btw i understand the Peugeot 407 scores highly for comfort and refinement,and the Mazda 6 poorly.
I haven't tried a 407 yet but the Mazda 6 is the noisiest and least refined saloon car I've come across in years. Bad enough on an A road but there's no way I'd want to munch motorway miles in one.
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I haven't tried a 407 yet >>
Nor have I though my recent experience of a 2.0 petrol 307 and 2.2 petrol 607 made me wonder where Peugeot have gone wrong since the 205/309/405 era. Both are so utterly devoid of character, the 607 also being particularly unattractive. Therefore if the 407 has the 307/607 genes then it will not be up to much, futhermore I do not like the 407's looks though I know that there are those that do, that being said the rear of the saloon looks better that the tourer so it can always be parked front inwards on the drive! The redeeming feature on the 407 is the excellent new 2.0 HDi diesel engine, excellent in a C-Max anyway.
but but the Mazda 6 is the noisiest and least refined saloon car I've come across in years. Bad enough on an A road but there's no way I'd want to munch motorway miles in one.
The new facelift one is supposed to be better, good diesels as well.
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sorry AndyTDi130, I had not intended to drag this thread off topic....
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Also sorry, I have not helped keep it on track.
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The new facelift one is supposed to be better
It was a brand spanking new 2.0 petrol 55 plate facelift model that I commented on. Dismal refinement.
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Forgot to suggest a Focus C-Max TDCi.
HJ thinks its the most comfortable car he has ever driven; I recall.
If you are going to be doing 50,000miles pa, you want comfort, quietness and economy more than anything and sporty handling as an occasional extra. Forget anything too small (with honourable exception of Fabia vRS).
For me, I would look at Fabia or Octavia or C-Max as the best combination to save tax and remain sane.
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Espada III - well if you have a family and need a Lamborghini, what else do you drive?
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Is now a good time to mention that whatever he gets will more than likely have me on the insurance too? (Safety a priority then...)
My money's with the Leon, but that's because it's the least reppy and most funky looking - I'm not the one having to spend all week in it so my priorities are different.
Don't forget the Fabia vRS is still on the shopping list for me at some point, so we don't really want two Skodas on the drive!
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Leon has harsh ride and naff interior according to CAR. Not certain I'd want to do 50,000 miles a year in it.
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Espada III - well if you have a family and need a Lamborghini, what else do you drive?
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I can understand the heart saying 'least reppy' but if you're looking for a tool to perform reppy type tasks then ideally you should have something designed for the reppy fleet market.
I don't have to do lots of miles every week, week in week out, never have done, so others can advise better. But I have had several fleet type cars including a mondeo and a fair few fleet hire car trips. I'd find it difficult to rule out a vectra for those long days on the motorways.
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reppy? funky? stylish? yep all great things to have in a car.
EXCEPT
50k miles a year? Thats a lot. Thats a long time in a car each year. Thats 100 12 hours days a year.
Do you care what the office chair looks like?
Refinement and comfort are the only things you should consider. End up with an uncomfortable car and the job will be the pits.
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RF - currently 1 Renault short of a family
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Absolutely right RF that's a lot of time sitting in a seat and at that mileage you'll spend a lot of time either cruising on motorways or sitting in traffic jams
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I'd find it difficult to rule out a vectra for those long days on the motorways.
That's one of thge cars I would definitely rule out. The new-shape Vectras I have been in have been one of the few new cars which I have strongly disliked. Jerky ride, snatchy transmission: when my friend hires one for a journey, I groan and moan about being in another "tin kangaroo".
The seats are OK, the interior is OK, but the jerkiness is just awful. A truly horrid car.
(And no, it's not that my friend is a bad driver -- she's fine driving an Avensis or Mondeo or Mazda6)
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That's one of thge cars I would definitely rule out. The new-shape Vectras I have been in have been one of the few new cars which I have strongly disliked. Jerky ride, snatchy transmission: when my friend hires one for a journey, I groan and moan about being in another "tin kangaroo". The seats are OK, the interior is OK, but the jerkiness is just awful. A truly horrid car.
I have to disagree. Refinement is where the new shape Vectra outclasses it's peers. Wind noise much more subdued than Mondeo & Avensis. Ride at motorway speeds is also superior. I quote from HJ's car by car breakdown.."General consensus of opinion between 'Autocar' and 'Auto Express' is that car has excellent ride quality but, while handling is a huge improvement on the old Vectra, it is still not quite up to Mondeo standards."
I confess I have only driven Auto Vectras (2.2 DTi and 3.2 V6), but both were excellent cruisers, with better seats for long journeys compared to Mondeo.
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Just reinforces the advice to try all the possible cars and insist on a lengthy trial to form your own opinion as opinions do vary. It's more important than ever in this case when you will be doing so many miles and with a company car, if you find you've made a mistake you could be stuck with it for an awful long time.
