Company car renewal time

My car at present is a 105bhp 1.9TDi. So the jump to 143 would be nice and the jump to 170 would be even better. Previously I had a 225bhp S3 so the diesel was a bit of a step down.

Rear wheel drive, good handling, power and prestige brand draw me to the BMW. Are the problems noted large enough to look at another car? Whats this din from the engine, is it a resonance issue?

Some of the other cars available are below.

AUDI A3 DIESEL SPORTBACK 2.0 TDI Sport 5dr [Start Stop]
FIAT BRAVO DIESEL HATCHBACK 2.0 Multijet 165 Sport 5dr
HONDA CIVIC DIESEL HATCHBACK 2.2 i-CTDi Si-T 5dr
MAZDA MAZDA3 DIESEL HATCHBACK 2.2d Sport Nav [150] 5dr
MAZDA MAZDA6 DIESEL HATCHBACK 2.2d [163] TS 5dr
NISSAN QASHQAI HATCHBACK SPECIAL EDITIONS 2.0 dCi N-Tec 5dr
RENAULT MEGANE DIESEL HATCHBACK 2.0 dCi 160 GT 5dr
RENAULT LAGUNA DIESEL HATCHBACK 2.0 dCi 150 Dynamique S TomTom 5dr [FAP]
VAUXHALL INSIGNIA DIESEL HATCHBACK 2.0 CDTi SRi [160] 5dr
VAUXHALL INSIGNIA DIESEL SALOON 2.0 CDTi SE Nav [160] 4dr
VAUXHALL ASTRA DIESEL HATCHBACK 2.0 CDTi 16V Elite [160] 5dr
 
I'd still go for the Leon, but I do own one, albeit a petrol. Only other one I'd consider is the A3 on the above list. They would likely share the same engines
 
Have to agree the A3 looks the pick here. And I suspect would be your choice, Sam, if you hadn't already had an A3. The urge to ring the changes often clouds our judgment, don't you think?
 
The A3 would be a good choice but at 140bhp it is down on power compared to the rest. I have had 3 years of happy A3 motoring but feel that something new would be nice.

Such a hard choice to make ahh!
 
If you really want a change go for the Qashqai. Truly. High riders feel so different. And besides who really wants to zoom away from the babe in the car by the side of you with the low cut top when you have such a perfect view..............:D:D:D
 
Think I have narrowed the list.

Audi A3 sport 140
BMW 118d SE 143
SEAT Leon CR FR 170

Had a look at the Vauxhall's at lunch and they don't look the best to me. Too fat if you follow me.

Think I am going to have to take the BMW out for a drive and see what I think of this din.

Costs below over 3 years

Audi £3,645
BMW £3,732
SEAT £4,660 ~28% more expensive.
 
I think the BMW 2.0 sounds worse than the VAG unit.

The 118d will be plenty fast enough, but I can't help but feel the SEAT is better value for money. Are options out of your own pocket?
 
Got the 118d for the weekend so some good testing will be done. Another possibility that may be available is putting a small amount of money in myself and getting a 120d SE. That ups the bhp to 177 And the 0-60 to 7.5.

This would mean mean no money for extras so would have to stick with the 16" wheels. Hummm.

Faster than the Leon then...
 
IMO the ride's pretty poor anyway, so 16"s aren't the end of the world.
Not sure if I'd take a boggo 120d over a Leon FR though - you get so much more as standard on the SEAT.
 
mjt said:
IMO the ride's pretty poor anyway, so 16"s aren't the end of the world.
Not sure if I'd take a boggo 120d over a Leon FR though - you get so much more as standard on the SEAT.
Click to expand...

Yea, but it's a Seat. I hate to be a massive badge snob but I'd sooner push a 116i than drive a Leon, the Mk1 was a good car in its day but serously what the hell even is the Mk2? It's like a jellymould.
 
I don't really like the mk2 Leon either, and I've never even driven one :p
But if it's going to be that or putting my own money towards a 120d with no options, I'd rather take the 'worse' car purely for things like auto Climate, wipers, cruise, sports seats...
 
Another alternative is to take the cash option which would be £400/month from which I would have to provide everything for the car and the capital investment.

Does anyone know how the fuel works with a private car? I would get personal and private miles free so not sure what tax I would pay. HMRC say none on private but I don't believe them.
 
Tricky one but A3 is the better car imo, the edge that the 1 series has,is it in its handling, that poxy engine wont make use of this, add into the mix the poor interior and spec list and the A3 comes out top as it is the nicer place to sit and the CR engine is smoother.

Unless its the 123d or the better petrols the other 1'ers are just for skinflint badge whores:p
 
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