Which company car to choose

blindside88

Hey Boardies,

I've just started a new job and they are giving me a company car as part of the package. I've attached the list of cars available and I would appreciate your input. BIK is only marginally different between them all so doesn't factor into my decision. I've no kids but do play golf so need a good boot. I'm current driving a Passat. Which would you recommend and why. I've narrowed it down to the Mondeo, Jetta and Octavia (hatchback). I am willing to consider other options and I plan on doing some test drives over the weekend.

Thanks in advance,

Blindside

blindside88

Cars attached now

Dubwat

You've blindsided us by not including the attachment

blindside88

Dubwat wrote: »

You've blindsided us by not including the attachment

Ha, it's in the second post, might make it a bit easier

Pkiernan

Mondeo

blindside88

Pkiernan wrote: »

Mondeo

Thanks Pkiernan, have you any experience of the car?

colm_mcm

the mondeo by a mile.
the jettas got the biggest engine but feels artificially held back. you'll just project an image of not being important enough to be given a passat.

Pkiernan

blindside88 wrote: »

Thanks Pkiernan, have you any experience of the car?

Only a high spec rental in the States, which was a really good car.
It dwarfs the others, and looks a lot better.

AndyBoBandy

I would have the Jetta all day long, boot is huge in them,

Mondeo, I've driven a few, and the diesel manuals were hideous to drive.

blindside88

colm_mcm wrote: »

the mondeo by a mile.

Thanks Colm. I think the Mondeo looks the best by far I'm just not familiar with the engine, is 1.5teci a bit small for it?

blindside88

AndyBoBandy wrote: »

I would have the Jetta all day long, boot is huge in them,

Mondeo, I've driven a few, and the diesel manuals were hideous to drive.

Thanks, that's good to know. I do like the Jetta as well

AndyBoBandy

blindside88 wrote: »

Thanks, that's good to know. I do like the Jetta as well

We went travelling last year (first time with the baby) to Lithuania, and I booked a golf through Hertz, they upgraded me to a Jetta which was an absolute blessing because of the amount of stuff we had with us! It was huuuge.

Why don't you get yourself to a Ford/Volkswagen dealer and try them both on for size, it's free to window shop.

blindside88

AndyBoBandy wrote: »

We went travelling last year (first time with the baby) to Lithuania, and I booked a golf through Hertz, they upgraded me to a Jetta which was an absolute blessing because of the amount of stuff we had with us! It was huuuge.

Why don't you get yourself to a Ford/Volkswagen dealer and try them both on for size, it's free to window shop.

That's the plan for Saturday. I love the look of the Mondeo but I've had a Passat for the past few years and really like the comfort and look of it

colm_mcm

blindside88 wrote: »

Thanks Colm. I think the Mondeo looks the best by far I'm just not familiar with the engine, is 1.5teci a bit small for it?

Well ideally you'd have a 2.0 with 140 or 150bhp, but to be fair 120bhp is what a lot of 2.0 engines had a few years ago.
Also it's a similar size yo your Passat. The Jetta, Octavia and Golf are from the size category below.

blindside88

colm_mcm wrote: »

Well ideally you'd have a 2.0 with 140 or 150bhp, but to be fair 120bhp is what a lot of 2.0 engines had a few years ago.
Also it's a similar size yo your Passat. The Jetta, Octavia and Golf are from the size category below.

Yea I suppose it should do the job. Thanks for the input

mickdw

Mondeo is a clear winner to me.
It's really a class above all the other mid sized options.
Ford would see it as a passat competitor and to be honest should be a superior car to the previous model Passat if that is what you are driving.
Jetta octavia will be a let down coming from a passat.

blindside88

mickdw wrote: »

Mondeo is a clear winner to me.
It's really a class above all the other mid sized options.
Ford would see it as a passat competitor and to be honest should be a superior car to the previous model Passat if that is what you are driving.
Jetta octavia will be a let down coming from a passat.

