View Full Version : £23k for a four seater car. Which one and why.
Got a budget of £23k ish to get a company car. Got to have a minimum of 4 seats. I quite like the look of the BMW 120d coupé. Any other ideas?
Kate Moss
24-06-09, 01:54 PM
BMW 330i mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm
BMW 330i mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm
£23 grand Kate...!
Must be new cos it's a company lease car. Cannot buy second hand.
VW Scirroco GT 2.0D (170ps) with DSG........in white or green.
Best car out there at the moment IMO.....hopefully be ordering one next week.
Focus ST, cus its cool and fast, oh make sure you get it in electric orange
:rolleyes:
Spiderman
24-06-09, 01:59 PM
Go for the 1 series Scoobs. jenny had one as a company car for a while before we split up and i got to drive it from time to time.
Its a bit long/wierd to park the first few times but its an excellent car otherwise.
Mr Speirs
24-06-09, 01:59 PM
Alfa 159Ti mmmm:
Oh just read why...ermmm it looks amazing!!! Alfa don't have reliability issues anymore, they are different, a lot of car for the money and if you go for the 2.4 diesel and get it chipped you get nearly 200bhp.
4645
plowsie
24-06-09, 02:00 PM
Gotta love the new golf's. However, the Mazda 3 sports are fairly well priced.
Focus ST, cus its cool and fast, oh make sure you get it in electric orange
:rolleyes:
Ford Focus ASBO :rolleyes:
I imagine its got to be a fairly professional car, not a chav car ;) :p
Gotta love the new golf's. However, the Mazda 3 sports are fairly well priced.
Golf GTD is pretty damn nice too, 2.0D (170ps) again, thats my second choice if I HAVE to have 5doors :(
Mazda do a very quick mazda 3 with 185ps engine that still does 65mpg
Chav car? tell me what chavs can afford £20k.....
Focus ST is a great car, but get in another colour if you want to "blend in" as the ST is so bloody boring looking..
Astra VXR? Quite juicey on fuel, likewise with the ST. In fact that budget gets you any hot hatch which would be usable but also fun.
Otherwise, if your after economy, you want something VAG engined. Any of the German (or Spanish) cars with the 2.0 TDi lump.
DSG is good, but for the cost, its lame.
For me, i'd look at A4 Audis, but unsure on price range of those.
Alfa 159Ti mmmm:
Oh just read why...ermmm it looks amazing!!! Alfa don't have reliability issues anymore, they are different, a lot of car for the money and if you go for the 2.4 diesel and get it chipped you get nearly 200bhp.
4645
+ 6 billion
or if you can get a deal get the alfa brera
http://pictures.topspeed.com/IMG/crop/200701/alpha-romeo-brera-by-2_460x0w.jpg
http://cache.jalopnik.com/assets/resources/2008/02/2008_Alfa_Romeo_Brera.jpg
fizzwheel
24-06-09, 02:14 PM
BMW 1 series, yuck, yuck, yuck and possibly one of the dullest most uninspiring cars I've ever driven.
I'm guessing if its a company vehicle, you'll get clobbered for company car tax, so clean emissions is what you'll be after.
A Chap at work has one a Golf Bluemotion, band A car tax, i.e. free and something stupid like 70mpg as well, but its not the blingest car in the world..
Golf GT TDI
Audi A3 Tdi
( make sure you get the 2litre TDI, not the 1.9 as the 2 litre lump is more refined and quieter )
What sort of A4 can you get on that budget, One of the contractors we have working for us at the mo has one of the new BMW 3 series 320d's he loves it.
I know they are all pretty boring, but I guess it depends what you will be using the car for, motorway mile munching or do you want something a bit more bling ?
Can you refuse the car and take a car allowance and then buy something else that is 2nd hand, I reckon you'd pick up a MkIV Golf R32 for your budget... and thats what I've always hankered after..
shonadoll
24-06-09, 02:14 PM
Do you pay tax on it? My OH got a Prius despite having a large budget, cos we'd pay over £4k a year cos it wasn't very eco friendly.
Chav car? tell me what chavs can afford £20k.....
Who says chav are typically poor? and you would be suprised what chavs can afford on fianance anyway.
