Currently looking at anew company car and have pretty well decided it will have a VAG 1.6 TDi and possibly DSG.

Looking at the A3, Golf or Octavia, I have pretty much discounted the Golf as boot is to small for me. I could just about live with the boot in the Ae sportsback and the rest of the car is very nice.

Was leaning to Octavia due to huge boot and great kit levels BUT have just discovered that theh BIK percentage is higher on the octavia.

Octavia 1.6 TDI Co2 99, BIK, 14%

Octavia DSG, CO2 102, BIK 15%

A3 or Golf 1.6 TDi CO2 99, BIK 13%

A3 or Golf DSG CO2 102, BIK 14%

seems strange as CO2 levels are the same nut could be a deal breaker. Anyone shed any light on this?

Just goes to show what an absurdity the CO2 rating has become, especially that none of these cars can match fuel economy of older 1.9PD diesels that had 30%-50% higher CO2 rating.

Are you looking at the 2012/13 or the 2013/14 figures? There's a 1% increase in April (just around the corner) and as (virtually) no Octavias will be delivered before April, the new figures will be in force?

That will be the change of tax year causing the difference. Some manufacturers show the next years figures earlier than others.

As an aside, do *any* VAG cars have a six speed manual gearbox with the 1.6?

Why waste a decent gearbox for this engine?

Just goes to show what an absurdity the CO2 rating has become, especially that none of these cars can match fuel economy of older 1.9PD diesels that had 30%-50% higher CO2 rating.

I actually think for real world driving the most economical Octavia was the 110bhp pre-pd 1.9

Are you looking at the 2012/13 or the 2013/14 figures? There's a 1% increase in April (just around the corner) and as (virtually) no Octavias will be delivered before April, the new figures will be in force?

That looks to be a sensible explanation, I was looking a figure published on VW and Audi websites and in the Octavia III brochure

As an aside, do *any* VAG cars have a six speed manual gearbox with the 1.6?

Yes, the current Passat 1.6CR has a six speed gearbox.

I use comcar.co.uk personally...gives you the 3 financial years (so this, and the next 2), plus calculates for extras as well.

Yes, the current Passat 1.6CR has a six speed gearbox.

Thanks.

Range differentiation I suppose, but I'd be reluctant to buy a new car with 6 gears so it would deter me from buying a Skoda and wouldn't necessarily push me towards the VW.

6spd gearboxes, though heavier, have lower drivetrain drag in 5th and 6th on account of better driveshafts and lower final drive for high gears, resulting in noticeably better motorway fuel economy (noticeably on DPFless and CRless diesel engines, that is). Though lately I think VW has been readying single final drive 6-speeds, changes to 5-spd box housing were made so that a 6th is just an add on. There is even a company somewhere offering 6th as an upgrade.