Hi all, I'm new here but I've been using this excellent forum as a resource to help me choose a new company car.

I'd pretty much decided on an Elegance 1.6CR estate to replace my brilliant 1.9PD Ambiante, but now the lease company have lowered the cost of the Vauxhalls. Now I can get a Astra Sports Tourer SRi 2.0CDTi 165ps for no extra contibution, and I must admit I'm tempted. I need to get my choice in soon and haven't really got time for a test drive, although I've sat in the Astra to check I fit!

Does anyone here have experience of both cars and able to give a balanced opinion?

I drive around London for work, then long motorway drives with the bikes at weekends. I'm not a fast driver as I like to spend my money on things other than diesel, but a bit of extra poke does appeal.

My thoughts:

The Octavia - I know it and love the driving position, quality, comfort and size of boot, and will get a slightly better spec than the Astra, but I'm concerned about the 1.6 engine and it's drivability around Central London where I live (the 1.9PD is great around town thanks to it's low-rev grunt), as well as the power for long motorway journeys at weekends.

The Astra - For about £16 more tax a month, I get loads more power, similar economy (but maybe better in real-world motorway driving), stop-start, a 6th gear and nearly as much boot space. My concerns are based around reports of poor visibility (as a cyclist that bothers me), a heavy clutch and plenty of turbo lag making it difficult to drive around town.

I tested the 1.6CR engine in a Yeti greenline, before my company withdrew it as an option, and I thought it felt fine but the mpg seemed poor. Incidentally a 2.0CR Octavia would cost me around £28/month more than the 1.6 in tax and contribution.

Thanks for reading, and any thoughts from those who have driven either or both of these very much appreciated.

For a company car i would be looking at the one that is the cheaper of the two to run, tax, etc. if it was my own money for a family car i will be a vrs every time.

I'd love a VRS but we are limited to 140g/km CO2, the VRS is 9g over that. It's fustrating that we are limited by official figures when actual CO2 depends on how you drive it, but that's life.

What Car? magazine have just finished with their long term Astra Sports Tourer SRi 2.0CDTi 165ps estate, but it was an auto.

They did 30,000 miles in it and rated it highly.

Sorry, I've not driven the Astra so won't say anymore but I'd be more tempted to stick with the Octavia.

My father has the new Astra Sport tourer in 1.7CDTI 110 SRI spec. It is a very good car with lots of equipment. The seats are very supportive, the dash well laid out and the SRI drives and rides very well, certainly better than non SRI models which are a lot softer. As for choosing between the 2, well that's a difficult one. Howvere bear in mind that the sport tourer is a brand new vehicle and benefits from newer technology, the Octavia Estate has been kicking around in it's current guise for a number of years now.

You do loose some visability due to the design of the A pillar, but it makes the cabin feel more spacious and light. There are a few engines available in the line up so you may find a lower power one slightly better for town driving (wih regard to the turbo lag comment) and might also save you a few £ each month.

The interior lighting is a nice touch on the Astra, esp. if you spend quite a lot of time in the car. Do note though that it also has an electronic handbrake and not everyone likes these, it does however free up a lot of interior space though and is very easy to operate.

If it was me I'd rather get the Skoda but my head would rule so having the cheaper option Vauxhall would win