, great handling, and comfortable.

Have the GTD, similar low 40's on dual carriageway 30 mile commute but im a speeder 🙁

If you live in town it'll be great, mines in the country and you can feel the potholes in your soul

I pretty sure I'll go for the 320d or the 520d

I would if I were you. As you have the CO2 limit you can'd go to the x30 engines, you can't fiddle it so no point pretending.

5 series deals are crazy cheap as it's about to be replaced, so BMW are stacking them up. 3 series deals are always good but not up with 5's at the moment.

I have been a very high miler recently and until recently been on a company car scheme so was swapping every 50k miles with was between 18months and 2 years. Every time I came from a swap I tried everything else:

Mercs were always horrible to drive unless it was a full fat AMG and even then it was like a fat old uncle trying to get off a bouncy castle, entertaining but not something that I wanted.

Audi's were often nice to look at in a well built washing machine kind of way, but really really dull to drive, and were either horrible front wheel drive or even duller 4 wheel drive. Also represent giving up on life and accepting you are never going to have fun again.

VW's are overpriced compared to other VAG's that share the same build. And not much cheaper than Audi's so why would you not get an Audi over VW? Or better still get neither!

Then you are left just FWD cars, until you get to Lexus - which I just don't get the look of at all, and remind me of a Dad trying to dress funky but ironing creases down the front of his jeans. Don't drive great either.

So after all the above, with the massive bias I obviously have - I always come back to BM's I prefer to enjoy the drive and not care if other people think I'm a tool for driving a BMW. And I will continue to judge them for giving up on life and buying an Audi or Merc, especially if it's silver.

For a company car, seriously consider a hybrid. Company car tax is virtually zero with it - I pay £40 a month on an E class estate AMG spec - purely due to extras added to the spec. They do the hybrid on the c class as well but the e class is being revamped this year (according to our fleet manager). If the hybrid thing bothers you, it's switched off by one button inside the car, but it's very easy to get used to it. I'll unlikely to ever have a non hybrid company car now.

Merc are one of the few who have got the diesel hybrid thing worked out. Someone I work with has a Lexus diesel hybrid - it's very weird to drive, and hard to describe why but it seems kind of notchy in power delivery.

Merc definitely were in the typical old man cars of the past, however, they've really sorted themselves out in the last few years so worth considering.

Before you make any decisions run them through a company car tax calculator as BIK can make a massive difference to overall cost.

Have been using [url= http://comcar.co.uk/ ]http://comcar.co.uk/[/url] and [url= http://www.parkers.co.uk/cars/reviews/compare-cars/?items=72582,70224,69510 ]http://www.parkers.co.uk/cars/reviews/compare-cars/?items=72582,70224,69510[/url] to compare both tax and emissions.

I'd go 5 series or an a6. Test drove both and either are great. U do 35k + a year and got the a6 in the end. It's slightly more a month than the a4 but basically seems to include all the good a4 optional extras like sat nav, iPhone connection, Cruise control, leather as standard.

For a company car, seriously consider a hybrid. Company car tax is virtually zero with it - I pay £40 a month on an E class estate AMG spec

320 ED Sport will do bonkers mpg on motorway driving at 80ish I get about 65mpg in mine if I did 70 I imagine it would be about 70-75mpg. Plenty quick enough car too

This.

It depends on your companies scheme - if you "trade-down" do you get the difference in your pay packet?
Because of the difference in emissions, servicing and resale, a "fully loaded" 320 ED was a 2-band trade-down for me..... worked out cheaper than getting a basic golf. Depends how much of a car-tart you are I suppose: I would rather spend the extra on coke and hookers.

OP reflecting my bias (not a Merc fan, BMW rwd not good on snow) I would take something from Audi. As you don't need soace as you have a family car it could even be an A3/Q3 Quattro or a 4 or 5. I had a bery nice A6 Quattro which was superb on motorway and up/down to Alps. Bit of a handfull in a multi-story though. Given your mikeage you want to look at the bigger cars. Keep us posted and happy shopping

All bets off, time to renegotiate the German only policy.
[url= http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/alfa-romeo/giulia/34448/new-alfa-romeo-giulia-makes-geneva-show-entrance ]http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/alfa-romeo/giulia/34448/new-alfa-romeo-giulia-makes-geneva-show-entrance[/url]
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