33K to spend on a company car...which 1 to chose???

Firebirder

A friend of mine just landed a nice job - now all she has to do is pick a company car with an allowance of 33K...any suggestions folks??? Cheers

prospect

Does she want a big, comfortable, economic, reliable, well equipped car, and €3K change?

Ann Elk

prospect wrote:

Does she want a big, comfortable, economic, reliable, well equipped car, and €3K change?

Let me guess - the new Hyundai Sonata??

Zynks

A friend of mine got an Audi A6 a couple of months ago. It was just a week before the new Passat came out. He wish he had waited a bit longer. I would go for the Passat, no problems.

ds20prefecture

Volvo S40 2.0 Diesel
Skoda Superb Exclusive (1.8T)
Subaru Legacy 2.0 with leather

I would normally recommend an Alfa 156, but they are about to be replaced with the 159 and company car fleet managers won't touch Alfa any more because of the depreciation. (you could buy it from the company in 3 years for €12000 )

greglo23

she should look here. http://www.skoda-auto.com/irl/model/superb/default.htm

alias no.9

Some of the more interesting options within the budget with change for some extras

http://www.cbg.ie/new_car_detail.asp?ID=1203&CompareIDList=&CompareDescList=&frmFilter=

http://www.cbg.ie/new_car_detail.asp?ID=578&CompareIDList=&CompareDescList=&frmFilter=

http://www.cbg.ie/new_car_detail.asp?ID=2427&CompareIDList=&CompareDescList=&frmFilter=

Rodney Trotter

This is a company car, and it's to be a girly car, therefore rule out the Farmers' special, the Passat, straight away. Rule out the Mondeo, Avensis and Vectra, repmobiles with no street cred. And a Skoda carries no street cred whatsoever.

What seems to go down well with the ladies for a co car is the Mazda 6. You could spec one up quite well for that money. Some leather, Auto, nice ICE etc.

Also, something a little bit different, the Honda Accord?

Rodney Trotter

Add a SAAB 9-3 to that list. Very nice car and should suit the job.

Big Nelly

why not an Audi A3 1.9Tdi.....girlfriend has one but got the petrol version....lovely car and suited to a woman.....also with the rate of fuel prices she should be looking at getting a diesel.....I think the A3 diesel should come in at less than 33K......other than that I would go A4, Passat......it is after all a business car so cant be buying any old wagon....need something with a decent name and also something that looks busniessy if you know what I mean!!

prospect

Ann Elk wrote:

Let me guess - the new Hyundai Sonata??

Nope as others said,

Skoda Superb.

Ann Elk

The new Sonata is getting great reviews - huge specification levels the ride is supposed to have improved dramatically and it looks pretty smashing. All for under 30K.

Eoin

Rodney Trotter wrote:

And a Skoda carries no street cred whatsoever.

I disagree, only can't find the vRS model on carzone or skoda.ie - has it been discontinued in the new range?

bazz26

eoin_s wrote:

I disagree, only can't find the vRS model on carzone or skoda.ie - has it been discontinued in the new range?

The new vRS is available from early next year. It will be available in 2.0 FSi Turbo (around 225bhp) and 2.0 TDi (around 170bhp).

TE0N

Rodney Trotter wrote:

This is a company car, and it's to be a girly car, therefore rule out the Farmers' special, the Passat, straight away.

lol, havent seen the passat been referred to a Farmers car since the early -mid 90s, get with the times...the current passat is a credible rival to the 3-series, A4, 156 etc and beats every family saloon thrown up against it.

Probably the best "girly", would be a mini cooper S for e28500 or convertible for just under 33000, it would preform very well, but expensive to run. If she does high miles and wants to save money then they come in diesel too. But wouldnt preform anything near as good as the S version.

Also, the Skoda Fabia vRS, 23500, or even a new BMW 116, 32500 (altho heard some bad reviews) or Audi A3 or its better value different body cousin the VW Golf 2.0TDi.



All that said, i think the mini will probably best suit - it definately suits the girls, imo.

Ann Elk

TE0N wrote:

the current passat is a credible rival to the 3-series, A4, 156 etc

(you guys kill me!)

Rodney Trotter

TE0N wrote:

lol, havent seen the passat been referred to a Farmers car since the early -mid 90s, get with the times...the current passat is a credible rival to the 3-series, A4, 156 etc and beats every family saloon thrown up against it.
....................................

