Your opinions please - wifes new co car

[S2 Giles]

Hi Folks

My wifes company car is up for renewal and along with subsidies we have a shortlist below....

What would you choose from these & why...

bear in mind its for my wife & her prioirity is not flat out speed, but also looks & she travels maybe 14K PA for business :

Mini Cooper 1.6
Honda Civic 1.6SE Sport or Exec
Vaux Astra 1.8i, 2.0Turbo or 2.2 in SRi or Elegance
Vaux Astra Coupe 1.8i
Vaux Vectra 1.8i or 2.2i in SRi or Elegance
VW Golf 2.0 Gti (the 115hp)
VW Bora 1.8T S or 2.0 SE
VW Passat 1.8T or 2.0 SE
Audi A3 1.6 or 1.8

Please let me know your thoughts... we are going to the motor show so she can see my shortlist in the flesh.

Thanks in advance
Giles

[Paceracing]

14K. Is that local driving, or motorway stuff?

For the 'round town short hop type of car, I think that I would look closely at the Honda Civic, (reliable, comfortable, user friendly) and possibly the New Mini, (funky looking apparently, and reasonably nippy). For the longer journeys I would probably go for the Passat. (It's an A4, only miles better!).

Jas.

[brioss]

I have a passat 1.8t SE as a company car. I cover 50k a year and this is the best milaeage muncher I have had. I have driven it from Glasgow to London today (400 Miles) and it was so smooth and quite. Need a spin in my S3 though.
The mini must be fun.
The blue dash is the bizz also.


>> Edited by brioss on Friday 18th October 20:27

[rubyV8S]

Have you considered the Leon Cupra? A bit cheaper than the Golf GTi, I think.

Mark

[vladd]

I had a Civic as a hire car the other day. If you want a bland van with extra windows, then that's the weapon of choice.

>> Edited by vladd on Saturday 19th October 07:51

[GilesS3]

Hi Giles S2
My other half has had a new beetle for the last 2 years, and loved it, but is about to change for one of the new Mini's. Not alot of boot space, but to drive the car is good. You need to rev it to get the performance, but I was quite impressed with the way it handled and went. Looks good as well, because you can dress them to look any way you like. The options list is huge!!!

[S2 Giles]

Thanks for all your input folks

I cant have a Seat, not in the lease co's portfolio i'm afraid.

Its looking like either
VW Bora 1.8T
VW Passat (only 2.0 tho)
Vaux Astra Coupe
Vaux Astra 2.2

Mini, although we both like them, is too small. Fair bit of motorway mileage required.

Keep the thoughts coming

[Hut49]

Had the same discussion with a friend of mine over a beer about six months ago. 15k per year mixed local roads and motorways - journeys rarely longer than 50-60 miles. After a few beers we came to the conclusion that the Passat was the preferred choice. Car duly arrived and has been a star. Build quality is very impressive, as good to drive as expected. Pretty good all-rounder.

[CarZee]

S2 Giles said:VW Bora 1.8T
VW Passat (only 2.0 tho)
Vaux Astra Coupe
Vaux Astra 2.2

Depends what exactly you need from the car, but it'd come down to the Astra 2.2 and the Bora 1.8T.. probably the two best suited to motorway miles.. then it's personal taste really..

I've not driven either, but equally I wouldn't be averse to either. Stupid to be a badge snob about company mile-munchers - which I why I laugh at the self-inflicted purgatory which BMW 318i/ti drivers suffer

[S2 Giles]

Carzee - thanks, i agree re snobbery. I have an Accord Type-R and i spend most of my days laughing at BMW drivers as they disappear in the rear view mirror.

I tend to agree that either the Astra 2.2 or the Bora 1.8T. I will get the Mrs to have a close look at them at the motor show & leave the final decision down to her.
The worry is that she'll like the look of the coupe better, i have to agree the ordinary astra looks quite dull.

thanks again
Giles

[M@H]

GilesS3 said: Hi Giles S2
My other half has had a new beetle for the last 2 years, and loved it, but is about to change for one of the new Mini's. Not alot of boot space, but to drive the car is good. You need to rev it to get the performance, but I was quite impressed with the way it handled and went. Looks good as well, because you can dress them to look any way you like. The options list is huge!!!