Otherwise, if your after economy, you want something VAG engined. Any of the German (or Spanish) cars with the 2.0 TDi lump.
Seat Leon FR 2.0D (170ps) is also a very very good car with bloody good spec, only costs £18k though, on the upside you could spec it up rediculously with full leather/navigation/entertainment packs but even then it would not add up to £23k.
If you go that route you want the facelift that came out this month as the engine is more refined, quiter, more economical and lower emmision so just falls into a slightly low company car tax bracket.
For me, i'd look at A4 Audis, but unsure on price range of those.
Your talking poverty spec A4 for £23k :(
shonadoll
24-06-09, 02:16 PM
A handy site.http://www.comcar.co.uk/newcar/companycar/comcar/companycartax.cfm
metalangel
24-06-09, 02:24 PM
I assume you want it to be a big sales rep saloon and not an estate.
Audi A4/A6? Volvo S80? High-Spec Mundano (don't knock them)? Honda Accord? Most Mercs are out of your price range (list price at least) except the C Class, so, er, C Class? Lexus IS?
Or something more exotic like Mitsubishi Lancer Saloon, or an Alfa 145?
Spiderman
24-06-09, 02:25 PM
or if you can get a deal get the alfa brera
http://pictures.topspeed.com/IMG/crop/200701/alpha-romeo-brera-by-2_460x0w.jpg
http://cache.jalopnik.com/assets/resources/2008/02/2008_Alfa_Romeo_Brera.jpg
:shock:
IF you can get one of these for that money there is no question in my mind this is the way to go.
I love the Brera :love:
Mr Speirs
24-06-09, 02:27 PM
:shock:
IF you can get one of these for that money there is no question in my mind this is the way to go.
I love the Brera :love:
Yeah you can get a Brera for £23k too. 2.2 litre petrol I think you could get for that.
BMW 3 Series. Diesel. You won't go wrong, its big enough, comfortable.
They also have some of the lowest emissions (good for tax) going and very good petrol consumption (good for the wallet). I was looking at one the other day but couldn't justify 21k to for a car. Although my one was ex demo from a dealer so technically used.
Dan
Depends what you want and how you like to drive. If you like lots off torks and want a diesel go for the golf 170(can be chipped up to 200 i think). If it was mine i would be going for a nice revvy petrol engined type r.Saying that i currently own one off the most boring cars on the road (nissan qashqai) needed to buy a car that wifes elderly parents can climb in and out off.
My choices would be...
Fiat 500 AbarthS :) - Because its mental
A3 2.0L tdi Sportback - Because its comfortable an imho a good looking car
Scirocco TDi DSG - It possibly the best looking car in that genre
Seat Leon FR - Because treacle has one and its an S3 is a spanish body
Base range XF - BEcause you can
Vovlo S40/S60 T5 - Nice solid cars
Insignia - Great looking car with very good trim and nice to drive all day every day
I would say an a4 but the current one is horrible, if you like the old shape then the Seat Exilio (Or whatever its called)
Ford Focus ASBO :rolleyes:
I imagine its got to be a fairly professional car
Yeah. I have to rock up at suppliers. ASBO out of the question. Similar with the VXR. The fact that neither really float my boat also counts against them.
Audi A4 or 5...
Got an A4 currently. Want something different.
Can you refuse the car and take a car allowance and then buy something else that is 2nd hand
Yes I can. This may be an option. i know it costs me to have a company car, but I get a new car and no worries. No tax, no insurance, don't have to pay for tyres or other consumables. It really is peace of mind.
Do you pay tax on it? My OH got a Prius despite having a large budget, cos we'd pay over £4k a year cos it wasn't very eco friendly.
Something like a prius is out of the question. I want something that is quite nice to look at and enjoyable(ish) to drive. I've had a go in a Prius.....! Didn't like it.
Alfas are on the short list as well. It's just that I have been used to German build quality. The Alfas I've sat in don't feel as well screwed together. I haven't drien any though.
glsuk1970
24-06-09, 02:47 PM
A Mercedes CLC coupe Sport can be bought for around £24k petrol or diesel, even with a half decent spec - metallic paint, leather, flappy-paddle gear box etc.
