Dazbo5 From United Kingdom, joined Mar 2005, 969 posts, RR: 0 Posted (3 years 17 hours ago) and read 1412 times:
My company car is up for renewal at the end of the year and I can't decide what to go for next. My criteria is 50mpg, leather interior, plenty of toys (cruise, climate etc) and comfortable to be in. I've narrowed it down to 3 possibilites:
Saab 9-3 Vector Sport 1.9 TiD (120) - Most expensive, well equiped with extras
Ford Focus Saloon Ghia 1.8 TDCI (115) - cheapest but best equiped with lots of added options
Audi A3 2.0 TDI SE (140) - Most powerful, but expensive for not much equipment
Which would you go for? I've got all 3 booked for test drives over the next month which will hopefully help make my mind up. Which would you go for?
Thanks,
Darren
Equipment: Canon EOS 50D & 350D; Sigma 10-20 EX DC HSM, 50-500 EX APO DG, Canon 24-85 USM, 75-300 IS USM,Speedlite 430EX
AirCop From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 1, posted (3 years 15 hours ago) and read 1377 times:
Quoting Dazbo5 (Thread starter): Ford Focus Saloon Ghia 1.8 TDCI (115) - cheapest but best equiped with lots of added options
Hopefully its not the same Focus that is sold in the states. The Saab looks really good, has the toys, and if you're driving alot comfort is important.
AirPacific747 From Denmark, joined May 2008, 290 posts, RR: 24 Reply 3, posted (3 years 15 hours ago) and read 1356 times:
I'd take the Saab. my dad and I rented it back in June over in England and it is such a great car! Same engine as the one you're looking at. Lots of punch too!
ThePRGuy From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 9, posted (3 years 14 hours ago) and read 1315 times:
The 9-3s are incredible motors, really comfortable on the motorway, and the suspension (provided you do not choose the sport model) is better than the SE model A4 (we've had both this year!)
Dazbo5 From United Kingdom, joined Mar 2005, 969 posts, RR: 0 Reply 11, posted (3 years 4 hours ago) and read 1254 times:
Pretty much a unanimous decision! The Saab is the most expensive of my options, but then again, its the most appealing. Ticks all the right boxes. It's a decision that'll last for the next 4 years so it has to be the right one, especially when looking at the most expensive model on our list! I've just seen they've released the first images of the 2007 facelift model with the new interior, looks a bit better than the old one. My only reservation about the 9-3 is they look 'cheap' inside for a £24,000 car (by the time you've added leather and the convenience pack). It's looking like the 9-3 Vector Sport is favourite though If anyone see's it parked around Manchester Airport from February, please be careful!
Thanks guys,
Darren
Equipment: Canon EOS 50D & 350D; Sigma 10-20 EX DC HSM, 50-500 EX APO DG, Canon 24-85 USM, 75-300 IS USM,Speedlite 430EX
Banco From United Kingdom (England), joined Oct 2001, 14752 posts, RR: 62 Reply 13, posted (3 years 3 hours ago) and read 1241 times:
Incidentally, unless you do more than about 6,000 private miles a year, then it's often financially a better option to buy your own car if your company offers a car allowance scheme.
Just thought I'd throw that one in.
She's as nervous as a very small nun at a penguin shoot.
Dazbo5 From United Kingdom, joined Mar 2005, 969 posts, RR: 0 Reply 14, posted (3 years 2 hours ago) and read 1227 times:
JJJ,
I beleive the engine in a GM / Fiat powerplant which is also used in the Astra and a few other GM owned brands. From what I've seen, its a little noisier and ruffer than the 2.0HDI Peugeot unit I'm used to, but decent enough.
Banco,
I've had a company car for the best part of 10 years, this one being my 3rd. Once you work out the sums (cost of lease contributions and company car tax in this case), it makes financial sense in my case to have a company car. Over the next 4 years, the Saab will lose about 50%, ie £12,000 in depreciation alone. Then theirs maintenance, insurance, tax etc on top of that so our company lease scheme is by far a better option in my case. It costs way less to contribute to the lease and pay the £58 / month tax than you'd lose in depreciation alone!
I don't do many personal miles which is one of the reasons why a company car is better in my case. I refuse to shell out £24,000 to put stupid miles on it every year. We do have a half decent mileage rate, 46p for the first 4,000 miles then it drops to 23p for the rest (I think). But even with that, in terms of depreciation for an extra 10,000 business miles on top of personal miles, fuel, maintenance, business insurance etc, its hardly worthwhile in my case. On a cheap run-around, its worth it, but not on a decent set of wheels. Another reason is its hassle free motoring, if anything happens, they deliver you a replacement the day after! (or an equivelent temporary car until its replaced).
Thanks again for all your input.
Equipment: Canon EOS 50D & 350D; Sigma 10-20 EX DC HSM, 50-500 EX APO DG, Canon 24-85 USM, 75-300 IS USM,Speedlite 430EX
Banco From United Kingdom (England), joined Oct 2001, 14752 posts, RR: 62 Reply 16, posted (3 years 1 hour ago) and read 1223 times:
Quoting Dazbo5 (Reply 14): I've had a company car for the best part of 10 years, this one being my 3rd. Once you work out the sums (cost of lease contributions and company car tax in this case), it makes financial sense in my case to have a company car.
Ah, that's fine. If you've done the sums and it works for you then good on you. The only reason I raised it is because so many people jump at a company car option when it isn't always the best thing for them.
She's as nervous as a very small nun at a penguin shoot.