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You are spending someone else's money.
if it were me I would avoid the dull but worthy ones, (to me) so no vectra,mondeo or avensis
I'd throw caution to the wind and get the 2 litre Golf diesel
It's still a bit dull but it will look better when it gets a bit tired and dirty after a couple of years than say the fairly basic Passat that you would get for your budget
The Leon could fit the bill as well, Ive looked at one but the dealer's salesmen were more interested in their fantasy football scores than selling cars
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I would avoid the dull but worthy ones, (to me) >>
If on a budget that can mean the difference between a flash badge with no kit and a great drive with goodies.
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I can see your point but the mondeo is due to be replaced soon, the avensis on an 18 grand budget is not going to be any better spec than the smaller golf (maybe sat-nav though)
VW to me is not a premium brand, maybe just percieved by many as being like Sony is for TV's etc
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The Mondeo is due to be replaced in 2007, doing 50k a year it is likely that the OP would be up for another car by then. However even if there was a new one due next month it would not make the old one any worse.
I quite like the MkIV Golf though you can et a hell of a lot of, for instance, Focus for the same money which by most accounts is a better drive, better made and more reliable.
Personally for iro 18k to do 50k p/a I would be looking at a 2.2 Mondeo, stonking performance and sublime handling, perhaps an Avensis estate with the new 2.2 diesel engine (the Mondeo estate is to big IMO) or the Passat.
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Good point about the focus, I had not really thought of it, although I don't think it comes with somewhere to put your left foot when in 5th. Petty I know but I drive 40 odd k a year and it would bug me
I agree as well about the toyota estate especially the new 2.2 diesel engine but can he get one for his budget ? I take it the 18 grand is list price only ?
I would go for a 2 litre diesel Octavia estate but he never mentioned needing an estate so my rec would be Golf then Focus or Hatch Octavia
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If possible you have to try the chosen car out for at least 100 miles before to commit, I liked the look of the X type but both SWMBO and I found the seats very uncomfortable.
Depends on your shape I guess, I also find Mondeo seats (heve tried LX and Ghia X) uncomfortable but did 150 miles in an Avensis and the seats in that were OK.
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Hi All,
Well, I've finally put an order in....for a Honda Accord i-CDTi.
Originally decided to go for the Passat. My last one (TDI 130 Sport) was actually pretty good other than a couple of tiny niggles. It was also pretty well loaded as far as spec too.
Determined to shrug off the absolutely absimal serice in the local VW garage and fall in love with the Passat, I studied the brochure hard, only to discover the SE spec model gets virtually nothing on it! It's a good £1500 more expensive than the old car too!
I'd always liked the Accord to look at, so went to investigate. I honestly can't describe the quantum leap in terms of quality of product and service. If anyone's within a sensible reach of Basingstoke, City Honda are worth a visit. Was offered a coffee, a test drive there and then (VW needed two weeks notice) and a complete no-rush, no-pressure experience.
The car felt infinitely better screwed together and well specced too! Dual zone aircon instead of the basic manual effort in the VW too (useful as PoloGirl's always nagging its too hot/cold).
A little bit of haggling with my new company revealed it's the monthly rental cost thatthey're ultimately concerned about, not the OTR price so much. Probably pushing my luck in asking for the Exec model, but will almost certainly be allowed the Sport...so just looking forward to taking delivery now!
Would like to say thanks to everyone that contributed to the thread!
Cheers
Andy
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A good choice and I am sure you will be very happy. As I wrote in another thread, the Accord diesel is the quietest four cylinder diesel that I have experienced.
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I hope you enjoy the Honda, I have read somewhere that they are a bit unreliable, but I am sure that this is not true.
Please let us know how you get on with it, and tell us if you would really have prefered the Passat.
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I must say, I like the new Passat but I think the Accord looks far nicer.
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Andy, good choice - I very nearly did the same but didnt want something as big. My only dislike was the dashboard which I found a bit bland. I would have had the Exec on the 17inch wheels (not sure what the Sport comes with probably the same) however I did find that the wider wheels caused some pretty bad tramlining. Others here have recommended the standard wheels for this reason.
P
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Being in the same boat, I to am deeply disapointed with the new passat. It look fabulous from the outside, but is very expensive, lacking in goodies, and frankly the skoda octavia beats it hands down inside,
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RF - currently 1 Renault short of a family
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Well, I've finally put an order in....for a Honda Accord i-CDTi.
It's a good choice from a company car tax point of view because its CO2 is low. But, do you get free fuel? Apparently they often don't achieve anything like the claimed MPG.
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Good choice - I have had mine for 6 months averages c 45mpg at 8000 miles. I too have read about fuel consumption issues but part of it might be the sheer joy of flooring it when I suspect it does drink a bit! One niggle I do get is on these frosty mornings, its the first car I've had where the window rubbers don't clean the glass when you open them and the blind spot at the A pillar is bit big again when the forst is piled up by the wiper. Soon get used to it - and the heated seats help too!
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