Hi,
I am about to get a lease car via my employer and have sort of settled on one of the above (without yet driving any of them!). They are all Euro IV compliant but which is the better car to drive and own? I am leaning toward to the 140ps A3 (in standard trim level) because of the torquey engine (I currently have an ageing 405 TD estate so anything will seem quick!). The Audi is fairly spartan but has good residuals which mean a good lease cost and therefore lower contribution from yours truly. I don't like the look of the MkV Golf (SWMBO does though!) but seems to get good reviews and the Renault seems well specced in Expression trim & the Dci unit seems well regarded.
Is this a tough choice to make?
any comments welcome
Mark
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Don't forget that the Laguna is a "Mondeo class" sized vehicle while the Golf and Audi are "Escort class".
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What\'s for you won\'t pass you by
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Don't forget that the Laguna is a "Mondeo class" sized vehicle
I thought so too, however some rental companies don't seem to think so - they rank the Laguna II a class below the Mondeo/Vectra.
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>> Don't forget that the Laguna is a "Mondeo class" sized vehicle I thought so too, however some rental companies don't seem to think so - they rank the Laguna II a class below the Mondeo/Vectra.
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What reason could they have for doing that, I wonder? What other factors, other than size could they be using to come to such a decision?
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Mark, cost will obviously be a big factor in the equation. As has already been mentioned you are comparing different sizes of vehicles and no doubt you will now get inundated with other suggestions.
The Expression is, IIRC, the basic version in Renault's line up, certainly it has Dynamique and Priviledge above it.
Think you are best to get out and test drive them first before you do anything else. And, as per previous advice in the backroom, make it a good long test drive, preferably if you could get one for a few hours or a day. Make sure you try it out for the kind of driving you will be doing ie. if you are going to be travelling 200 miles a day on Motorway, then give it a good drive on the Motorway to see how it goes.
Personally speaking, I have never understood why anyone would buy an A3. Leasing it might be different though. Always think that there are much better / bigger specced cars for the same money.
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I seriously considered an A3 2.0tdi Sport. However for £5000 cheaper I can get a Mondeo ST tdci 155. It has a much better spec and felt well built when I drove one. I'll be getting one soon (assuming the prospective purchaser of my ZT doesn't get cold feet!!)
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I did 37k in a LagunaII DCi 120 Sport Tourer, have just done 70K in Golf 110TDi, have been looking to replace also.
My observations:
LagunaII - good car, refined, lot of 'background' noise, remote stereo controls best there are, stereo (Privilige top spec) sounded awful. Dealer needed several attempts to fix anything that went wrong with it. If I tried really hard, 45mpg was the best I could get (brim to brim figures as computer was hopelessly optomistic) although RenaultFamily gets much better consumption.
The Golf is noisy, but averages 52mpg (58mpg if I try hard), dealer fixes problems...
Golf MKV 105TDi: much improved refinement, space, handling. Did not try the 140bhp, due to higher lease and tax costs, also wanted to avoid low profile tyres to reduce noise; 105bhp ok for my daily 135mile commute...
A3 5door: much more expensive than Golf to get to same spec (base is without aircon). 3door is smaller car, I think.
Avensis Diesel Estate - unpleasant jiggly ride, not particularly quiet (5dr had little headroom in back)
Scenic 1.5 DCi - impressed: quiet, refined, but elastic bands in the steering arms.
FWIW, I took my son to the Geneva Motor Show; bouncing in the cars:
Merc A series: nicely made, seemed small despite the hype
Merc B series: much better size, interesting car
Saab 9.3 Estate: looks smart, but Golf has more interior room...
New Passat - bigger car than previous, looked great.
Golf Plus - in pictures, looks same as Golf, but different in the metal. Certainly more room than Golf, so worthy of your consideration?
1 series BMW: not much rear legroom, but very difficult to get in and out of the 5 door, due to tiny rear doors and the back seat being positioned behind the C pillar (new 3 series also tends to be the same).
Renault Modus 1.5 DCi - hire car - very impressed as front seat passengers, not much rear legroom/luggage space,awfully slow (presume it was the base diesel, lower powered than the Scenic, however it was brand new).
HTH, JohnM
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Look at the Megane, Golf sized, characterful, good to drive.
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Renault are doing a 24 hour take it home trial for company car users
www.24drive.renault.co.uk/
I urge you to try it. The engine is a peach. Mine has been faultless for 35k miles. Needs new front tyres and wiper blades all round now tho.
As people have said you are not comparing apples.
The Golf and A3 are all smaller, so think about including the Megane (specially in DCi120) you can get higher spec for your money and the estate is really quite large.
Talk to your lease company or fleet manager and get extended (24hours plus) test drives.