Dazbo5 From United Kingdom, joined Mar 2005, 969 posts, RR: 0 Reply 17, posted (3 years 1 hour ago) and read 1199 times:
Quoting ThePRGuy (Reply 15): What model of peugeot do you have at the moment?
Whats your annual mileage likely to be like?
Thanks
307 HDI Executive (the 2.0 110bhp version). I average about 10,000 miles a year (8,000 business, 2,000 personal). I quite like the 307 HDI in the executive spec, but I just wanted something bigger (more boot space and rear legroom) while retaining all the toys. I'm not too fussed about performance figures as long as it returns approx. 50mpg and is comfy. Thats where the 9-3 comes in! On our company lease scheme, the 307 currently cost me £76 / month to lease + £46 tax (this is personal contributions since we have a 2/7th system). The 9-3 Vector Sport + extras is quoted as £133 / month + £54 tax. A bit of a jump but my last pay rise covers the extra In all, it'll cost me around £8,000 over the 4 year lease period. I claim fuel back so no need to include this in the calculations That's why its cheaper to have the company foot the majority of the bill rather than shell out £24K! I don't do enough personal miles to warrent it.
Darren
[Edited 2006-11-10 14:28:21]
Equipment: Canon EOS 50D & 350D; Sigma 10-20 EX DC HSM, 50-500 EX APO DG, Canon 24-85 USM, 75-300 IS USM,Speedlite 430EX
L410Turbolet From Czech Republic, joined May 2004, 4553 posts, RR: 23 Reply 22, posted (2 years 12 months 4 days 15 hours ago) and read 1091 times:
Quoting PanHAM (Reply 20): most economical, far cheaper to own and operate over the time of use.
Since he's choosing a car paid for by hic company I think he can afford the luxury of the factors you've mantioned not being necessarily the top priority.
BTW, what is it with Saab's dashboards being so damn ugly, looking like they've been taken them from some American truck? They are simply hideous and as far as I remember they always been, definitely since the 900/9000 era.
AirbusA346 From United Kingdom (England), joined Dec 2004, 7434 posts, RR: 3 Reply 23, posted (2 years 12 months 4 days 15 hours ago) and read 1091 times:
Jamie757 From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 24, posted (2 years 12 months 4 days 12 hours ago) and read 1061 times:
Personally, I'd go for the Focus TDCi, if you're looking for a drivers car that is. Even with the boot it will outhandle the other two you have on your list. The TDCi engine packs a lot of punch too whilst returning good economy.
Runway23 From Canada, joined Jan 2005, 1739 posts, RR: 51 Reply 25, posted (2 years 12 months 4 days 12 hours ago) and read 1053 times:
Quoting AirbusA346 (Reply 23): You must have no taste in cars, that car is
Tom, never said I liked it far from it.
It was voted European car of the year a few years ago. That to me still remains a mystery.
26 WildcatYXU: That sounds like as hell of a deal to me, at least in comparison to Canada, however I don't know the fuel and insurance costs in the UK.
27 Walter747: i hope its not the US ford focus. thats a piece of shit.
28 Jamie757: It's no mystery to me because, believe it or not, it WAS a good car, despite its looks. Loads of room inside, drove well, decent engines, the JTD esp
29 Dazbo5: It's way more expensive over hear than in Canada! Currently, Diesel is about 90p a litre (£4.20 / gallon). I bet it's not much more than that for a
30 WildcatYXU: That's expensive. I've just travelled trough Canada almost coast to coast (Creston,BC to St.John's, NF) so I have a good idea about current fuel pric
31 Jamie757: Something that I think is important to bear in mind if considering the Saab, is that essentially you're sitting on a slightly tweaked Opel/Vauxhall V
32 Dazbo5: That's very true, but its more than just a tweak and there's more to a car than just the chassis. Their's not much wrong with the Vectra as a platfor
33 Jamie757: Absolutely, enjoy your test drives and keep us posted on what you find from them. Rgds.
34 BoeingFever777: My company ride! 2005 Chevy 2500 Panel Van.
35 LH526: Go for Saab! Take a seat in the cockpit and you will see! BTW ... they also built planes, so that's probably as tight to aviation as you can go in reg
36 WildcatYXU: I know the Vectra (at least the pre 2001 models, past 2001 I came back to Europe only a few times and virtually never drove) as well as I know the Go
37 Cornish: Hi Darren, Well I've had a fair bit of experience of all three cars (or versions of) of late. I own an A3, my partner's brother and boss both have 9-3
38 ThePRGuy: Thats GM for you! The new CTS from Caddilac is basically a G6/9-3 with cadillac badging INterior is more or less Saab Thanks Alex
39 WildcatYXU: Wrong, sir. The CTS is not new and it's RWD. The model you're talking about is the BTS, only available in EU. BTW, the G6 is not the 9-3 either, it's
40 Dazbo5: Thanks Cornish, your detailed post has helped. I've got all 3 ordered for test drives but the lease company is messing me about at the moment, they're
42 TNNH: im a saab 9-3 owner. very satisfied so far. like the car a lot, but i think my next will be an suv. i want something larger
43 Dazbo5: Thanks again for all your replies, much appreciated. I just thought I'd post an update. The company has now reviewed our car policy and taken off some
45 Columba: Either the Saab or the Audi. Both are great cars. But as I see that your choice is the Diesel engine I would advice you to have a test drive with the
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If anyone see's it parked around Manchester Airport from February, please be careful!
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In all, it'll cost me around £8,000 over the 4 year lease period. I claim fuel back so no need to include this in the calculations 
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