Company Car Test Drives

BennyC · 10 Jun 2011 at 12:14

As part of an 'Environment week' at my company, and in line with reducing carbon emmisions, we had a range of low CO2 producing cars available to test drive.

Regardless of whether or not you currently have a company car you are more than welcome to take them for a drive.

The cars in question were an Audi A6, Saab 9.3, Mercedes C class, Skoda (estate) and a Volvo (I'm not sure which model) there were some electric cars too which due to falling in love with the Merc didn't have time for! All diesels of course. Having never properly driven a saloon or a diesel it sure was a big difference to my 182 and the cars are designed for completely opposite things.

Anyway the majority of my colleagues haven't bothered to take them for a drive. Due to the fact that they either don't care or are never going to have a company care so don't see the point.

Being 22 I jumped at the chance to drive some nice(r) cars, I'm not a masive petrol head but I was curious as to how each one was to drive. Not only do you have the chance to get away from your desk and out the office but also an oppurtunity to drive cars you might otherwise never have the chance to unless you fancy lying to a salesman for the sake of a test drive. Not to mention he'd be sat next to you so driving like a hooligan, if that's your style, isn't going to be possible.

If your employer dumped a load of cars for you to drive throughout the day as you wished would you take them up on their offer? or not bother?

I'm expecting a fairly obvious response from a motors forum and also some diesel low emmisions bashing too

BennyC

Gaz6002 · 10 Jun 2011 at 12:20

All fleet managers should do this IMO.

LupoLover · 10 Jun 2011 at 12:34

My mum does this every 6 months. EDP energy. They all have to do it, skid pan training etc...

Participant · 10 Jun 2011 at 12:36

I would definitely partake. So what cars did you drive in the end Benny? Just the C class?

[TW]Fox · 10 Jun 2011 at 12:39

I'd drive anything given the chance, why wouldnt you? The more cars you drive the better the opinions you can form on cars are.

Within reason of course, I wouldnt go into a Ford dealer in my own time to drive a Ka.

Will Gill · 10 Jun 2011 at 13:35

what fox said,

some cars will surprise you too, take the volvo c70, I thought it would be utterly awful but I actually really really enjoyed it, same with the titanium mondeo thing I got as a courtesy car, wow what an engine! both were cars I wouldn't have even blinked at but which subsequently amazed me

BennyC · 10 Jun 2011 at 14:33

I drove the C-class twice, this was my favourite. The Saab once, very comfortable though the gear box let it down a bit. The Audi was nice, the ratio in third was good and the turbo was noticable though the dashboard had a lot going on and despite being a very big car it felt small inside. Also the centre arm rest position wasn't good and the door cards sort of curved away from you making resting your arms on them impossible.

The rides in all of them were great and I found the C-class had more torque lower down where as the Audi dumped most of it towards the end of the revs. The Saab would be lovely for wafting down the motorway though. The C-class was the best of both really. And having the Merecedes badge sticking up on the end of the bonnet is a constant reminder

Worlds appart from a hot hatch back in terms of french build quality which is to be expected, I did quite enjoy the lack of rattles and road noise. The 182 is more much involving to drive though as I say ones a hot hatch and the others are semi-luxury cruising saloons.

They were all very well insulated from the road and also engine combined with the comfy ride it really distracted and removed the sense of speed.

I'd be happy with either of those 3 if I were to ever be entitled to a company car with my preference of the C-class, followed by the Saab with the Audi coming in last. By no means bad cars though.

I'll stick with my noisy & bumpy french hatchback for now as it puts a bigger smile on my face

Though I can see why people drive those sorts of cars as they are very pleasant to drive.

Westyfield2 · 10 Jun 2011 at 14:42

BennyC said:
If your employer dumped a load of cars for you to drive throughout the day as you wished would you take them up on their offer?

Definitely. The more the merrier as far as I'm concerned! Far better to have actually experienced a load of cars and have informed opinions rather than pub chat "Clarkson says it's rubbish lol lol lol".

Gaz6002 · 10 Jun 2011 at 14:44

BennyC said:
I'll stick with my noisy & bumpy french hatchback for now as it puts a bigger smile on my face Though I can see why people drive those sorts of cars as they are very pleasant to drive.

The Clios are fantastic cars. Probably my favourite hatchbacks. The latest Renaultsport 200 cup is a stunning machine, and the only FWD car I'd buy.

BennyC · 10 Jun 2011 at 15:35

A few other things the Merc had was an 'Eco mode' where gears are suggested relevant to your speed on the display. Along with also showing the speed limit for the road you've just entered which is handy.

The other startling thing, to begin with, was the seat belts. After plugging them in about a second later a motor winds the seat belt back in to ensure there's no slack so the tensioners work properly, feels similar to when someone on the back seats tugs on your seat belt and lets go.

And lastly was the handbrake. Took me about 10 minutes to figure out. I found the release which was located just by your right leg on the bottom of the dash usually where you might find a small bin/cubby hole/light/switches. And there was a 4th pedal to the left of the clutch to apply the handbrake.

The Audi's was electronic located on the right hand side of the gear stick panel. When applying the brake pedal depresses and moves away from your foot which was quite strange!

Driving home just now from work made me realise how sprung and short the travel on the pedals of the 182 is!