Not the prettiest of cars but each to their own...
http://www.carblog.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2007/11/mercedes-clc-coupe-sport-rendering.jpg
http://www.carblog.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2008/03/mercedes-benz-clc-coupe.jpg
Yes I can. This may be an option. i know it costs me to have a company car, but I get a new car and no worries. No tax, no insurance, don't have to pay for tyres or other consumables. It really is peace of mind.
although the perk of having a company smoke isnt as great as it used to be i personally feel its just about worth it still. as some of my regular viewers may recall i had my audi servixed recently, stung me for £1035. no way would i have that sort of dosh lying about if i had my own vehicle....
How about a Citroen C5. Its a nice looking car, handles well, good trim levels, good engine if you get the 2.2d and above average build qaulity of a Citroen.
although the perk of having a company smoke isnt as great as it used to be i personally feel its just about worth it still. as some of my regular viewers may recall i had my audi servixed recently, stung me for £1035. no way would i have that sort of dosh lying about if i had my own vehicle....
I had a similar experience to you.
Instead of taking the company car I had a Renault Laguna 1.9DCi for a 9 months and put 29k on the clock. I was getting 44p a mile at the time so making a resonable amount of profit. However, In that time it needed new tyres allround, general services and I spent £2k fixing the engine.
Edit: So in summary I wont take a job without a company car lol
454697819
24-06-09, 03:15 PM
nissan navara...
and on the plus side the company car tax is cheaper as its a commercial vehicle..
you will have to wait untill september though as there is no stock in the country, I know because I nearly got one but had to settle for second best... My ranger called Helga!
Oh and I forgot to say........NOT FRENCH
fizzwheel
24-06-09, 03:25 PM
What else is on your shortlist Mr Scoobs ?
What else is on your shortlist Mr Scoobs ?
1 series coupe
Alfa 159
Alfa GT
Alfa Brera
Leon
A3
Golf
Scirocco
Volvo C30
Volvo S40
DB9
glsuk1970
24-06-09, 03:30 PM
I haven't bought a copy for a while but Top Gear magazine used to have all the list prices, performance figures etc of all new cars on sale. Might help you make a short list, and give you a few new ideas?
The Volvo C30's are pretty nasty scoobs.
I have been to look at nearly every brand/car in the price range and C30 was scrubbed off the list near the start, I was quite dissapointed as on the outside they look really nice but the interior/space and ergonomics are horrendous. The D5 was quick though.
plowsie
24-06-09, 03:42 PM
Scirocco's are fit, that is all.
metalangel
24-06-09, 03:53 PM
If I had £23k for a car, I wouldn't be shortlisting a bunch of hatchbacks. Especially if needing to seat four people was a must, how nice d'you think it'll be sitting in the back of some of those?
If I had £23k for a car, I wouldn't be shortlisting a bunch of hatchbacks. Especially if needing to seat four people was a must, how nice d'you think it'll be sitting in the back of some of those?
At my current company you must have 4 seats and 5 doors. Nobody other than me and my girlfriend has EVER been in the car.
The 4 seats rule is just to stop you buying an audi TT/MX5/S2000 etc
Paul the 6th
24-06-09, 04:16 PM
Avoiding emmissions/company car tax a bit: brand new mondeo titanium x, tonnes of car for the money, reasonably quick, 50mpg (diesel), comfy & smart.
Failing that, the super doopa diesel vw scirrocco. Literally the most beautiful 'everyday car' on the road
http://cache.jalopnik.com/assets/resources/2008/03/2009-Volkswagen-Scirocco.jpg
http://www.webwombat.com.au/motoring/car-photos/vw-scirocco-5-big.jpg
Another vote for the Golf GT DSG - I had one as a hire car and loved it, However, the Alfa Brera and GT are both fine looking cars, don't know what they drive like though.
Mr Speirs
24-06-09, 04:44 PM
Another vote for the Golf GT DSG - I had one as a hire car and loved it, However, the Alfa Brera and GT are both fine looking cars, don't know what they drive like though.
Agree with you about the Brera. Not the GT however, its the budget end of Alfa Romeo. You want the 159 or Brera when buying Alfa
how much are r32's or maybe the scirrocco i like them.
shonadoll
24-06-09, 05:00 PM
although the perk of having a company smoke isnt as great as it used to be i personally feel its just about worth it still. as some of my regular viewers may recall i had my audi servixed recently, stung me for £1035. no way would i have that sort of dosh lying about if i had my own vehicle....