PASSAT? Credible rival to BMW, Audi, Alfa? You have got to be joking? It's still agricultural and only a repmobile. (A lá Mondeo, Avensis, Primera, Vectra etc). If you are going to spend €33k on a co. car you don't want to be saddled with a repmobile, you want something a little bit different from the ordinary.

TE0N wrote:

Probably the best "girly", would be a mini cooper S for e28500 or convertible for just under 33000, it would preform very well, but expensive to run. If she does high miles and wants to save money then they come in diesel too. But wouldnt preform anything near as good as the S version.

2 points on this.

1. Most Co. Cars are required to have 4 doors. Very rare to have something like a mini as an option.

2. As co.car fuel is usually paid for, petrol is the one to go for. Much nicer to drive, usually, with very few exceptions. Where there is a diesel option it is usually more expensive therefore increasing the BIK payable by the driver , with no extra benefit for the individual.


I'd repeat, the best option is the Accord, Mazda 6 or a SAAB 9-3.

I'd agree with the BMW 1 series. Good option for a single girl.

ds20prefecture

Rodney Trotter wrote:

I'd repeat, the best option is the Accord, Mazda 6 or a SAAB 9-3.

3 of the dullest cars ever made. Just like the Passat, the Skoda, and pretty much everything else in this category. Idiots buy badges, so you may as well get the Skoda, it is probably the best car for the money.

For something a little (but only a little) more interesting, I would suggest the Citroën C4 VTS or the Mini Cooper S.

Bear in mind that she'll probably be paying 42% of 30% of the new car price each year as benefit in kind. Perhaps a car allowance might be a better deal.

ds20prefecture

Rodney Trotter wrote:

PASSAT? Credible rival to BMW, Audi, Alfa? You have got to be joking? It's still agricultural and only a repmobile. (A lá Mondeo, Avensis, Primera, Vectra etc).

Euro for Euro, only the Alfa is a match for the mondeo as a drivers car. Cheaper BMWs are dreadful cars. Audis are dull as dishwater and overpriced (according to the chairman of Audi). The Passat is a much better car than the A4, but not quite as good as the Skoda (for the money).

By the way
Saab 9-3 = Opel Vectra
Mazda 626 = Ford Mondeo
Honda Accord = zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

You are a victim of badge marketing.

bazz26

The Skoda Superb is based and designed on the previous generation VW Passat which was launched in 1997, it handles like a barge or at least the one that I test drove did, also the interior is straight from the old Passat which looks very dated these days. If that doesn't bother her then the one to get is the 1.9 TDi 130bhp diesel.

The new Passat is very expensive and while it is very well built, lookswise it hardly stands out from the crowd. The 1.6 petrol is underpowered and the 2.0 is nothing to write home about. The diesels are the pick of the bunch but for €33k you will be lucky to get the old 1.9 TDi 105bhp version in Comfortlime trim which still doesn't have alloy wheels. The best is the 2.0 TDi 140bhp in Sportline spec but to get any decent equipement this comes in at €37k so that is a non starter.

Another one to look at is the Volvo S40 1.8 SE which comes in at just under €32k. The S40 is slightly smaller than the others mentioned but also is a less common sight in the company car park. They look very nice in silver imo. On top of the standard toys such as Climate Control, alloy wheels and traction control the SE adds leather seats, cruise control and bigger alloy wheels. Also available is the 1.6 diesel version which is just as fast as the 1.8 petrol but will have better mpg and maybe more tax friendly to her company.

Rodney Trotter

ds20prefecture wrote:

Euro for Euro, only the Alfa is a match for the mondeo as a drivers car. Cheaper BMWs are dreadful cars. Audis are dull as dishwater and overpriced (according to the chairman of Audi). The Passat is a much better car than the A4, but not quite as good as the Skoda (for the money).

By the way
Saab 9-3 = Opel Vectra
Mazda 626 = Ford Mondeo
Honda Accord = zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

You are a victim of badge marketing.

DS you're full of crap.
SAAB 9-3 has no resemblance to a Vectra (Previous version did, BYW)

Mazda 626 was made obsolete a long time ago, and the 6 is nothing like the Mondeo.
Honda Accord is different and is a bloody good comfortable car.

If you think they are badge marketing you obviously know nothing about modern cars.


And then you have the cheek/gall/balls to recomend a bloody Skoda? FFS, anyone with 33k of someone else's money to spend does not want a Skoda.


