Well I have precisely 2 days to choose my company car. The car scheme actually finished in April, but I negotiated a car as part of my recruitment package. I've had initial prices back for the following (all include metallic paint):

• Mazda 3 Sport 2.2D (150PS) - £61.68
  
• Mazda 3 Sport 2.2D (185PS) (metallic is standard on this model) - £88.92
  
• Skoda Octavia Elegance 5 door Estate 1.6 CR TDI with maxidot, 17" alloys and sport suspension - £3.71
  
• Skoda Octavia vRS 5 door Hatch 2.0 CR170 with maxidot - £55.20
  
• Honda Accord Tourer 2.2i-DTEC ES GT - £83.06
  
• Seat Exeo Estate 2.0TDI CR143 SE - £110.35
  
• VW Passat Estate 2.0TDI 140PS R-Line - £41.37
  
• VW Golf 2.0TDI 140 GT 5 door with park assist and dual zone - £36.90
  
• Mazda 3 TS2 1.6D with nav - £13.76
  

I really did like the Mazda 3 2.2D 185PS, and its a stunning car, but it didn't completely WOW me.

I do have 3 kids and a dog to consider also... I can obviously choose the specs etc I want, but don't want anything not on the above list.

I do have to insure it myself, other than that, the above prices are fully maintained

So, what should I choose?? :confused:

The prices you list are confusing Tom...

Are they per month, on top of your allowance?

The prices you list are confusing Tom...

Are they per month, on top of your allowance?

That would be my contribution for the car per month.

I think you would struggle with space/boot on the Mazda. Did you try loading it to see?

I found the 1.6D to be dog slow, slower than my 1.6 petrol (maybe I was driving it wrong and it only had 250 miles on it). I would imagine the 1.6 Octy is similar in that respect.

Does this mean you didn't buy the Avensis?

I would pick passat - big and cheap

I think you would struggle with space/boot on the Mazda. Did you try loading it to see?

The boot certainly isn't the biggest of the bunch, but we thought it would be big enough. Almost identical in volume to the Golf I think.

Does this mean you didn't buy the Avensis?

Yep.

The boot certainly isn't the biggest of the bunch, but we thought it would be big enough. Almost identical in volume to the Golf I think.

Very similar in size (not that I've looked at the mk6 properly but mk5 certainly) but the Mazda boot feels smaller than it should be

3 kids and a dog means an estate so knock the others on the head straight away....I believe the seat is short on rear seat space legroom so that just leaves the octavia or the passat and you know what both of those are like personally i would have the passat (a bit more room)

For me it would be a close call between the Octavia vRS estate, and the Passat.

Probably the Passat, as it is the 'R' line model, and they look so much better than the rather bland Octavia.

Well I've done insurance quotes, worked out the monthly fuel cost based on book combined figures and 2000 miles a month, company car tax cost etc, and I've managed to list them in cost order. The cheapest is the 1.6CR Octy, and the rest I've costed as an increase over that, so the list is

1) Skoda Octavia Elegance 5 door Estate 1.6 CR TDI with maxidot, 17" alloys and sport suspension

2) Mazda 3 TS2 1.6D with nav - £6.00

3) VW Golf 2.0TDI 140 GT 5 door with park assist and dual zone - £84.46

4) Mazda 3 Sport 2.2D (150PS) - £104.72

5) VW Passat Estate 2.0TDI 140PS R-Line - £113.72

6) Skoda Octavia vRS 5 door Hatch 2.0 CR170 with maxidot - £132.57

7) Mazda 3 Sport 2.2D (185PS) - £147.79

8) Seat Exeo Estate 2.0TDI CR143 SE - £159.81

9) Honda Accord Tourer 2.2i-DTEC ES GT - £170.81

I've demo'd a 1.6D Mazda, and was seriously impressed with the performance.

I've driven an Accord Tourer today, and loved it 100%, just rear sensors missing which is a shame.

VW won't let me demo anything - they've forwarded my details to fleet management *sigh*. However, it just doesn't float my boat really and disappointingly the seats are pants. :( Still the most practical car on the list I think though.

The Octy 1.6CR - would need to demo one, but can't find a dealer with one on the road :(

Octy vRS - only downer being I've had one before, and the white inserts on the seats - oh and lead times could be an issue...

