Page 1 of Company Car Choice - Opinions Welcome!

OK, the situation is - new company car time. Owing to our new scheme at work I have a HUGE choice of vehicles. I am on the lowest grade of vehicle - so no point in suggesting a Jag!

The list is rammed full of the usual Focus`s (Foci!), Astras etc, but I want something a bit different and boy racer (I`m in my 30`s and am going through a "phase"). I have been driving a 1.8 RAV4 for 3 years and want something nippier.

For practical reasons I need a hatchback - no saloons! So I`ve kind of narrowed it down to the following:

Fiat Stilo 1.8 3 Door Dynamic (133 bhp) - plus all the boy racer spec, big alloys, xenon lights etc

Audi A3 1.9 TDi 3 Door (105 bhp) It looks good, but the spec is terrible - no air con!

Honda Civic 1.6i 3 Door SE VTEC. Engines a bit small and I think they look a bit "old man"ish compared to the Type-R which unfortunately is too expensive at my level.

Or....

I have the option of paying to upgrade. An Audi A3 1.9TDi Sport (the one with all the nice stuff!) would cost me £35 a month to upgrade to. But, it`s a bit sluggish compared to the Stilo. However, it is an Audi!

What would you do! :D I`m tempted by the Stilo - it won`t cost me anything and will be higher specced than the Audi, but I`m worried about the street cred ;)

This item was edited on Wednesday, 18th February 2004, 13:32

Personally I hate Fiats with a vengance as they are generally very poorly built and dont retain their value well at all. Of that lot the Civic does sound about the best of the bunch but as you said it is no Type-R although the VTEC engine`s are still quite nippy.

Clio Sport 172 not around the same sorta price range? Others to look at C2 VTR, Saxo VTS or VTR, 206 GTI...

take them for a test drive, for me driving position is everything. I would go for the Audi or Civic. What about a Seat though? Ibiza or Leon, great little machines.

Thanks guys. The decision is made!

I had a wander into the Honda dealership while passing, to have a look just out of interest. Now, I`ve always loved the Civic Type-R but can`t get one on my level. I do however have the Civic 3dr 1.6i Sport VTEC on my list. I assumed this was the typical "old man" style Civic so didn`t give it much thought.

However, they had the 2004 Civic 1.6i Sport on the forecourt and it`s about as close in looks to a Type-R as you can get! In a word "gorgeous". I had a word with the sales man, and although the engine is only 1.6, as you guys said, the VTEC is like having a turbo kick in at high revs!

Not only does it perform well, it looks good, has a minidisk option (the first car I`ve come across that I can use them in!) but it`s well below my benchmark level - meaning the company will be giving me cash back to drive it!

That`s the one! I`m ordering it today!

BTW - got the quote on the Audi Sport and it would cost me £40 a month with the options I wanted, so I couldn`t really justify the expense.

This item was edited on Wednesday, 18th February 2004, 15:28

The stilo`s crap. I want to love it, I really do - I like Fiat`s generally, it looks quite good and is nice with the extras but it drives like a bath on wheels. No use having the toys and big engine if you get hammered at roundabouts because it can`t corner is it?

Audi has class and will earn respect even if you drive it slowly. Civic is a good solid engine, but not the hot looker it once was.

It`s the Audi for me - and I`d upgrade - worth every penny.

Matt

This man blows goats. I have proof....

I`ve just changed my Company car to a Toyota Celica. I`m absolutely delighted with it. Looks great, and handles like a go-cart compared to my last car :) I don`t know what you budget is, but if you take the basic model, I think it`s similar to the Honda type-R. (I got the leather/aircon extras ).

Sadly the Type R ain`t on my level! I like the Celica`s, but I`m afraid it`s only those middle management office based types that can get them! Us poor saps out on the road doing all the miles get the worst cars! Where`s the logic eh?

It`s all worked out on a pence per mile figure. Each level has a ppm "benchmark" you can go above the benchmark, but it costs you extra, or you go below it and you get a rebate.

I currently drive a RAV4 - Toyota, and I have to say it`s been the greatest company car ever! Being Japanese it just doesn`t go wrong. The dealership is superb. An interim service can be done within an hour while you wait and drink free coffee whilst watching TV in a clean comfy reception area. I used to drive a Ford and the dealership was untidy, the staff unhelpful, the coffee a health hazard - wouldn`t get a Ford again.

I`d recommend Toyotas to anyone, and from what I`ve read the Hondas are just as good. You get a 3 year or 90k miles warranty! That means it`ll still be in warranty when my contract runs out! How good is that.

I would go for a Seat Leon Cupra R - not the 210 bhp but the new 225 bhp.
I have driven all the seats (in my job) and it is a flying machine , and i mean flyer....
(cough..150mph...cough..). 0-60 in under 6 seconds and its GREAT FUN....

In the same boat but would say that any monthly contribution you pay, either 25% or 40% would be paid by the taxman.

Of the choices, are you weighing up company tax situation.

If so here are a few ones to consider:

Sporty Taxbusters: Audi A3 and BMW Compact - at £16,000 they have the most environmentally friendly engines in the price bracket.

Others:
Seat Ibiza 1.9TDi Sport - 130 bhp - £294pm
Skoda Fabia vRS - 130 bhp - £260pm
Audi A3 1.6FSi - £301pm
VW Golf 1.6 FSI SE - £304pm
VW Golf 1.9TDiS - 103bhp - £301pm
Seat Leon 1.9TD SX - 110bhp - £286pm
Pug 307 2.0HDi SE - 90 bhp - £286pm
Civic 1.7 CTDi SE - £278pm
Civic 1.6Sport 3dr - £274pm
BMW Compact 316ti ES - £330pm
Alfa Romeo 147 1.9JTD Turismo - £334pm

Presumably your benchmark is around £250pm so £80 less 40% for a BMW...

Also do a group test on the What Car website to compare trim, accessories, tax, and an idea of the monthly contribution required. Work out that a better spec model for £1000 would add around £20 a month.

I just selected a Toyota Prius T4 - a petrol/elecric hybrid.

Performs like a big turbo diesel, every gadget known to man and fuel economy to die for.

Still grinning after 2 weeks!


BTW, £65 road tax, no congenstion charge!