Hey Guys

I am choosing a new company car for the first time, and this 1.6S Greenline Superb is on my list.

So I went into the local showroom yesterday, and the salesman told me there was currently a 8 month waiting list on all diesel models! Anyway, I had a go of a demo Octavia, which was basically a jazzed up version of my current 4 year old Passat. They did not even have a Superb I could try out.

I am particuarly interested in this talk of switched off options that can be switched on with some tech guy with software, what options would that be? Cornering lights / Cruise Control?

Just for info, The cars I am considering are

Octavia Elegance 1.6

Superb Greenline 1.6

Vauxhall Zafira 1.7

Vauxhall Insignia 2.0

Toyota Prius Hybrid

The Superb Greenline is an excellent company car. If you can get it in the elegance trim it's the most comfortable car on the road! (couldn't get Greenline with Elegance trim 18 months ago so I have the "Greenline trim" on a 1.9 PD engine. That's half way between the S and SE trim levels.

I don't know about options that can be switched on, but I recognise your list of potential company cars as it mirrors mine from last month. I ended up choosing the Superb for its excellent reviews, really comfortable ride and huge backseat and boot space (I have three kids). The fuel economy and low emissions also meant it was very reasonably priced, even in Elegance trim. I ordered on Jan 27 and was given a delivery date of July 18.

In the meantime, I'm driving a Toyota Prius from the company car pool, and I like it a lot. It has a small backseat, tiny boot and rear and side visibility is not great, but it's a comfortable car and fun to drive, so would recommend it if you don't need the extra space. The Sat Nav is good too, and it only took about 2 minutes to set up my iPod and mobile with Bluetooth, and they've worked flawlessly since.

I would avoid the Vauxhall Insignia like the plague, however. I had one for a couple of weeks (after hitting a giant pothole in Glasgow in the Prius) and hated every moment I spent in it. It feels like a really heavy car with poor driving position and a really rough ride. And nothing about the controls is intuitive -- I defy you to figure out the cruise control, rear wiper, etc. without studying the manual and visiting a Vauxhall dealer.

Anyway, I hope you find a car you like.

I have been playing around with the options a little bit, and as you know there is not an awful lot that comes with the Greenline 1.6TDI superb.

I have noticed a lot of talk about the Maxidot trip computer. Is is worth getting that as an added extra over the standard trip computer?

I have been playing around with the options a little bit, and as you know there is not an awful lot that comes with the Greenline 1.6TDI superb.

I have noticed a lot of talk about the Maxidot trip computer. Is is worth getting that as an added extra over the standard trip computer?

The 'S' spec is better than most people realise. I specified my company provided Superb with the following optional extras:-

Cruise control (but included on Octavia Greenline models)

Maxidot

Bolero CD/radio

Headlight washers

Rear side window blinds

Metallic paint

Three spoke leather steering wheel (no longer available on 'S' models)

Maxidot is far more attractive to view than the standard trip computer and enables the user to alter a number of settings eg. lights, units, winter tyres and much more.

I believe it is now possible to specify heated washer nozzles which would have been useful this winter, while a heated screen is possible with certains engines, but alas, not the 1.6Tdi.

To be honest, I rarely, if ever use aircon, therefore, the semi-automatic system provided on the 'S' is more than adequate.

An automatic dipping mirror is something else I can live without. At night, I manually dip the rear view mirror and leave it dipped for the entire journey.

Remember, the more gadgets you have, the increased likelihood there is of electrical gremlins.

I myself am starting to strongly consider either a Octy of Superb Greenline when my present company car is due for renewal. I travel around 35,000 miles a year and have to pay for private and commuting mileage, therefore, the increased fuel economy is worth having, as is a lower BiK rating (13% as opposed to 21% with my Superb 1.9Tdi).

Edited 25 February, 201115 yr by veloplus

Agree the S spec is better than many people realise. I specced mine with

Cruise control- do about 18k , miles a year, a lot of which is on A90, whre cruise is useful

Reversing sensors- Superb is about 5 inches longer than my current Avensis tourer, and I have become used to reversing sensors on that

4 heated seats- why not!