Err.. on the other hand, when I drove one having got used to the Puma it seemed a heavy lumbering lump with no go, over-complicated and over 1200kgs.. I'd steer well clear.. the dealership suggested I wait for the VR6 version..


Also I not from your list you have a real size range from the Mini/A3 up to the Passat.. if you're looking at smaller cars, have a look at the new Saxo VTS whilst you're there a huge amount of fun to drive

Cheers
Matt

>> Edited by M@H on Tuesday 22 October 09:52

[montegogt]

I rented a Passat TDI auto in France...it was horrible, except on motorways...but then it was diesel and auto....

[Dan]

Is that 15k company miles or 15k overall? If its 15k overall I wouldn't discount the Mini as being too small (unless you need bootspace) I have used Mrs.Dans cooper for a number of high milage trips and it's great on the motorway it strums along merrily at... err... 70mph officer you know normal motorway speeds, and is great fun around the twisties. The other thing.. and I don't know if it bothers you but the passat and golf/bora are due for replacement soon.

Just a thought

Dan

[S2 Giles]

Hi Chaps

In general is the new Vectra a definate no no ?

Also the new Accord will probably just drop onto the list shortly, are they worth waiting for, anyone seen the new one ?

Cheers
Giles

[dern]

From my experience trying to steer your wife towards a particular car is a waste of time and she'll buy the one she likes best for her own reasons. I'm afraid all this rationalisation and short list business is worth jack and if she buys a car she doesn't like because of it she'll just be p*ssed off at you for as long as she has it. It just isn't worth it imo. Imagine if she tried to impress her requirements or recommendations on the car you buy based on what her mates have told her ("all tvrs are unreliable" etc)...

Sorry,

Mark

>> Edited by dern on Tuesday 22 October 10:39

[S2 Giles]

Mark - dern

Don't be sorry.... however she respects my opinion and i only want to get the shortlist down to say a top 4 cars then she will make up her own mind. In total there are probably 20+ cars she could choose from but i created the shortlist based upon what personal cost implications she wanted (the scheme uses personal top-up) hence the list varies from Mini to passat.

Add to this the fact she chose the last one, which is an Avensis (nicknamed "the boat") which she doesnt like anymore, I have asked her what she doesnt like about it and added that into the mix for this car.

Thanks for your opinion but i wanted to get opinions to support my own as to which direction to steer her.

I expect at the show on saturday we will look at:
Astra 2.2
Astra Coupe
Vectra (briefly!)
Bora & Golf
Honda Accord

I reckon it will be one of these, although I have produced a list of 12 cars for her in total, these are at the top for various reasons.

Thanks for your input

[dern]

Out of that lot I'd probably go for the honda. I had a prelude for 3 years and it never missed a beat despite being thrashed within an inch of its life all the time. My wife loved it too and took over its stewardship for a year. The dealers are very good, servicing isn't too expensive and I didn't find parts that expensive of difficult to come by (even though mine was an import). I wouldn't touch a vauxhall with the proverbial, I've driven loads of them and have always been bored stupid by them, especially the vectra. Oddly I was massively surprised by the mondeo and bought one as a family car and have had it for 3 years now (an eternity for me) and still have no desire to sell it.

Good luck,

Mark

[torqemada]

Without wishing to hi-jack this thread, I'm about to get my wife a new car too, (It's her birthday soon and she's dropped enough hints). Her shortlist has a diverse number of inclusions:

Merc 160A class LWB
PT Cruiser 2.0
Focus 2.0 zetec
Citroen Berlingo

Any thoughts?

[CarZee]

torqemada said: Merc 160A class LWB
PT Cruiser 2.0
Focus 2.0 zetec
Citroen Berlingo

Any thoughts?

just one:



(Except for the sucoF I suppose.. )

[S2 Giles]

torqemada,

From that strange list i'd say Focus, although go for the 2.0i Ghia, I had one & it was quick enough but fully loaded, 6 disk player, global elec windows, mileage computer, front heated screen etc etc

Otherwise the PT cruiser at least looks different, havnt driven one so couldnt coment.