And I would safely say 99% of modern car purchasers do not care about the driving dynamics of their purchases, with creature comforts much more important.

jayok

DS you're full of crap.

ROFL ...wasn't going to both replying to the inaccurate comments from ds20prefecture as I would have have to be more polite. But this pretty much nails it.

Father_Ted

DS is correct on some points, the current Saab 93 is still based on the current generation Vectra floorplan and as a result is still comprised when compared with cars in it's class such as the BMW 3series and Audi A4 even though it is much improved on the last generation car.
Again the Mazda6 is heavily based on the Mondeo, both share the same floorplan, and both come top of their class if you like your rep mobile to handle.
The Honda Accord is an interesting choice, and by all accounts the diesel version is a very fine car.

bazz26

Rodney Trotter wrote:

DS you're full of crap.
SAAB 9-3 has no resemblance to a Vectra (Previous version did, BYW)

Mazda 626 was made obsolete a long time ago, and the 6 is nothing like the Mondeo.
Honda Accord is different and is a bloody good comfortable car.

Hi Rodney,

General Motors bought SAAB a good couple of years back. The SAAB 9-3 saloon from 2002 uses the Opel Vectra platform and some of its engines. In my opinion GM have ruined SAAB by doing this. I think this is what ds20prefecture probably meant.

Also Ford own a major share of Mazda, it has for some time and used the Mk II Mondeo as a basis for the 6s chassis. The Mazda 3 actually uses the current Focus chassis and shares the same HDi diesel engine bought from the PSA group.

I do agree with you about the Honda Accord, a fine car and a good alternative to the standard rep mobile. Have driven one and it does feel more refined, better put together and engineered than the usual Mondeo, Avensis, Vectra, Primera, etc. It is not quite BMW 3 Series or A4 but not as far apart as some think.

Firebirder

Hey thanks for the advice so far!
We've been discussing it and come up with the following:
Mondeos/Vectras/typical repmobiles out
Skodas out
Mazda 626 - nice car to look at, but friend has one and hates it. And interior finish looks cheap...
Mini - out (4-door rule) - anyway boot would be too small

The final cut....

Passat - borderline possibility
Audi A3 - possibility
BMW 1 series - good possibility - but are they really seen as the black sheep of the BMW family? worth the money? any reps out there with one?
Volvo S40 - good possibility, but would rather drive this kind of car when she's in her in her 40's (don't mean to offend anyone!!!) just seems too sensible a choice??
Saab 9-3 : Does this come inside the budget??

Cheers in advance for any further advice....much appreciated

Firebirder

Forgot another one for the final cut;

Audi A4 - but again, is this not over the 33K budget new?

bazz26

Check out http://www.carzone.ie for new car prices and specifications.

ds20prefecture

Rodney Trotter wrote:

DS you're full of crap.

Possibly, but not on this point.

"SAAB 9-3 has no resemblance to a Vectra (Previous version did, BYW)"
Nonsense. the new 9-3 is a vectra in slightly prettier clothes.

"Mazda 626 was made obsolete a long time ago, and the 6 is nothing like the Mondeo."
You are wrong. 626 was a typo and the Mazda 6 IS a mondeo.

"Honda Accord is different and is a bloody good comfortable car."
Different to what? They are a worthy but dull car, chosen by people who really would rather a BMW. I'll concede that they are finely engineered and from a vaguely interesting company but the design is so anonymous it needs to be crushed.


"If you think they are badge marketing you obviously know nothing about modern cars."
I asserted that YOU were a victim of badge marketing, which you have neatly proven to the world at large. Thank you.

And then you have the cheek/gall/balls to recomend a bloody Skoda? FFS, anyone with 33k of someone else's money to spend does not want a Skoda.

And I would safely say 99% of modern car purchasers do not care about the driving dynamics of their purchases, with creature comforts much more important.

What contradictory twaddle is this? Your first statement shows that you buy into the whole social climbing badge-slave nonsense that the rest of the country is suckered into. Then you advise that creature comforts are most important? Name me a new car with more creature comforts than a Skoda Superb for 33000?

Wait a minute - are you 12? That would explain an awful lot.

ds20prefecture

Firebirder wrote:

Volvo S40 - good possibility, but would rather drive this kind of car when she's in her in her 40's (don't mean to offend anyone!!!) just seems too sensible a choice??

