My first car, fiesta or astra?

jubei

jubei

jubei

Soldato
Joined
3 Apr 2003
Posts
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Hi guys,

I am looking to get a company car and i have the choice of:

Fiesta:
o 5 door hatchback
o Engine Size: 1.6
o Fuel Type: Diesel
o Model: TDCi Titanium Econetic Start+Stop


Astra:
o 5 door
o Engine Size: 1.6
o Fuel Type: Diesel
o Model: CDTi 110ps Design ecoFlex Start+Stop

I will be using it to get to and from work 5 days a week (15 min drive each way), and maybe one or two longer drives a month (1-2h each eay). I learned to drive in a Fiesta and liked it, but the Astra looks a little bigger which might be a bonus.

I would be on the company insurance, and tax/maintenance is covered by them too, i only have to pay for the fuel. If you had the option which would you go for?

Cheers for the help.
 
Diagro said:
What sort of driving?
Motorway or city?

If motorway then astra

if city have a look for a petrol
Click to expand...

City for the most part. I am getting this through work as i only just passed my test a week ago and looking at insurance for my g/f old 05 astra was 1400 quid. So figured get one through the company which will cost me about 200 a month but everything bar fuel is included and i can build up some no claims. that way she can chuck her old car down as deposit on something newer for herself.

All of the company cars are diesels it seems.
 
You won't build up conventional no claims this way because it isn't your insurance policy.

Some insurers recognise claim free company car driving but it isn't as straightforward was building up no claims.
 
Astra for me, bigger car and a newer model. Though check the BIK of each and if a decent difference go for the lower cost

As above careful of thoughts of no claims as they won't recognise them fully - though most will still give an introductory ncb and years simply having a licence helps on cost too
 
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[TW]Fox;29733113 said:
You won't build up conventional no claims this way because it isn't your insurance policy.

Some insurers recognise claim free company car driving but it isn't as straightforward was building up no claims.
Click to expand...

This. My Dad had a company cars for 22 years. When he got changed jobs and got his C250 he was pleasantly surprised at the cost of his insurance with 0 no claims.
 
Test drive both.

Are there no other options? There are very few diesels I would consider for that sort of usage.
 
If its the new new Astra then that, otherwise the Fiesta I guess...

What are the specs of the three you dont like?
 
Add your mum or dad to the insurance quote, too see if it drops the price also try fully comp as sometimes works out cheaper another is try to kerp mileage between 6-9k a year.

I would go for the fiesta out of them two.
 
Acme said:
If its the new new Astra then that, otherwise the Fiesta I guess...

What are the specs of the three you dont like?
Click to expand...

1. Renault Clio
o 5 door hatchback
o Engine Size: 1.5
o Fuel Type: Diesel
o Model: dci 90 Expression + Energy Eco Start+Stop

2. Volkswagen Polo
o 5 door hatchback
o Engine Size: 1.4
o Fuel Type: Diesel
o Model: SE 75ps

3. Ford B-Max
o 5 door hatchback
o Engine Size: 1.5
o Fuel Type: Diesel
o Model: TDCi 75ps Zetec

Thanks for the input guys. I am pretty sure any car i get through the company is the latest model but i will check on whether its a new Astra or not and maybe go for that.

Cheers
 
jamiehard1989 said:
Add your mum or dad to the insurance quote, too see if it drops the price also try fully comp as sometimes works out cheaper another is try to kerp mileage between 6-9k a year.

I would go for the fiesta out of them two.
Click to expand...

Doubt he can if it's a company car.
 
jamiehard1989 said:
True, but for himself so can build a ncb.
Click to expand...

I'm not quite sure I follow. You wouldn't be able to buy a second lot of insurance for a company car, due to problems after with joint liability and whatnot and the cost of doing so when you don't need to will also cost you lots more than you'd save?
 
Get the fiesta over the astra, it'll be lighter and smaller for a new driver such as yourself.

Last thing you want is to be pranging a company car which you will most likely do as a new driver, lots of new drivers will have the odd scrape or little bump reversing into a wall or something :D a smaller car will reduce that risk.

I'd always recommend getting something you don't mind putting little odd dents into as a first car.
 
arfoll said:
Surely company car means long term rental with ridiculously good insurance that you don't pay for... Why would you care if you 'prang' it? Accidents happen and companies understand that.
Click to expand...

Some companies will treat it as damaging company property if its seen as your own negligence as the cause. Depends what the employer is like I suppose. I've seen disciplinaries in the past for such.
 
My one and only experience of pranging a company vehicle was when I bumped the brand new work van into my boss' office wall......... (:D)

He didn't expect me to pay for the damage, which equated to a couple of scratches and a cracked numberplate, but I imagine it might have been different if I destroyed the van and parked in the middle of his office.

It will also differ from company to company, and from boss to boss...

For those wondering, the van was parked in third gear, and I was in a hurry and neglected to 'neutral check', starter motor jolted the van forwards into his wall which it was parked about 1ft away from... :rolleyes:
 
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