Company Car choice

MadsL

Any advice for my wife. Currently driving and loving Hyundai Coupe 2.0. Apart from the crap sightlines that is...

She's moving job and has a choice of (automatics only - she's American)

Audi A4
Audi A6
BMW 320
Honda Accord
Mercedes C180
Jaguar X-Type
Lexus IS 200
Saab 93
Volvo S40
Volvo S60
VW Touran
VW Sharan
VW New Passat

Any recommendations, she likes sportyish coupes (haven't included the A3 too hatchbacky) - I'm thinking the Merc, but probably v pricey leather seats option...

spartacus93

Personally I'd get the A6 or the Is200. Not fond of the New Passats or the other two VWs you mentioned.

Why get an A4 when you can get an A6?

Edit@ just read the end of the post, if she doesnt need the room in the back (the A4 is tight in the back) the A4 is sportier looking than the A6!

kluivert

This is probably something that your wife will lose hours of sleep over.

A good choice would be the Honda Accord.

Would she not consider the new Suzksi Swift.

Think BIK (PRSI), alot of money to give to the revenue for a car.

MadsL

Ignore the A6 (she has the option of paying more to get an A6, E200 or whatever - ain't gonna happen!)

MadsL

This is probably something that your wife will lose hours of sleep over.

Not really. She gobsmacked her last leasing company when they asked her 'what colour do you want it in?' - she said 'I don't care'. Guy fainted, first time he had had a woman not give a damn what clolour car she got!!

Alun

spartacus93 wrote:

Why get an A4 when you can get an A6?

Not everyone wants to drive the biggest car possible. An A4 is plenty big enough for me, the A6 feels like a tank, and I'd much rather have an A4 with all the gadgets than a poverty spec A6 any day.

MadsL

Would she not consider the new Suzuki Swift.

Give her some credit. What a shopping trolley that thing is.

UberNewb

I don't think any of those cars are sporty!

Atomic Pineapple

Honda Accord is probably the sportiest.

i think its a sexy car anyway

DirtyDog

UberNewb wrote:

I don't think any of those cars are sporty!

Totally agree, unless she goes for the higher engines in the A4? thats about it when it comes to sporty IMO!

colm_mcm

IS200 is discontinued, replaced by the gorgeous IS250, if this is on the list, there can only be one choice (or the A6)

bazz26

colm_mcm wrote:

IS200 is discontinued, replaced by the gorgeous IS250, if this is on the list, there can only be one choice (or the A6)

Or the even better IS220D which has 180bhp.

colm_mcm

there's no chance of getting a 220D, first they're not launched. second, dealers will be trying to make as much money on them as possible, and so are unlikely to be available to contract hire/fleet buyers

C_Breeze

Go for the c-class

A merc is a merc at the end of the day

bazz26

colm_mcm wrote:

there's no chance of getting a 220D, first they're not launched. second, dealers will be trying to make as much money on them as possible, and so are unlikely to be available to contract hire/fleet buyers

According to http://www.lexus.ie/lexus_cars/is_new/pricing/index.asp it is listed as the entry model of the range.

MadsL

Had a quick look and a chat about the Mazda RX-8. Perfect in every way, in budget, sporty as hell, cool suicide doors.

Check the oil every 2 tanks of petrol...wtf!!! No way.

Oh, well...prob the merc then. Crossfire is too damn expensive, as is the Elise (!)

Anything else out there as an alternative to the mundano corporate fleet family saloon jobby. 2+2 coupe ideally.

Is the BMW M2 out yet??

bazz26

Peugeot 407 Coupe:
http://www.carzone.ie/newcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=Details&vehicle_id=730255420050908&strSpecs=SSCIRL2002

Alfa Romeo GT:
http://www.carzone.ie/newcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=Details&vehicle_id=75944720040309&strSpecs=SSCIRL2002

BMW Mini Cooper S:
http://www.carzone.ie/newcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=Details&vehicle_id=716068120050916&strSpecs=SSCIRL2002

VW Golf GTi DSG:
http://www.carzone.ie/newcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=Details&vehicle_id=75986820060101&strSpecs=SSCIRL2002

elusiveguy

an RS200??? Same as the IS with a 202bhp yamaha beams engine and sportier suspension??

peasant

Why is it alway me that has to point out the Saab ??

