Well the time is coming up for me to hand back my Octy (looking at swapping to a Fabia MK2 Vrs for SWMBO)

Since i've had a promotion at work with the various enhancements, been looking at our company car scheme thinking im going to go for that as the only cost i'll have with the vehicle apart from any tax will be the personal fuel i put into it.

Due to the timings im not really going to be able to wait to get an MK3 Octavia VRS and i have to be honest at present the Mk3 isn't doing much for me, plus based on the current lease costs to our firm for the current Octavia VRS the cost of leasing something like a Merc, BMW or Audi isn't far off anyhow.

Initially i did fancy an Audi S4 however, the monthly lease cost on it has become very high indeed plus thinking to myself as long as the car has a reasonable performance i'd rather have Toys.

At present i think im fancying the following C250

What do you guys think?

It would have to be the estate, access to the boot on a saloon is no good for anything larger than a shoe box, especially if you are used to the Octy.

Same with the 3 Series and A4.

Looks like a nice car and definitely something i'd go for.

Do you get to choose the optional extras or do the cars come without anything added?? (Not sure how company car things work as we don't really have anything like that where i work).

Looks like a nice car and definitely something i'd go for.

Do you get to choose the optional extras or do the cars come without anything added?? (Not sure how company car things work as we don't really have anything like that where i work).

i can pick whatever options i want on the car the same as if you were ordering it from a dealer.

It would have to be the estate, access to the boot on a saloon is no good for anything larger than a shoe box, especially if you are used to the Octy.

Same with the 3 Series and A4.

I see what you're saying but prior to the Octy i had a saloon s40 and a saloon alfa 156 and didn't mind too much, plus while i am getting older im not ready to admit i need an estate yet

I'd be very interested that for similar money what would you spec in an Audi or BMW?

Go with the Merc as both the BMW and Audi have been tarnished with the **** name, though saying that, it still wouldn't put me off buying an Audi S4.

The equivalent Audi v's the Beemer or Merc everytime for me - sometimes by a small margin but Id take an S4 over anything short of a C63 with the performance pack. :love:

Can you get something a bit more exlcusive, even another Merc you see less of?

It does look like a nice car, but it's a £31k car with £11k of extra stuff. So it's still a C class and there are a fair few about.

While I personally prefer the Audi (because you can have 4x4) over the BMW or Merc, the styling is a big turn off as they all look too similar.

Mind you, having said that, if this is your choice because of the monthly payment on it's engine etc... then it does look like a good choice. It should be nice to own with all those toys.

Can you get something a bit more exlcusive, even another Merc you see less of?

It does look like a nice car, but it's a £31k car with £11k of extra stuff. So it's still a C class and there are a fair few about.

While I personally prefer the Audi (because you can have 4x4) over the BMW or Merc, the styling is a big turn off as they all look too similar.

Mind you, having said that, if this is your choice because of the monthly payment on it's engine etc... then it does look like a good choice. It should be nice to own with all those toys.

Thats the thing i can basically have any car from Audi, BMW, Citroen, Ford, Honda, Mercedes, Renault, Seat, Skoda, Smart, Toyota, Vauxhall and VW.

It appears anything with a 3.0L engine has a much higher payment even if the list price for the vehicle is less which im assuming due to depreciation and resale values for the company at the end of the lease.

Opening it up to you guys (fresh ideas and all that) i'd be very interested to hear what you'd get from those marques for about £42k ish tops. Only caveat is it really can't be above 200g/co2

A fair part of the choice is what you want the car for though.

I probably had similar to spend in 2012 and just couldn't find anything as practical enough as the wife's Yeti that justified so much more cost.

So we bought two new ones instead.

Problem is, you have a good budget, but the CO2 limit removes a lot of the more exotic stuff that'd get the pulse racing (if that's your thing).

I would take a look at an A4 allroad quattro because it doesn't look like other Audis, even with your co2 limit killing off the 3 litre diesel you can still get the 2 litre DSG with 9k or so left on options.

