It's new company car time for me. I haven't got the list yet but I'm sure it will have a number of Octavia flavours on it! I currently have a 320D Efficientdynamics and would have another, preferably the touring, but I think that the list stops short of that model now :(

 

I'm tempted by a vRS for obvious reasons (have had a Mk 1and mk2) but also strangely drawn to the Greenline - the low CO2 levels which are future proof for the next 3 or more years swinging it. The money saved could go into the MX-5/GT-86 fund .

 

So, the brochure has some wild mpg claims for extra urban but what are real drivers on real roads seeing over a long, steady 70mph motorway slog?

 

Also, is the Apple connection option really needed? Is there enough functionality in the standard equipment to allow you to make and receive calls and stream music via the bluetooth connection?

 

If I went 'Green' I would need to sparkle the car up so am looking at adding the fancier wheels, sunset glass, denim blue paint, LED rear lights and HID headlights. Cruise control is also a must given the mileage I will be doing. Any other options you couldn't live without?

 

Cheers

 

Steve

Search is wonderfull!

 

Seems like high 60s is the going rate but I think that includes people's urban miles.

 

My 320D will do a comfortable 70mpg on a motorway cruise but soon drops into the 60s when in town.

 

Steve

I think your 320D ED will kick the ass of any Octy when mpg is the topic at hand.

 

I've seen some threads suggesting the regular 1.6TDI isn't a whole heap better than the 2.0TDI for fuel economy, some folks struggling to get them out of the mid-high 50's. Having driven them both I would go for the 2.0 every time if it had to be diesel (although I've owned only one diesel car and with the low down torque available from the petrols these days one will be enough for me!).

 

Whether the Greenline is vastly different to the regular 1.6 is a whole different thing mind you.

So according to Which? magazine tests:

 

320D saloon:          69mpg extra-urban, 54mpg motorway, 63mpg combined

Octy 1.6TDi hatch:  74mpg extra-urban, 54mpg motorway, 64mpg combined

Octy 2.0TDi estate: 67mpg extra-urban, 42mpg motorway, 54mpg combined.

 

Considering the relative pace of these motors the BMW is impressive. I think you'll find the Octy Greenline very slow by comparison!

Sorry its a company car so, what are the P11D's & tax bands on that list of cars ?

 

Have things moved on that much since I last had a company car ?

 

I really never GAF about mpg or has something drastically changed with company car tax or do you own the comany ?

...Also, is the Apple connection option really needed?...

 

 

 

Steve

 

 

Not by those of us who prefer Android...

My Yeti Greenline (heavier car) returns 58-60mpg on a long run and averages 55mpg around town.

I can vouch for the 2.0 TDI 150CR, I commute 75 miles per day Sheff-Notts plus long day trips up and down the motorways 5-6 times a month so averaging over 2,000 miles per month. I have logged all my fill ups on Fuelly and have currently averaged 55.6mpg over nearly 35,000 miles, best tank is 63.2mpg and have seen over 70mpg on a few trips to Leeds through the roadworks back in the summer! CO2 is 106g/km so I think currently 17% BIK for company car drivers but I opted out and bought privately so only paying £20 per year in road tax and getting an average of £100 per month tax back in mileage allowance relief as my company only pays 15p per mile fuel allowance, so I get an extra 12p per mile tax relief on business mileage....cash back!

Also, is the Apple connection option really needed? Is there enough functionality in the standard equipment to allow you to make and receive calls and stream music via the bluetooth connection?

 

Yes for Amundsen. I have an iPhone and connect it via Bluetooth, the wife occasionally uses her iPod as well. You can charge it from the USB, but connect via Bluetooth and it does all the stuff I need it to, including making calls and playing music.

 

When playing music you can skip tracks from the car controls and I think set or unset random track order, but you can't access any playlists, or even just a basic list of what's stored on the phone/ipod, so there's not really a way to look for something specific without touching your phone.

 

The phone functionality is a bit more complete, the car can see your contacts / last calls etc. and you can even use the voice control to call someone from the contacts list (on my last car you had to pre-record each entry so it could match you to you without trying to decipher anything). I'm actually quite impressed with that aspect.

Have a look for the similar thread in Greenline mpg but I don't think anyone has had one long enough to comment much. 300 miles on mine but I managed high 60s from a mostly motorway stint last weekend. If it's anything like my Fabia Greenline II then I expect it to improve as the engine loosens up, especially if I get the hang of eco mode.

Incidentally I can't understand why the Greenline doesn't come with cruise as standard, given its pretty handy for efficient driving. I spec'd it on mine.

Generally love the car though. A bit sad but u love the way even the gear knob says Greenline on it.

Edited 11 November, 201411 yr by Redline Greenline ii

I really never GAF about mpg or has something drastically changed with company car tax or do you own the comany ?

 

I get a fairly tight payment per mile - 14ppm for my BMW and for the vRS or 12ppm for the Greenline.

 

The P11D difference is about £700 if I remember correctly.

 

It's all part of the selection process.

 

However, I am thinking sod it, £60 a month extra to drive the better car is not a bad deal....

Assuming 2K worth of extras when speccing the cars the P11D & BIK rates for those cars are:

 

320D saloon:          £30,775    £2,092  (tax this year)   £2,338   (tax next year)

Octy 1.6TDi hatch:  £22,300   £1,248    £1,427

Octy 2.0TDi estate: £25,115   £1,808    £2,009

I get a fairly tight payment per mile - 14ppm for my BMW and for the vRS or 12ppm for the Greenline.

Sounds like the HMRC rates for company cars to me. Supposed to be calculated to reflect actual costs though it's never that transparent how they do it. It's just funny you say "tight" as we get loads of gripes about this at work but there's not much we can do without creating extra tax liabilities (you may have guessed by now I'm an accountant!).

But to bring this back to the topic, with the Greenline I'd say 12ppm would normally cover it so you'd not likely find yourself out of pocket.

I'm averaging 11.2ppm with my 150CR according to Fuelly, so a good average over 35,000 miles so I'm making a whopping 3.7ppm profit on my opted-out mileage rate plus another 12ppm tax back on mileage allowance relief so if you are a high rate tax-payer and cover a high amount of business miles I'd seriously consider opting out if a car allowance is an option. Compared to my Superb II, my total monthly car fund adding opt-out allowance after tax deduction, saving on company car tax and mileage allowance relief is over £500 per month! I paid £21k for the Octy and and financed it over 5 years with no deposit put down but using the balance of mileage allowance relief to reduce the loan after allowing for servicing and tyres, means I'll own the car outright after 4 years so any residual value will be all profit towards a deposit on the next car!