Still not really any closer to a decision though lol! Thanks everyone for their advice. Anyone any further advice/opinions to edge me towards a decision?? :P

If you want space the accord is the one to go for but I found judging where the back of the car was a bit difficult for some reason, despite the back being flat. Mind you this was my boss' car so I was trying to be careful (not that he was, he used to park by touch).

Haven't seen the Exeo estate but the saloon I looked at a while back seemed pretty good.

How much would a new Toyota Avensis work out at?

Someone at work had one not long ago and it's much better than the old model , plus a lot cheaper than an Accord.

I'd probably go for the octavia from that list though.

IMO you'd be daft to pay £150 a month extra a month that you don't need to.

How much would a new Toyota Avensis work out at?

Someone at work had one not long ago and it's much better than the old model , plus a lot cheaper than an Accord.

I'd probably go for the octavia from that list though.

IMO you'd be daft to pay £150 a month extra a month that you don't need to.

Tried the Avensis and really wanted to like it, but was underwhelmed and the seats were lacking in comfort imho.

Which Octy Alex, vRS or Elegance?

Does anyone know of a 1.6CR demo anywhere? The big things putting me off the 1.6 are the lead times and performance...

I reckon for an extra £50 a month I'd go for the VRS, probably the best balance of space and fun

I had two Elegances - I'm more of a "gadgets over performance" type person , but for not much more than a tenner a week the VRS would be a tempting option and wouldn't feel like a second best choice.

Well I'm being pressed and a car must be available asap. There are NO vRSs available whatsoever, and the only 1.6CR is an Elegance Estate in green with no options, assuming they can source one. :(

I have however been contacted, and they can do me the Mazda 3 2.2D 185PS for £30 a month, so I'm waiting for availibility to be confirmed on that. We can always get Aimee a bigger car in the not too distant... Seems a tad pointless doing 100+ miles every day in a massive car on my own.

I'd have gone for the Octy or the Passat, mostly dependant on size of kids as to which.

Personally i would've chosen the Golf. But if space is required, it would let you down i rekon.

Octy, as you say, been there before.

If it was my own money. The Passat or the Octy elegance if the 1.6 is bearable.

I have however been contacted, and they can do me the Mazda 3 2.2D 185PS for £30 a month, so I'm waiting for availibility to be confirmed on that. We can always get Aimee a bigger car in the not too distant... Seems a tad pointless doing 100+ miles every day in a massive car on my own.

Got to say that Mazda 3 with the 185ps diesel sounds like a good package. Performance figures are better than the CR vRS and emissions are good too.

Wife had a 2.0D Mazda 5 Sport and it was very good and very reliable. She even managed to fill it with Shell V-Power petrol :eek:, drive 10 miles home and it still only required a fuel tank drain and new fuel filter (the dealer told us that the engines are quite tolerent of miss-fueling).

Only downside was cheap metallic finish on the dash, initial tyre wear and the fact that apart from paint, only dealer fit options were available.

Tom,

Personally I'd go for one of the cheapest options and use the money I save to buy myself a toy for the weekend.

Can't see the point spending extra when it's a company car, it's just money down the drain, OK I know you're goung to be spending a lot of time in it but I'd rather have a Westfield or something similar in the garage to play with.

Good luck with whichever you choose.

Hewey

Tom,

Personally I'd go for one of the cheapest options and use the money I save to buy myself a toy for the weekend.

Can't see the point spending extra when it's a company car, it's just money down the drain, OK I know you're goung to be spending a lot of time in it but I'd rather have a Westfield or something similar in the garage to play with.

Good luck with whichever you choose.

Hewey

Tom in a westfield

No offence Tom , but you aren't exactly Westfield shaped (and neither am I)

Tom - not a direct question, but what length lease would these be on? I'm just thinking of you putting your own money into a scheme, from which you'll get nothing back at the end of the lease?

Putting £80odd a month into the Accord option just seems a bit loopy to me...

Steve

P.S. In pure selection terms, I'd go for the Accord or the Passat. New Avensis is a good shout as Alex suggests too. With 3 kids and a dog, you're going to need that space - even if it isn't day-to-day

Is the Skoda Octavia Elegance 5 door Estate @ +£3.71 a typo?

If not and taking into account it's the cheapest on insurance, it's a no-brainer surely.

As Hewey said; save your 'hard-earned' for something else.

cheapun, imo

its a workhorse

Passat Estate for me