Fair enough. Take a spin in a 2.0 diesel before deciding though. They are a flier with a good chassis (that of a Ford Focus, for all you badge snobs out there), a great engine (from Peugeot) and a carefully styled interior.

bazz26

ds20prefecture wrote:

"Honda Accord is different and is a bloody good comfortable car."
Different to what? They are a worthy but dull car, chosen by people who really would rather a BMW. I'll concede that they are finely engineered and from a vaguely interesting company but the design is so anonymous it needs to be crushed.

In fairness the same argument could be said about people who drive Alfa Romeos, Audis and Volvos. Not everyone wants to drive a BMW. The new 5 and 7 series are horrible to look at imo, the new 3 Series is hardly an inspiring design is it?

ds20prefecture wrote:

Name me a new car with more creature comforts than a Skoda Superb for 33000?

I agree that the Skoda Superb is value for money but if the Honda Accord is a bland design then what is the Skoda Superb? A stretched Passat with a Skoda grill on it. The Superb may be value for money but it is let down in other areas. It is based and designed on the VW Passat which went on sale in 1997 and hence has inherited alot of handme down parts from it.

Having had the opportunity to drive both the Accord and Superb, the Accord felt more like the €30k+ car than the Superb. Granted the rear space in the Superb is very impressive but overall the Accord felt better put together and had a more modern feel with softer touching buttons and plastics. The dashboard in the Superb is straight out of the old Passat and had alot of edges and some hard plastics. The seats were good and supportive but again they didn't feel as good as the Accord.

Well that is my 5c worth on both cars anyway.

ds20prefecture

bazz26 wrote:

I agree that the Skoda Superb is value for money but if the Honda Accord is a bland design then what is the Skoda Superb? A stretched Passat with a Skoda grill on it.

I think I already stated that the Skoda is dull here:

ds20prefecture wrote:

3 of the dullest cars ever made. Just like the Passat, the Skoda, and pretty much everything else in this category. Idiots buy badges, so you may as well get the Skoda, it is probably the best car for the money.

The point is, they are ALL dull cars in this market segment, so you may as well get as much kit as you can for your money. The Skoda provides this in a safe, inoffensive way, and without alluding to being a "sports executive" like most of the others. So does a Citroën C5, but that is just horrible.

The alternative is to drop to the upper end of the next market segment down. Like the C4 VTS.

ds20prefecture

bazz26 wrote:

In fairness the same argument could be said about people who drive Alfa Romeos, Audis and Volvos. Not everyone wants to drive a BMW. The new 5 and 7 series are horrible to look at imo, the new 3 Series is hardly an inspiring design is it?

Fair enough, except for the Alfa. Alfas tend to be driven by people who love cars and couldn't give a rats ass what anybody thinks of their less-than-shrewd financial acumen.

I couldn't agree more about BMWs generally. They went from bland but attractive to bland and ugly with the latest styles. I've only ever been tempted by the last shape 530d touring, and not because of its shape, more its combination of ability and anonymity.

TE0N

Rodney Trotter wrote:

PASSAT? Credible rival to BMW, Audi, Alfa? You have got to be joking? It's still agricultural and only a repmobile. (A lá Mondeo, Avensis, Primera, Vectra etc). If you are going to spend €33k on a co. car you don't want to be saddled with a repmobile, you want something a little bit different from the ordinary.

Id love to see a front wheel drive Passat tackle a muddy field lol, youd need the 4WD version for that. Besides i dont think anyone with a sane mind would take a car costing €36k (1.9Tdi) into a muddy field! Dunno where you get that agricultural idea from, maybe the PD TDi engine, it does sound a bit rough but the common rail diesels dont sound any better. (maybe thats your angle)

and...

Hahha, no im not joking, its BETTER than all the cars you memtioned there except 1, the BMW 3-series, and it only beats it on preformance, straight line zero, 0-60. But when moving the Passats mid-range preformance will more than keep up, besides people dont go round thrashing their engines revving to the red line all day.

Here look at an experts review

I know this first hand, a friend of mine was resently in the market for decent sized car and was indecisive between the MB C220 CDi and BMW 320d. I told him about the 05 Passat, showed some reviews and of we went to the VW dealer. And the ONLY thing that we found that was worth the extra money was that Beamer was RWD and had 20 more BHP. Conclusion; 320d was better if you floored it. BMW see this and now gonna bring out a 318d (a lower power 2.0d) to tackle this. Besides why am i saying this, both these car are well out of her price.