For me personally it ticks a lot of boxes. Nice car, looks different, 4x4, easy to drive premium practical car. It's also unusual, which is nice in these times when so many people have a "premium" badged saloon/hatch car.

But you probably don't have the same desires as I do.

It was on my list... but again I had the option to get the Yeti and use the saved money for something else.

And it didn't seem to be worth 40% more than the Yeti. Hence my choice.

^^^ what he said - dont think I could have said that any better if Id typed it!

Merc owners forums are poo too....

Don't forget the x-drive is now coming out on the 3 Series over here so that's something to consider at the moment, I think its only the one petrol model so the timing might not be the best.

Merc owners forums are poo too....

Hey i didn't say i'd be leaving Brisky you won't get shot of me that easily

What about the Lexus GS450 F Sport?

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7212/7347921894_69ac4b30d1_z.jpg

0-62 in 5.9 seconds and 141g of co2.

What about the Lexus GS450 F Sport?

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7212/7347921894_69ac4b30d1_z.jpg

0-62 in 5.9 seconds and 141g of co2.

Not on his list of manufacturers. :-(

Don't forget the x-drive is now coming out on the 3 Series over here so that's something to consider at the moment, I think its only the one petrol model so the timing might not be the best.

320i x drive available to order now, 335 and 328 petrol very soon, diesels shortly afterwards. Only took them 10 years to bring them to us! ;-) No doubt Merc will follow with appropriate 4matic versions of the C class when it gets replaced in 2014/2015.

Just got the E class 250d at work 3 weeks ago with the auto box. I know it's the c class your looking at, but its more the engine i'm going on. For a diesel it is very quite, smooth and with great power delivery. as for real world mpg we have no idea yet as it's still on its first tank. As yeti man mentioned about the c63 with the performance pack, all i'm going to say on that note MARCH

Just one word of warning with the company car is TAX.

Make sure you check how much you will be paying as the tax is based on the CO2 figure and can be expensive.

I run a company car and I wound up going for a greenline SE Superb this time round.

Will you need to drive in all weather? if so the Merc and Beemer may not be the best option, tho the merc does look nice!

best of luck with what ever you choose, as previous best make sure you know what the tax implications will be before you make your choice

Ade

Thanks for the warnings about tax guys, the system at work that lists the cars lists the cost to you with the tax implications. I'm going to see about arranging one for a weekend with the leasing company and i'll see how i get on and take it from there i think.

Just remember as well that the TAX is going up year on year as the tax rate on the CO2 figure goes up each year.

For example last year the CO2 on a car under 120 gram was 10% plus 3% loading for diesels.

That has changed as the govt moved the goalpost so the 10% tax is now on cars under 99 gram.

Then 1% for every 5gram over that so the cars that came in at 120gram are now taxed at 14% plus 3% for diesels.

So the diesels that were 13% are now 17%.

And it changes again next year.

Check on HMRC web site for all details on company car tax.

I like the c-class estate, but if it was me replacing the Octavia, I'd go for an Audi quattro in estate form. Not that I need an estate, I just prefer the look.

If it was my choice, I'd go for a Superb Estate - L&K minus brown interior or Elegance - CR170 4x4 and throw every option at it including panoramic sunroof, electric tailgate, ventilated seats, heated screen/washers etc etc.

You'll come in at about 31k P11D with pretty much every toy going.

I recently handed back a C250 sport auto estate when I retired. Brilliant car, 45 - 50 mpg and all the performance you reasonably need in the UK. Quiet & comfy, just the machine to face a 200 mile trip home after a full days work. I was very tempted to buy it but decided too much of a risk when the warranty expires + potential PDF issues with my now low mileage so I've bought a Yeti 1.8. My last 5 cars have alternated between Mercs & Skodas and I've been happy with all of them.

Do you need to travel for work?

If you do it might be worth looking at something like a A6 2.7tdi quattro. More chance of keeping moving in winter should it turn nasty.

BMW is always the drivers choice. If 3.0 is out then the 525d might be an option. The style of the new one is a lot better than the previous versions.