Thanks, this is what I wanted to hear. Had my heart set on the Mondeo but wanted to see if anyone had any ideas on it. 90% sure that's the way I'm going now, just going to test drive to be 100%

AndyBoBandy

Try and test drive the engine you'll be getting if you can,

I remember a few years ago driving a diesel Mondeo and it was horrendous to drive, 2nd gear felt like it went from 1st to 4th, and if you didn't have the engine revving at at least 3,000 rpm going into second, the car felt like it took an eternity to get going!!

blindside88

AndyBoBandy wrote: »

Try and test drive the engine you'll be getting if you can,

I remember a few years ago driving a diesel Mondeo and it was horrendous to drive, 2nd gear felt like it went from 1st to 4th, and if you didn't have the engine revving at at least 3,000 rpm going into second, the car felt like it took an eternity to get going!!

That's what I'm hoping to do alright, there will be a big difference between driving the 1.5 I'm being offered and the 2.0 in the next model up

R.O.R

The 1.5 engine in the new Mondeo is actually pretty good. Worlds away from the old 1.8Tdci that was a pig to drive. Had someone drop a rental back a couple of weeks ago and he was sure it was the 2.0 version. I did 400 miles in the UK in one day in a Focus 1.5 Estate and it didn't struggle at all, even at UK motorway speeds.

Seats in the Mondeo are very comfortable and it's going to be the easiest to throw the Golf clubs in the boot, but as an overall package it's just not great value for money and that's why they aren't selling anywhere near what Ford would like. Appearance Pack is a must and it's currently available at a discount. Adds Parking Senors, 17" Alloys and some additional bodytrim. Looks kack without that, Deep Impact Blue would be my colour choice.

If you didn't need the space then the Golf Comfortline would have been the one to go for. 161 offer adds Parking Sensors, Adaptive Cruise Control, Light Assist, USB connection and Reverse Camera.

166man

New Mondeo is a cracking car. Only experience I have is the 2.0T ecoboost but as a package they're an impressive car.

On paper the 1.5TDCi should be ok I'd have thought.

twin_beacon

Mondeo all day long. Very reliable, and by far the best looking of the bunch too!

Buffman

From that list, the Mondeo is my choice. Nice Zetec spec, good space, most horsepower, nicest looking interior and exterior IMO.

The Jetta, 110 hp from a 2.0 TDI:eek: Every other VAG 2.0 TDI is normally at least 140hp, they must loose a few horses on the boat over from Mexico.:D

The Octavia estate would be in contention if you needed the space and it wasn't a poverty 'Active' spec.

The Golf, not in the same class space wise.

The Octavia 'Ambition' spec, second choice for me on your list.

The Grand Scenic, unless you have 6 kids, no.

_Brian

colm_mcm wrote: »

you'll just project an image of not being important enough to be given a passat.

:D love it

blindside88

I drove the Mondeo this morning and it confirms what has been said here. Lovely comfortable car to drive and doesn't feel underpowered with the 1.5 engine. Good space in the book and decent leg room in the back. I'm not going to drive the others as the Mondeo was my choice on style once it drove well. Going to order it on Monday and I think I'm going to go with the black metallic. Thanks for everyone's input

colm_mcm

there are some gorgeous colours on the mondeo. If you like the black that's fair enough but I think it looks better in rich colours lile tectonic silver, deep impact blue or especially ruby red. the black will be the hardest of all to keep clean and will show up minor scratches more.

blindside88

colm_mcm wrote: »

there are some gorgeous colours on the mondeo. If you like the black that's fair enough but I think it looks better in rich colours lile tectonic silver, deep impact blue or especially ruby red. the black will be the hardest of all to keep clean and will show up minor scratches more.

I really like the deep impact blue, my problem is that I won't be ordering the car myself. I have an order form to fill in that is passed between about 3 sets of hands, I'm worried that the colour will get lost in translation and will end up with a different blue (the blazer blue is horrible)

colm_mcm

it's worth taking the effort to do though. just specify on the form that it's deep impact and not the rotten one.

blindside88

colm_mcm wrote: »

it's worth taking the effort to do though. just specify on the form that it's deep impact and not the rotten one.

I'll word it like that as well

colm_mcm

that'll get their attention

Golf for me. Nicest car on offer and plenty of room for clubs etc in the boot.