various - Company car choices

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Sat 12 Mar 2016 11:02
various - Company car choices - Redtailed78

I have to choose a car from the following list for 30k (20k business and rest private) miles per year. Boot space not majorly important although I will occasionaly carry 2 dogs. BIK is roughly the same cost and business fuel will be covered by fuel card What would you recommend?

Audi A3 Sportback 1.6 Tdi 110 SE 5 door MY2016

Ford Mondeo Hatchback 1.5 TDCi Zetec [Nav] MY2015.75

Honda Civic 1.6 Diesel i-DTEC SR 5 door hatchback

Honda Civic 1.6 Tourer I-DTEC SE+ Nav

VW Golf Diesel Hatchback 1.6 TDI 110 Match MY2016

M/Benz A180d SE 5dr MY2016

Skoda Superb Diesel Hatchback 1.6 Tdi CR SE Business MY2016

Vaux Mokka 1.6 CDTi ecoFLEX Tech Line MY2016

Volvo S60 D3 Business Edition (150)

Volvo V40 Diesel D2 (120) SE Nav 5 door (FOC Rear Parking Sensors)

Volvo V60 D2 Business Edition (120)

I'm leaning to either the Civic SR or Skoda Superb as they have the best spec from what I can see....

There are various buy ups and other options I can select but possibly may be leaving the company in the near future so not getting trapped with exit costs.

Thanks

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Sat 12 Mar 2016 14:55
various - Company car choices - 72 dudes

For me it would be the Skoda Superb all the way. It's a bit big for that comparitively weedy engine, but that wouldn't worry me too much. Very smart, classy car.

It's a shame the two bigger Volvos have to be in 'Business Edition' trim, but I would also take a look at the S60 and maybe the Mondeo.

None of the others excite me.

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Sat 12 Mar 2016 16:46
various - Company car choices - Redtailed78

yeah the Volvo's are all available in D4 R-Design Lux as a buy-ups but I'm just not risking being made to pay the balance if I leave. The Skoda looks good and the adaptive cruise would be nice. I'm just thinking it might cause issues getting parked in tight spaces.

I am swaying towards the Civic as it is pretty well kitted out but a few people have been saying the seats are not very comfy on long drives although on the Civic forums most say they are ok.

I did look at the Mondeo but the spec in Zetec is pretty poor compared to the other choices.

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Sat 12 Mar 2016 18:30
various - Company car choices - RobJP

A lot of it depends on the size and age of the dogs (assuming you're putting them in the boot)

If large dogs, then the A3 will be rather cramped for them in the boot. The Volvo V40 isn't much better, and (if the dogs are old, or getting old) also has quite a large boot step.

For dogs in the boot, I much prefer estate cars. A lot easier. So none of the hatchbacks are really ideal to me. So that pretty much leaves the Volvo V60 or the Civic Tourer

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Sat 12 Mar 2016 19:05
various - Company car choices - Redtailed78

Both dogs a mid sized (Springer 8yrs & Brittany 2yrs) and are ok jumping in and out of my current Mondeo, They will either be in the boot or if in a smaller hatchback then clipped in via harness on the back seat as they sometimes do currently. I looked at the V60 and the boot is tiny, I was shocked by how small it was!!

Again with the Civic I liked the seats that I could flip up and transport them in the back, but also in the bigger car I would get the boot dog proofed.

We also have my wifes Megane Tourer that we use as the dog taxi so the dogs would only be in the car on rare occasions

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Sat 12 Mar 2016 20:43
various - Company car choices - 72 dudes

Don't know about the seats in the Civic, but I've read reports that the ride is rather hard and jiggly, although apparently better than the hatch. Would be worth trying one out, especially as you're coming from a smooth-riding Mondeo.

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Sun 13 Mar 2016 11:10
various - Company car choices - confusedbuyer

As a V40 owner I recommend it and Volvos generally. The 60-series is due for replacement and is older in design than the V40.

Of what you've presented if you can put the dogs on the backseat at all I'd go for the V40 given your mileage as the seats and car are really comfortable - I do 2 Leeds-London trips every week and I can do it without any aches/pains so heartily recommend.

I wanted the Mercedes though, but when I drove the engine is noisier, ride harsher and lower interior spec. A friend has Mokka and likes it, but for me it felt in a different world interior-wise. The Golf is almost the default choice, but I would look at the Bluemotion petrol is this price range as that was very good when we tested it a few weeks ago.

Edited by confusedbuyer on 13/03/2016 at 11:12

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Sun 13 Mar 2016 08:58
various - Company car choices - craig-pd130

Is your choice from the list only? Plug-in hybrids like the Audi A3 and Golf GTE are in a similar price range to many of the cars on your list, and mean you pay STUPIDLY low rates of benefit-in-kind tax.

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Sun 13 Mar 2016 09:53
various - Company car choices - catsdad

Re Civic ride comfort, mine is fine on 16" wheels. The hatch on the OP list is on 16" but the estate model listed may well be on 17" so is likely to be firmer. However HJ Civic review has good ride comfort as its first good point.

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Sun 13 Mar 2016 12:31
various - Company car choices - Redtailed78

Perfect thanks for the replies, I will try and get a few test drives from a shortlist and pick from there. :)

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