Total of extras was abotu £800, but just thinking about cruise and reversing sensors to replace my Avensis with similar I would need to spec as TR with protection pack at an extra cost of £80 per month on lease (add in improved consumption and lower BIK/tax and I am over £120/month better off by switching from update of my Avensis to Superb)- and that is with Standard Superb 1.6CR, Greenline wasnt available to order in November when I had to order mine. Savings with Greenline will be even more at no loss of comfort

Dont get sat nav that is standard in avensis TR, but I have a Tom Tom so no loss there and autodimming mirror. Also drop from climate control to aircon- but having had dual zone climate control it can be a bit of a pain sometimes. I prefer the flexibility of manual aircon

Gain lots of space in back and boot, two extra speakers, rear vents in B pillar, twindoor, car which is a bit different

Agree the S spec is better than many people realise. I specced mine with

Cruise control- do about 18k , miles a year, a lot of which is on A90, whre cruise is useful

Reversing sensors- Superb is about 5 inches longer than my current Avensis tourer, and I have become used to reversing sensors on that

4 heated seats- why not!

Total of extras was abotu £800, but just thinking about cruise and reversing sensors to replace my Avensis with similar I would need to spec as TR with protection pack at an extra cost of £80 per month on lease (add in improved consumption and lower BIK/tax and I am over £120/month better off by switching from update of my Avensis to Superb)- and that is with Standard Superb 1.6CR, Greenline wasnt available to order in November when I had to order mine. Savings with Greenline will be even more at no loss of comfort

Dont get sat nav that is standard in avensis TR, but I have a Tom Tom so no loss there and autodimming mirror. Also drop from climate control to aircon- but having had dual zone climate control it can be a bit of a pain sometimes. I prefer the flexibility of manual aircon

Gain lots of space in back and boot, two extra speakers, rear vents in B pillar, twindoor, car which is a bit different

I'll be interested to know what you make of the 1.6Tdi CR in the Superb. I think a lot of people have dismissed it without having ever driven a Superb with this engine.

Personally, I am starting to see the benefit of a Superb Greenline II, both from the economy and BIK taxation point of view. I would miss a full size spare wheel, although, I suppose I could source separately.

I am currently paying £65 pm for my 05 Passat, If I go with an octavia / superb then it could be £40 / £41 pm.

The only thing I have a problem is, since it's only a company car, abeit one I will have for 5 years, why would I want to pay for options, which would come out of my pocket in full when the car is delivered?

Edited 28 February, 201115 yr by flip01

I am currently paying £65 pm for my 05 Passat, If I go with an octavia / superb then it could be £40 / £41 pm.

The only thing I have a problem is, since it's only a company car, abeit one I will have for 5 years, why would I want to pay for options, which would come out of my pocket in full when the car is delivered?

A typical Scot! Seriously though, I do understand. I had the choice of a company provided 1.9Tdi 'S' or a 2.0Tdi 'S'. I chose the 1.9Tdi and used the monthly lease saving to add £1,500 worth of optional extras, all of which enhance the driving experience. The power deficit was overcome by a remap at my own expense, where I aim to recoup all/some of the cost through improved fuel economy (currently averaging 54.44mpg actual, not MFD).

I'm not a company car user, but private. I thought Greenline's came with Cruise as Std - it allows you to be the most economical. this may have changed on the Greenline II, mine is a Greenline I on 09 plates.

I had an Octavia 140 TDI before and haven't ever really noticed the power difference - it's a diesel - you drive on torque, not power most of the time and the 35bhp sounds a lot, but I haven't noticed it much in practice. In contrast, I drove a CR170 last week and yes - noticed the extra, but would I need it? Nope...torque is good on the 1.9 and I think looking at the figures the other day, the torque figure is the same on the more economical 1.6 TDI 105 as the 2.0 110 (is that right? - base 2.0 TDI is a 110?).

I didn't get the chance to spec extras, as mine was a replacement best match when they stiffed me on my order and I needed to change due to px values. I did mis some stuff compared to my L&K Octavia - electric seats (but not the leather), CD changer, climate control (aircon certainy isn't more flexible - you get one temp - eventually - in the whole car, not dual zone as with climate).