Time to choose a new company car after just over 3 years with my Octavia 1.6TDi estate. I tow a caravan that is 1,200kg (max plated weight 1370kg) and have 2 children 8 & 11.
I've looked at:
BMW 3 series touring - very well finished, lovely interior bit boy not that big. Not keen on the whole BMW image thing either. Didn't drive it, although I'm sure it would have been best to drive of then all. Company Car tax very high as emissions not that good on them, even the efficient dynamics version, then coupled with high list price means it's of the lost as soon as it went on it.
Audi A4 Avant - what a busy showroom, struggled to get hold of a salesman to open one up. Space OK, interior was very good, on a par with the BMW. Didn't bother with great drive as tax to high again due to poor emissions and high list price.
Toyota Aventis Sport Tourer - loads of room in boot and cabin. Nothing exciting about the car although the current version looks better than any of the old versions. Didn't test drive as 2.0 diesel is simply not powerful enough especially when you consider extra car weight over the Octavia.
Skoda Octavia 2.0 Estate - disregarded as weight is lower than my current Octavia so would be a problem for towing as I'm already marginal on weight. Otherwise would have been a good choice again with its massive boot and lower P11d value.
VW Passat 2.0 estate - I've driven these, they are ok but nothing exciting and emissions not that good. Just didn't interest me. Also due for an update, especially demonstrated by the fact that they are still using the old 140hp engine.
Ford Mondeo - emissions not good, other finish not that high a standard. Mundano
Volvo V60 D4 sport tourer - Had a test drive of the D2 as couldn't wait a further 2 weeks for the D4. Car was OK, well finished although the dash and centre console isn't the nicest design, it's just plonked into all Volvos and it shows.
Couldn't stand the electric parking brake, no auto hold and was a long reach down on the right. Steering was feel-less. Not small. This one was my favourite before the test drive due to very low tax and good power and weight for towing.
Vauxhall Insignia Tourer - A late entry to my list. Good tax now with good weight and size for caravan. Power is OK at 136hp or so. Booking a test drive. Parking sensors are extra on all but the Elite model which is surprising. Reviews of the new model are OK - could be the one.
Test drive was OK. Handling is taught which was nice after the soggy V60. All the controls are in the right place, with plenty of space in the car. Only negative was a real diesel grumble when pulling away, it disappeared as fast as it started and the engine was refined and quiet when on the move. The gearing felt quite high but would soon get used to that. Importantly the hand brake switch is where the handbrake used to be - I really don't understand why everyone doesn't put their handbrake switches there.
Which will be my next company car? Request now placed, just got to wait and see if it gets ordered.
Update January 2016
So no new car ordered in March 2014, have been stuck with a BMW 520d since instead - hate the damned thing. So had a another round of looking at cars in summer 2015 in hope that a new one would finally get ordered.
Jaguar XE - want an estate and there is no chance one is appearing apparently. Went to look at one in the showroom, the space in the rear is tiny, no room for size 11's for sure. The cabin was great up front though. Didn't bother with a test drive as car too small for me.
Passat new 2015 version - Nothing exiting but it's the one that got specified.
My previous company cars have been :
BMW 520d 2011 - Auto gearbox is shocking. I don't like auto's anyway but really BMW, the change quality is appalling, worse than a learner on a first lesson in a manual. Upside to that is oversteer is easily attained when exiting junctions apparently.
Octavia vRS estate Tdi - great size and power but struggled to put that power down. That became tiresome, 1.6TDi much more pleasant to drive day to day and doesn't keep get you doing silly speeds. The power was relaxing on the motorway though. Would have been good for towing except for the traction issue which would have been tyre shredding.
MG ZT tdi - What a great car, the handling was fantastic, I had only driven 20 metres on the test drive before I knew I had to have it. Used to wear the rear the as fast as the fronts the handling was that will balanced. Miss that car more than any other Company car.
VW Passat 1.8T SE - Very comfortable smooth engine. Battery would go flat if left for more than 1 week and dealers couldn't fix it. VW UK not interested. A service coordinator even told me I shouldn't leave it parked for so long! So much for VW reliability.
Vauxhall Vectra 2.0 petrol - Was OK, even handling was fine until you pushed to speeds that you shouldn't be doing on the road. Engine was great.
BMW 5 series Thule roof bar feet for sale https://www.gumtree.com/p/car-part-accessories/thule-foot-pack-753-fitting-kit-3089-for-bmw-5-series-saloon-2010-2015/1238612651
Thule 753 fitting kit 3089 foot pack
BMW 5 series Thule roof bar feet for sale https://www.gumtree.com/p/car-part-accessories/thule-foot-pack-753-fitting-kit-3089-for-bmw-5-series-saloon-2010-2015/1238612651
Thule 753 fitting kit 3089 foot pack
So time has moved on slowly. I've had to endure the 5 series for 2 1/2 years now. Only 2 more days to suffer now.
ReplyDeletePeople are shocked when I say that I don't like this car, I suppose I should like it really but I don't.
So summary of my endurance of this BMW 520d 2011 saloon:
Pro's
The sound system isn't too bad with regard to sound (see cons for controls)
It's quiet at speed, low wind noise.
Cons
iDrive is rubbish, just not at all intuitive
Boot is large but not easy to access, even as someone 6ft tall it is difficult to reach stuff at the back
Automatic gearbox various from rubbish to OK. VAG auto is in another league.
Handling is nothing special, no better than any of my previous cars.
Car is so big compared to space inside
Headlight bulbs a pain to change
The indicators are pants - no wonder BMW drivers don't bother using them all the time.
BMW's touch up paint was nothing more than a passing match to the colour, and at £21 I'd expect an exact match. It was dark blue, and that was where the similarity ended.
Good riddance to my BMW 520d 2011.
Looking forward to the Passat 2.0Tdi 150 SE business next. I think it's going to be a massive improvement. Don't expect there will be many people who would expect to hear someone saying that.
So the Passat B8 2.0TDi SE Business estate has arrived complete with Soho wheels (still 17"), tow bar and heated front seats.
ReplyDeleteWhat a joy to get back to a great car again. First impressions after 2 1/2 years with the BMW 520d as very comfortable driving position and dash, loads of space in the back even with the front seat dropped to it's lowest position and set for my 6ft height. Great to have a proper boot again with real space, and the comfort of having a full size spare wheel.
Handling feels lovely and sharp after just a quick trip in local town, with nice steering feel. Just feels like coming home again even though I haven't had a Passat since 2002. I have had a couple of Octavias though.
Disappointed to find that connecting to Android Auto is an option to activate software that is already installed. I was looking forward to using Google maps instead of built in sat nav. Oh well should have read up on it better in advance. Would have had that instead of heated seats (written on warm May day...).
Looking forward to next 3 1/2 years now.
So today I discovered the my Passat B8 2.0TDi automatically restarts if I stall it... Neat feature while I get used to driving a manual each day after driving an auto for way too long.
ReplyDeleteAlso discovered it really is difficult to enter a postcode into the sat nav. 1st attempt failed even after watching a YouTube video. Volkswagen really should have done better on this.