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thanks for all the replies!
I got a quote for the Mondeo LX tdci 130 and it was £35 pm more than the A3 2.0tdi SE - I guess the lower residual value after 3 years must be a big factor. I am not too fussed about size overall size as 80% of the time it's me on my own. I only do c15k miles a year so a fairly low user. I am getting the Audi on a 24 hour test and am trying to arrange one for the Laguna. I am also considering the Seat Leon 130 SE - which looks absolutely loaded but has the older VW group engine - so I am not sure how refined this is?
Mark
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A3 five door has a longer wheelbase than 3-dr I think so has a better ride and decent room in back and boot. Good looking and in SE trim at least gives you air con. I preferred the interior to the Golf which I though was very plain even in GT trim.
Laguna will be less economical and possibly more fragile.
--
Espada III - well if you have a family and need a Lamborghini, what else do you drive?
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I love my A3 2.0TDI, I've averaged 46mpg over 15000 miles in 13 months. Only work required so far has been a pair of new front tyres (they were changed after 14000 enthusiastic miles). Great car. Get the SE not the Sport. Sport suspension is on reflection a little too hard on cruising, and the SE is to be fair nearly as good in handling. The 2.0 TDI engine is also far improved on the 1.9, much quicker revving, much more measured delivery too.
Chris
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Mark
If you choose the Laguna, I hope it isn't a "Friday" car like the one I got a couple of years ago. I believe updated model may be better, but I suffered punctures galore (include a snapped wheel brace on French motorway when changing 2nd wheel to go ppppfffft) Sunroof open or shut problems, window open or shut problems, central door locking haywire, diesel injection going kaput (again...on French motorway)
However, comfy (when on road) quiet, bags of oomph, but a nice relaxed 6th gear for m-way driving.
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Well, I have an A3 tdi Sport on 24-hour test! What a cracking engine, very free revving compared to what I'm used to & exceptional build quality. The Golf will have to be good to compare. Will let you know & the Renault when I have got hold of them.
Mark
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We are very impressed with our Megane dCi which is more comparable to the Golf and A3 in size. The 1.5 100 bhp engine is an absolute corker.
If you go for the Laguna bear in mind that there's a face-lifted model due imminently.
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"If you go for the Laguna bear in mind that there's a face-lifted model due imminently."
Read now. Launched in March. Old shape should be sold new for peanuts.
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Mark, I've got the 2.0tdi / DSG combination in a Seat Altea, and damned good it is too.
I'm reading the road better than ever now, anticipating things so that I can either tootle along in Drive for maximum economy or switch to sequential when I want to use some of that torque and crack on.
Highly recommended.
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2.0tdi is a cracking engine!!
when the question of eratic torque was posted on the golf forum nobody seemed to suffer from this alleged problem?
believe me if theirs a problem with anything its soon brought to light.
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Marky
Been driving new A3 5 dr 2.0 TDi in SE trim for the past 3 weeks, having changed from Jag 3.0 x type and also drove my BILs 1.9 Laguna (115 bhp?)on a 52 plate, when the jag let me down. The guna was a fine car when it went lots of toys - but lots of problems from day 1, but a pleasant car to drive. The A3 feels in a different class though - bags of power when you need it and I'm doing 50+ mpg - compared to 40 in the guna and 28 in the jag.
I miss the auto from the jag and thought about the DSG - mixed opinions by the sound of recent postings, however so far so good and I would recommend - pricey though as others point out - but quite rare as yet in 5 door guise.
Not driven the new golf yet so have no opinion.
Have fun choosing...
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Well, I have taken the new Golf out (1.9 tdi SE), quite good, decent engine, feels well made but felt a tad small upfront with a lowish roofline. Went back to the showroom & the chap said "what about the Passat?". Umm, took out the Highline PD130 Estate - great engine (not quite up to the 140ps A3 unit), leather etc - felt very smooth. Should be able to get a good leasing deal with the new model due as well. A quick trawl through the forum shows alot of disgruntled Passat owners, so perhaps I need to look at an Avencis or similiar?
Still like the A3 though!
Decisions, decisions!
Mark
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"Should be able to get a good leasing deal with the new model due as well"
Possibly not, leasing is based on residuals, and its residual will be less than the new one. The up front discount to the leasing co needs to be higher.
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Marky
Had to pick up a new set of keys for mine last week - so the dealer loaned me a 1.9tdi A3 Sportback with 18"s and body kit- nice looking car however the 35 BHP does make a difference....and it's only got 5 gears!!!
Are you thinking of the 3 or 5 door A3?
Cheers
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The 5 door "Sportback" probably in SE as the Sport was a bit harsh in Town. The 140ps is certainly well suited to the chassis and it just keeps going..so much torque.
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