Depends on emissions tax- a nice merc could set you back £5K a year, more than enough to buy and service it, I reckon.
Got a budget of £23k ish to get a company car. Got to have a minimum of 4 seats. I quite like the look of the BMW 120d coupé. Any other ideas?
We just got one as a company car...120dse with the top sat/nav dvd system which has a hard drive you can copy dvds to. Pretty fast motor and pulls really well. Makes the mini cooper feel really really slow. Gives over 50 to the gallon and thats putting your foot down quite a bit. Sticks to the road like the mini too. Never did really like them but wifey got promoted and this was the car on offer. I have grown to really like it now http://tc3.smugmug.com/photos/572990005_xF55P-XL.jpg
Spiderman
24-06-09, 08:08 PM
http://cache.jalopnik.com/assets/resources/2008/03/2009-Volkswagen-Scirocco.jpg
http://www.webwombat.com.au/motoring/car-photos/vw-scirocco-5-big.jpg
Why doe s this look so nice in pics tey when i see them on the road they are nothing like this...specially the rear, it just looks all wrong. to the point that i nearly crashed when filtering on morning trying to figure out what was wrong with it.
So c'mon Scoobs, whats on the shortlist now then?
Spiderman
24-06-09, 08:22 PM
.
Bluefish
24-06-09, 08:25 PM
or if you can get a deal get the alfa brera
http://pictures.topspeed.com/IMG/crop/200701/alpha-romeo-brera-by-2_460x0w.jpg
http://cache.jalopnik.com/assets/resources/2008/02/2008_Alfa_Romeo_Brera.jpg
That is a nice lookin car.
Wideboy
24-06-09, 08:28 PM
ford escort, 4 seats = £500........ everyone's a winner!! quids in
Mazda RX-8?
http://gallery.carreview.com/data/car/647/medium/2009_mazda_rx8_40.jpg
Wideboy
24-06-09, 08:56 PM
Mazda RX-8?
you'd need another 23k to run it :lol:
you'd need another 23k to run it :lol:
My mate has one and it was fairly quick and seated four of us...
it did use a lot of petrol!
Ford Focus ASBO :rolleyes:
I imagine its got to be a fairly professional car, not a chav car ;) :p
What are you calling my Mum and Dad and me actually got i got to drive it once befre they got rid of it!
But if you buy it get the 260 ps upgrade pack :D
Dont buy a new mondeo especially the 1.8 TDCI 115 ps 6 speed model. There naff and have no guts
Get a Kuga Mum and Dad have one now 2.0 TDCI 135 ps 6 speed (why didnt they go for the 2.5 petrol 220 ps?) it shifts quite well for what it is, reckon would go better with a nice remap :P driving positions alright as well
I think I'm gonna have to test drive everything on my short list. I'm with Spidey on the Scirocco. Looks ace in the photos but odd in the metal. 4 seats is a company requirement to stop me buying a two seater.
454697819
25-06-09, 07:04 AM
I think I'm gonna have to test drive everything on my short list. I'm with Spidey on the Scirocco. Looks ace in the photos but odd in the metal. 4 seats is a company requirement to stop me buying a two seater.
I wanted one desperatly but when i sat in it it was a joke..
it was tiny... no space for anybody except me and a passanger..
lovely but useless
lovely but useless
that should be my signature...
scoobs, if you chose to have a look see at an alfa, gimme a shout. friend of mine owns 3 saab/alfa dealerships down our way, i'll see if he can sort you out some rides
that should be my signature...
scoobs, if you chose to have a look see at an alfa, gimme a shout. friend of mine owns 3 saab/alfa dealerships down our way, i'll see if he can sort you out some rides
Nice one.
Cheers buddy.
Liam9188
25-06-09, 10:18 AM
bmw 325d. think thats cheap enough. if not then its the 320d
blue curvy jester
25-06-09, 10:24 AM
i'll take your Audi/BMW and raise you
ALFA MiTO
MMMMMM sex on a stick
Dappa D
25-06-09, 11:04 AM
i think my old car was about 23k new (got it 2nd hand so not sure)
BMW 325ti....lovely motor IMO
http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn192/dappad/Car%20For%20Sale/P1010072.jpg
Good list Mr scoobs.