Plenty sporty, methinks (1.8 t 150 bhp, 2.0t 175 bhp, 2.0t 210 bhp ...or if the budget stretches to the Aero version ...2.8 liter V6 turbo, 250 bhp , 345 Nm)

also available as wagon (which looks alot classier than the saloon IMO)

http://www.saab.com/main/image/ignite/2006/exterior/93_WAGON/side/1082110110.jpg

colm_mcm

bazz26 wrote:

According to http://www.lexus.ie/lexus_cars/is_new/pricing/index.asp it is listed as the entry model of the range.

indeed, the 220d is cheaper than the IS250, but the demand for the diesel is far stronger than the petrol. pity there's no auto option on the diesel

Borzoi

Doing a bit of looking in a similar vein, but I'm paying, and it won't be new:D

Audi A4 - Excellent, but I think it seems small
Audi A6 - Not as good as above, esp if the budget is tight!
BMW 320 - Excellent, though I don't like the styling, not sure if in automatic that they're the 'ultimate driving machine'
Honda Accord - Dunno, never worked its charms on me
Mercedes C180 - No,no, big mercs are fine, this id the dross
Jaguar X-Type - If I didn't have to service it, it would be under consideration
Lexus IS 200 - As others have said the 200 is gone, had a rep for being underpowered, so the IS250 should sort that
Saab 93 - Very sporty options there
Volvo S40 - No, a little small
Volvo S60 - Top of my short list at the moment, spacious, 5 cylinder 2.0T as base
VW Touran - No,
VW Sharan - No, just no.
VW New Passat - Slightly above repmobile territory


Consider the Saab 95 too

colm_mcm

Borzoi wrote:

Consider the Saab 95 too

have you SEEN the facelifted 9-5? :eek:

Owen

As a dealer working for a premium brand, I have a few bits of advice. Saab's don't hold value unless you trade for another Saab, and Honda's just don't hold value unless it's a private sale. Plus the trend we're seeing in the trade, that Honda drivers tend to be pensioners. Merc's build quality has lapsed, and the target audience also seems to be an older generation.

If I had the choice, it'd be the 320 (Waiting list of about 3 months), Lexus, A4 with toys rather than A6. Oh, and stay away from the overpriced Ford (The Jag).

HashSlinging

Would she not take a car allowance and buy a seat altea FR, very sporty, very very fast, economical, lots of space etc.. the pics don’t do it any justice but they are really great cars and stand out for the right reasons. Also they're very famine machines, if there is such a thing.

http://www.seat.com/com/generator/su/com/modelFR/site/choices/models/fr/start/main.html

Theres also an auto DSG option, which is found on the GTi, TT, and other VAG cars.

colm_mcm

what a ridiculous looking car, like a Scenic GTI

HashSlinging

unkel

Getting a feeling of deja-vu. You post something like this before?

MadsL wrote:

Audi A4
Audi A6
BMW 320
Honda Accord
Mercedes C180
Jaguar X-Type
Lexus IS 200
Saab 93
Volvo S40
Volvo S60
VW Touran
VW Sharan
VW New Passat

MadsL wrote:

she likes sportyish coupes

Now you got me confused. The ONLY sportyish coupe in above list is the BMW as long as you get the coupe, not the saloon (and discounting the thing that should never have been, the MB C180 Sports Coupe :rolleyes:

jimmycrackcorm

ned78 wrote:

As a dealer working for a premium brand, I have a few bits of advice. Saab's don't hold value unless you trade for another Saab, and Honda's just don't hold value unless it's a private sale. Plus the trend we're seeing in the trade, that Honda drivers tend to be pensioners. Merc's build quality has lapsed, and the target audience also seems to be an older generation.

Isn't it a company car so it doesn't matter if it holds value or not.

I'd go for a Saab 93 - Aero or convertible if possible.

UberNewb

unkel wrote:

Getting a feeling of deja-vu. You post something like this before?





Now you got me confused. The ONLY sportyish coupe in above list is the BMW as long as you get the coupe, not the saloon (and discounting the thing that should never have been, the MB C180 Sports Coupe :rolleyes:

Yeah, I'm thinking that from the list above he's looking for a sporty engine and not a sporty look, otherwise there just normal cars which I wouldn't class as sporty.

Mr Magnolia

I reckon the Accord is the sportiest looking of your original list, they're also loaded with extra's.

I think the A6 is a savage looking car, and have done for a while, but not that sporty, more of a 'get the f**k out of my way' type machine..

pbergin

Sparks400 wrote:

I reckon the Accord is the sportiest looking of your original list, they're also loaded with extra's.

I have an accord and absoutely love it, I have a 2.0L executive, it has every extra possible, given the choice Id go for the 2.4, in black, with the 17" alloys with black leather interior, yummmmm, Ive also heard great stories about the 2.2 disel