Rodney Trotter wrote:

I'd repeat, the best option is the Accord, Mazda 6 or a SAAB 9-3.

Wrong!! A cheaper Passat will be a better option, if only for its low depreciation!

Rodney Trotter wrote:

2 points on this.

1. Most Co. Cars are required to have 4 doors. Very rare to have something like a mini as an option.

2. As co.car fuel is usually paid for, petrol is the one to go for. Much nicer to drive, usually, with very few exceptions. Where there is a diesel option it is usually more expensive therefore increasing the BIK payable by the driver , with no extra benefit for the individual.

Most company cars are 4-door, show me where it says that. I thought you could pick what you want to the offered value.

I was under the illusion that diesels where cheaper because of their lower emissions!! But maybe you're right.

Rodney Trotter wrote:

I'd agree with the BMW 1 series. Good option for a single girl.

Yes, the 116 is a good car, but its expensive and cramped when compared to a Golf.

Car id reccommend would be a Golf or a Skoda Superb/Octavia.

junkyard

Sorry guys I couldn't help but throw this in as an ad break.

maidhc

No one has suggested a Toyota Avensis 2.2 D4D. You should get one for that money. The 2.0 is quite a fast car and the 2.2 is substantially faster. It shouldnt cost any more to run than a 1.8 petrol. It also has a 3yr warranty, Toyotas roadside cover is good, and Toyota dealers dont have as bad an attitude problem as many others. If it was a private purchase I would suggest a 2.0 D4D as they hold their value unlike anything else.

Why would someone buy an Audi over a Skoda? Its a terrible affliction to be a badge snob. The same goes for a Volvo s40 v. a Ford Focus.

The Octavia is a very fine car. Second the Avensis in my book. The superb is getting a little old now alright.

Finally, for everyone, 33k doesnt get you a very fancy car. It is very much "repmobile" territory. And to be honest, there is nothing wrong with that.

If you buy a BMW or whatnot with 33k you know you are getting something small and overpriced, or something with a small underpowered engine that looks nice, but is still overpriced.

unkel

bazz26 wrote:

The new Passat is very expensive

I was very surprised that the entry level is only €25k which seems very competitive to me. Most other versions esp. the 2 liter diesel are ridiculous money, I grant you

ds20prefecture wrote:

I couldn't agree more about BMWs generally. They went from bland but attractive to bland and ugly with the latest styles

I must be ultra conservative, just like yourself, to not like the styling on the latest BMW models. Then again I disliked the E39 when it came out 9 years ago but I do like it now

But to call all BMWs past and present bland? My experience and interest is not with 4 cylinder engined BMWs or Minis* for that matter but what do you base your qualification of "bland" on?

*SuperPaddy, who won the Monte Carlo rallye in a Mini in '64, currently drives a BMW Mini BTW, but surely you know this

junkyard

The basic BMW's may be bland but the top of the range is a different matter. The same can be said for Mercedes. I think car manufacturers have to cater for all customers as lots of people would aspire to buying a prestige car brand, and the car manufacturers can see this and supply the product accordingly.

ds20prefecture

unkel wrote:

But to call all BMWs past and present bland? My experience and interest is not with 4 cylinder engined BMWs or Minis* for that matter but what do you base your qualification of "bland" on?

I was referring to the previous model BMWs only, unkel. I meant no offence, but I'm afraid that does include your 7. The 3 -> 5 -> 7 family tie was just too strong. So while the 7 had distinguishing features like the boot treatment unfortunately the grille, glasshouse, gratuitous stiffening creases in the flanks, wheel arches and lights were all made banal by the 5 and ubiquitous by the 3. And thats without mentioning the ever-so-predictable Hoffmeister kink.

I certainly would not class a '38 328 as bland. Or a '71 3.0CS. Or a 2002 ti. Or an '80s 635. Or even the E30 (?) 3 series. Is it a Teutonic thing to endlessly flog a winning formula without rocking the boat? e.g. Porsche 911. BMW. VW Golf.

ds20prefecture

unkel wrote:

I must be ultra conservative, just like yourself, to not like the styling on the latest BMW models.

I almost take offence to being called ultra conservative, but I'll let you away with it because I'm drunk.

Perhaps Bangle will be fondly remembered, stranger things have happened. I'm a big fan of the Fiat Coupé.

Back on-thread!!! Could the Fiat Coupé be bought as a company car for €33000? I'm afraid not, more's the pity.