If it were my cash I would look at;
Golf GTI
Volvo S40 T5
Subaru Legacy.
Companys money and I'd consider an Alfa 159 (GT based on older underpinnings and Brera looks **** heavy)
Why choose a Seat Leon though when you could get a better quality VW. Judging by the last two Seats my brother has owned Seat are sticking to their Spanish Alfa philosophy by having crap electrics, and the interior might dissapoint you if your used to Audi quality.
I like the 1 series coupe, but dislike the badge/brand snobbery. That and the fact that sometimes I like to be let out of junctions.
I'd also consider a Subaru WRX. I know they are butt ugly but being the owner of an 03 WRX the only complaint I have with it is the fact you can't fold the rear seat down so I can see why they have made it more practical.
The Merc coupe suggested earlier is the previous generation with new lights grafted on, why suggest that over the much superior saloon C class.
Go test drive and see what you like.
How about this
http://www.peugeot.co.uk/vehicles/peugeot-car-range/peugeot-307-cc/?campaignid=PPC_NCS&advertiserid=yahoo&bannerid=peugot_307cc
the wife got one recently as her company car, ees nice :D course the new 308 is out now but the 307,s are going cheap
How about this
http://www.peugeot.co.uk/vehicles/peugeot-car-range/peugeot-307-cc/?campaignid=PPC_NCS&advertiserid=yahoo&bannerid=peugot_307cc
the wife got one recently as her company car, ees nice :D course the new 308 is out now but the 307,s are going cheap
Your avin a fekin laugh, for a start he said no french. secondly 23 grand on a peugeot, if I was his boss I'd sack him on the spot, thirdly they are crap , fourthly oh the fun and games when the roof f***s up which it will, shall I go on.
Your avin a fekin laugh, for a start he said no french. secondly 23 grand on a peugeot, if I was his boss I'd sack him on the spot, thirdly they are crap , fourthly oh the fun and games when the roof f***s up which it will, shall I go on.
No need to go on, I think you,ve made your point quite eloquenlty with apposite comments and witty ripostes, besides what do I know, I drive a 10yr old proton persona :D
i'll take your Audi/BMW and raise you
ALFA MiTO
MMMMMM sex on a stickA fiat grande Punto in a new frock!
Speaking to my mate Scoobs and he reckons a 123d BMW Coupe, or a C class merc
Sorry stewie, no offence meant although your choice of car is better than your wifes, at least she will not be hit by the massive depreciation as its a company vehihicle.
Sorry stewie, no offence meant although your choice of car is better than your wifes, at least she will not be hit by the massive depreciation as its a company vehihicle.
:D none taken rowdy, actually I didnt spot the NO FRENCH thing, previous to that we had 4 vectra,s, a carina and a sapphy, so this was the first car we had to choose for ourselves, alfa,s are nice though if you can handle the reliability issues.
Seat Leon FR 2.0D (170ps) is also a very very good car with bloody good spec, only costs £18k though, on the upside you could spec it up rediculously with full leather/navigation/entertainment packs but even then it would not add up to £23k.
I agree with the seat leon fr, v nice car, not so keen on the new shape though
timwilky
27-06-09, 05:52 PM
Lucky you getting a budget. I get to choose from a list according to my grade.
The list is made up of Vauxhall, Ford or Puegot. Otherwise I can take a cash option of £4000 to run my own car. which I have never found sufficient to fund a car with the mileage they expect of me.
In the past I have run 4 Mondaos and now on my first/last Vauxhall a Vectra. So my co car lessons.
1) you are normally expected to keep the thing for 3-4 years, so make sure the choice is right for you. Insist on testing one for a week not a half hour drive, that way you know just how comfortable it is, how it performs motorway munching and on the country lanes. You get a feel to its real fuel consumption and P'eed off with the ommisions and recognise what is useful and what is a sales gadget.
2) great perfomance might fun. But if you are doing high milage with 10p/mile fuel allowance you suddenly realise it costs you money to do your job.
3) check your wife/children etc. are allowed to drive under the company insurance. There is no point in dad having the flash car if they cannot use it.
vBulletin® , Copyright ©2000-2025, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.