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Which diesel company car can you recommend that fits my company's requirements?
For the first time in 14 years I am about to get a company car with a job I start on 1 July. The criteria below make for a wide ranging choice. I do about 25,000 miles per year and have a family with three kids aged seven, nine and eleven, but I need to consider their growth for ‘Dad's Taxi’ as the car will likely be kept for three years. Our other car is a Citroen C4 Grand Picasso.
My new car must have a diesel engine, no Italian vehicles, no Japanese or Korean vehicles, no 4x4s, no Cabriolets. I would like CO2 emissions under 130g/km and the P11D value of my vehicle must fit within my entitlement of £30,000. I currently drive a Volvo S80 2.4 D SE Auto. I quite like the idea of auto but it is not a deal breaker. I have so far only test driven a Golf 2.0TDI DSG and really liked it. However, when specced up I noticed I could also get an entry-level BMW 320dED or Mercedes-Benz 220 CDi BE for similar money. Thoughts welcome.
My new car must have a diesel engine, no Italian vehicles, no Japanese or Korean vehicles, no 4x4s, no Cabriolets. I would like CO2 emissions under 130g/km and the P11D value of my vehicle must fit within my entitlement of £30,000. I currently drive a Volvo S80 2.4 D SE Auto. I quite like the idea of auto but it is not a deal breaker. I have so far only test driven a Golf 2.0TDI DSG and really liked it. However, when specced up I noticed I could also get an entry-level BMW 320dED or Mercedes-Benz 220 CDi BE for similar money. Thoughts welcome.
Asked on 17 August 2013 by PC, via email
Answered by
Honest John
BMW 320dED. I got 63 mpg over 7000 miles and 82mpg on the meter over 250 miles once. The point is that this car is the most likely to give you pleasure from driving as well as astonishing economy. If they lifted the brain-dead Japanese exclusion I'd add the latest Mazda 6 2.2 Skyactiv D 150 SE-L Nav to the list. You'd save a lot of P11D money on the purchase price and it's still under 110g/km. A cheaper alternative is the new SEAT Leon 2.0TDI FR, with 184PS and 380Nm torque and under 110g/km CO2 for £22,000.
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