Company Car choice.

atpbx · 6 Mar 2011 at 10:34

Got given a list of cars I must choose from to drive for the next 3 years, there is no cash alternative, and I will be repaying personal fuel usage.

Vauxhall astra 1.7 Cdti ecoflex Sri
Renault Megane 1.5 86 Dynamique tomtom
Honda Insight 1.3 IMA ES.

Or, a Renault Kangoo van.

I'd have to be mad not to choose the Astra in this case surely? its going to cost me £45 a month odd in tax (the other 2, slightly less) but there is no reason what so ever why I would want any of the others that I can see.

The Honda doesnt have rockets and machine guns that I dont know about or anything like that?

ajstan · 6 Mar 2011 at 11:13

For me it would defiantly be the astra. Very smart looking, comfy and I really like the interior.

Do you know if you get the 125bhp version of the 1.7cdti?

MrMoonX · 6 Mar 2011 at 11:56

id rather have a renault than an astra, wont you benefit from the tax on the insight as its a hybrid

Dabbles · 6 Mar 2011 at 12:16

Do you already have your own car? Would you feel better off with the 45 quid in your pocket and your current car?

[TW]Fox · 6 Mar 2011 at 12:27

Dabbles said:
Do you already have your own car? Would you feel better off with the 45 quid in your pocket and your current car?

You are joking right? 45 quid is nothing - in this case if he doesnt really care about cars and simply wants no-faff-motoring then the company car is an absolute complete no brainer!

Nobody sane would run a used normal everyday car to save 45 quid a month, heck even his insurance alone probably isnt far off that!

atpbx · 6 Mar 2011 at 13:23

ajstan said:
For me it would defiantly be the astra. Very smart looking, comfy and I really like the interior.

Do you know if you get the 125bhp version of the 1.7cdti?

I think it will most likely be the 110bhp version.

The car models dont change for the first 2 or 3 grades of manager where I work, just the trim levels.

For instance, in the grade below me, you can only have the exclusive and Expression trim levels of the Megane and Astra, when you get to the grade above me then you can have Passats and Insignias and 3 series saloons.

G|mp · 6 Mar 2011 at 13:25

If it's the new Astra go for it, well specced out.

I had a black one, which look the dogs

atpbx · 6 Mar 2011 at 13:27

G|mp said:
If it's the new Astra go for it, well specced out.

I had a black one, which look the dogs

They have hired me a 1.6 petrol Astra for the past month, its not too bad inside, but its only a rental so its not particularly well equipped.
I'm hoping the Sri version gets a whole load more buttons to fiddle with.

davy89 · 6 Mar 2011 at 13:29

Having driven both the astra and megane in similar specs, would go for the megane without any question, far more interesting to drive and a better interior imo. I found the astra just plain dull.

Also found the seats in the astra particularly uncomfortable for a long period (and thats someone with a young-ish back!)

Dabbles · 6 Mar 2011 at 13:36

[TW]Fox;18610075 said:
You are joking right? 45 quid is nothing - in this case if he doesnt really care about cars and simply wants no-faff-motoring then the company car is an absolute complete no brainer!

My question was exactly that. If he's serious about his cars he won't be interested in the cars on offer. If he's not and wants cheap motoring then go for it.

There's no need for the condescending style of your post. I thought you of all people would recognise what I was getting at.

VFM Addict · 6 Mar 2011 at 13:45

@ Dabbles

The OP said -

atpbx said:
Got given a list of cars I must choose from to drive for the next 3 years, there is no cash alternative, and I will be repaying personal fuel usage.

Therefore I can't see what you were getting at it makes zero sense, does it not? Note the OP's use of the word, "must".

Joe T · 6 Mar 2011 at 13:59

On the Astra, I dont think the 110 version is available anymore so it would be the 125 which isnt bad at all.

Sri interior is good and it handles ok too.

atpbx · 6 Mar 2011 at 14:29

Joe T said:
On the Astra, I dont think the 110 version is available anymore so it would be the 125 which isnt bad at all.

Sri interior is good and it handles ok too.

Yeah it is, its listed as an option on the vauxhall website when you go to configure the car.

You never know, they might accidently get me a 125bhp version.

Joe T · 6 Mar 2011 at 14:32

Damn, yes you're right!

Lashout_UK · 6 Mar 2011 at 14:55

Astra

Cristian · 6 Mar 2011 at 14:57

+1 for the astra, the sri's are decently equipped and it's better than the other cars in the list imo.

Dabbles · 6 Mar 2011 at 17:10

VFM Addict said:
@ Dabbles

The OP said -

Therefore I can't see what you were getting at it makes zero sense, does it not? Note the OP's use of the word, "must".

There's still the 'if' of just turning the company car down and keeping his tax on it. :confused:

Burned_Alive · 6 Mar 2011 at 17:53

Not sure about the other two, but having driven a couple of Astras recently I wouldn't hesitate to pick that.

[TW]Fox · 6 Mar 2011 at 18:23

Dabbles said:
There's still the 'if' of just turning the company car down and keeping his tax on it.

Why would you possibly do that in order to save just £45 a month? What is the point? Even the insurance on his own car is probably almost that!

Your suggestion makes absolutely no sense at all.

Disco Boy · 6 Mar 2011 at 18:25

Why not go to dealers and test drive them both?