Volkswagen Golf BlueMotion - BlueMotion Golf alternative - need advice asap!

Honest John Back Room » Motoring discussion
What is life like with your car? Let us know and win £500 in John Lewis vouchers | No thanks
View Threaded
Mon 17 Jun 2013 10:40
Volkswagen Golf BlueMotion - BlueMotion Golf alternative - need advice asap! - actionkim84

Hi everyone,

Any advice much appreciated as I need to get back to my boss today. I've been offered a BlueMotion golf as my company car and while I understand the MPG is fantastic, performance wise it's not even as fast as my current 53 plate Audi A3 2.0 petrol - and that's saying something.

I'm looking for a car in a similar price bracket (up to £21k probably) that is efficient but also a bit fun to drive to give alternative suggestions to the BlueMotion. It has to be a new car as a company car which is a shame as there are plenty out there that fit the bill with a few miles on the clock.

Any feedback much appreciated.

Kim

Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Mon 17 Jun 2013 11:35
Volkswagen Golf BlueMotion - BlueMotion Golf alternative - need advice asap! - thunderbird

I've been offered a BlueMotion golf as my company car and while I understand the MPG is fantastic, performance wise it's not even as fast as my current 53 plate Audi A3 2.0 petrol - and that's saying something.

Drive one and make your own mind up. If you are happy problem solved.

Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Mon 17 Jun 2013 12:43
Volkswagen Golf BlueMotion - BlueMotion Golf alternative - need advice asap! - Collos25

If speed is your ultimate goal then I would think you may looking for another job in the near future.

I have a VW bluemotion it does every thing most drivers will want and it will exceed the UK motorway speed limit by untold MPH is cheap to insure costs nil VED and is very economical.

Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Mon 17 Jun 2013 13:41
Volkswagen Golf BlueMotion - BlueMotion Golf alternative - need advice asap! - 72 dudes

You could do a lot worse than the Golf, but I would recommend you look at and try a Volvo V40 1.6 D2 first. Sadly the budget you have would only stretch to the basic ES model, but much more stylish inside and out than a Golf, plus a little more power and torque than the Golf.

Alternatively for driving pleasure, the BMW 1 series 116d EfficientDynamics falls within your reach. Again more power and torque than the Golf.

You could go for another Audi A3 Sportback 1.6 TDi, same engine as Golf but a better look and cabin, just over £20k list price.

If you need more space then the Skoda Octavia has that in spades and you could go for a higher spec model than the Golf. Again, same engine/economy/tax liability as the Golf.

All the models I've suggested are rated at or less than 99g/km for CO2, which means the company car tax you are liable to pay is the absolute minimum %.

The world's your oyster really, so don't jump to any quick decisions without trying a few to see what is right for you.

Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Mon 17 Jun 2013 13:46
Volkswagen Golf BlueMotion - BlueMotion Golf alternative - need advice asap! - 72 dudes

P.S.

All the cars above have more torque than your A3 2.0 petrol (the real measure of pulling power in everyday driving), so don't worry too much about speed. You'll soon realise that there is a slightly different way of driving a diesel to get the best out of it.

Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Mon 17 Jun 2013 14:37
Volkswagen Golf BlueMotion - BlueMotion Golf alternative - need advice asap! - unthrottled

The 1.6 TDI isn't going to win any drag races, but the 2.0 TDI has plenty of poke in the Golf platform. Unless one is very incompetent with the gears in which case an automatic is required, rather than a more powerful engine.

Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Mon 17 Jun 2013 16:15
Volkswagen Golf BlueMotion - BlueMotion Golf alternative - need advice asap! - oldtoffee

New Skoda Octavia with the revised 2 litre CR diesel with 150 bhp? Bags of power and decent economy and keenly priced might mean not a lot more BIK pain.

Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Mon 17 Jun 2013 19:25
Volkswagen Golf BlueMotion - BlueMotion Golf alternative - need advice asap! - 72 dudes

Agreed, unthrottled and oldtoffee, but this is a company car, and the OP has a budget of £21k list price. They will also be under pressure to opt for a 99g/km car with zero road tax and supposedly low fuel consumption. As an ex user-chooser, I know a bit of how these things work.

Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Mon 17 Jun 2013 19:37
Volkswagen Golf BlueMotion - BlueMotion Golf alternative - need advice asap! - Avant

Did he actually say list price? But even if it is list price, the Octavia 2.0 SE diesel is less than that, and much faster than his current A3.

Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Mon 17 Jun 2013 20:18
Volkswagen Golf BlueMotion - BlueMotion Golf alternative - need advice asap! - 72 dudes

Did he actually say list price? But even if it is list price, the Octavia 2.0 SE diesel is less than that, and much faster than his current A3.

No, but that's what company car lists are based on, either list price or a monthly lease budget.

The OP would also have to take into account the Octavia's higher BIK (benefit in kind) rate, e.g. assuming he/she is a basic rate tax payer, the Golf would cost her £47 per month, but the Octavia 2.0 TDi SE would cost £54. The Volvo meanwhile comes in at just £43.

Yes, I would rather drive an 2.0 TDi Octavia than a 1.6 TDi Golf, but I'm just pointing out that from a company car point of view there are other factors to consider.

Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Mon 17 Jun 2013 20:29
Volkswagen Golf BlueMotion - BlueMotion Golf alternative - need advice asap! - unthrottled

the Golf would cost her £47 per month, but the Octavia 2.0 TDi SE would cost £54. The Volvo meanwhile comes in at just £43.

A difference of £11/month from best to worst. Fairly small beer when compared to the 21K list price...

Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Mon 17 Jun 2013 21:08
Volkswagen Golf BlueMotion - BlueMotion Golf alternative - need advice asap! - actionkim84
Thanks for all your advice and figures - really helpful. I need to go and do some test drives with the aforementioned models this week. I agree that a company car is a different kettle of fish and its about emissions and economy, but as it will be our only car and for use privately I'm keen to get a bit of fun out of it where possible.
Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Mon 17 Jun 2013 23:37
Volkswagen Golf BlueMotion - BlueMotion Golf alternative - need advice asap! - Bycro
New Seat Leon?
Reply | Report as offensive | Link

Our honest used car pricing is a little bit different to all the others. You can get to our values through make or model - you don’t have to follow a prescribed route. Plus, it’s live, which means we can react to changes in the market quicker than any printed price guide.

Honest Used Car Prices

From which small car to buy at which price point to the best UK-built cars, our Top 10s have the lot. Click now for your shortlist.

Unsure of what to buy? Our Top 10s are here to help you....