Which Car?

[Bantam]

I've been given a nice company car allowance with my new job

It's good timing too, as the firm have relaxed the ford-group only policy they had to allow others into the fray.

I've narrowed it down to three cars off the list I can pick from within my group which I'm going to test drive;

Audi A3 5-Door Sportback 2.0 TDi 170 S-Tronic.
VW Passat 5-Door Estate 1.9 TDi SE
Volvo V50 5-Door Sportswagon 2.0D S

The Audi is the most jaw-droppingly good car out of the three, however, performance comes at a price (i.e. tax). It's about £20 a month more expensive in CO2 tax to have the Audi than the Volvo.

So if you had a choice of just those three cars, which would you choose?

[milldog]

I would say Audi A3 however to fill it with diving kit is pants so on that note if i was to take the diving into the equations it would be the Volvo V50

Graham

[Gavin Smith]

Do you have an of the Skoda's on the list.

I looked at similar cars to you but the new Skoda Octavia beat all of them hands down.

[Richie]

Originally Posted by Bantam

I've been given a nice company car allowance with my new job

It's good timing too, as the firm have relaxed the ford-group only policy they had to allow others into the fray.

I've narrowed it down to three cars off the list I can pick from within my group which I'm going to test drive;

Audi A3 5-Door Sportback 2.0 TDi 170 S-Tronic.
VW Passat 5-Door Estate 1.9 TDi SE
Volvo V50 5-Door Sportswagon 2.0D S

The Audi is the most jaw-droppingly good car out of the three, however, performance comes at a price (i.e. tax). It's about £20 a month more expensive in CO2 tax to have the Audi than the Volvo.

So if you had a choice of just those three cars, which would you choose?

I have just moved from the V50 2.0D SE to the Passat Sport with the GPF 170HP TDI engine as in the Audi I think.

The Passat will carry 3 loads of kit with ease. The Volvo could only just manage 2. VW generally bigger.

The build quality in the cabin was better in the Volvo. VW platics a tad cheap
Volvo marginally more comfortable over longish 250 mile journeys.

Fuel consumption slightly worse (5-6%) in the VW but 170 HP and 235 ft/lb torque are magic.

Handling with the sports suspension is not Lotus like but waaayyy better than the Volvo.

So that's my two penneth so far 2000 miles and 2 weeks.

HTH
Richard

[purple vonny]

Just don't get a VW, they are rubbish. Sorry VW owners, but I've had 3 and they have all been tat (cheap though!)

Volvo would be big, comfy and safe but will guzzle gas

Audi is a VW with frilly knickers but probably the nicest to drive.

There. I've helped a lot now.

[Capone]

A3 would probably be the most fun, however the V50 would be best for space for diving gear and will probably be better specc'd (I would assume).

OR can you take a car allowance and buy your own car ? If so you could look at a 2 or 3 year old car with low mileage and get something with both space and performance.

Out of your original 3, I'd go for the Volvo.

.....But then I'm a BMW driver so I'm not sure how much you want to listen to my advice !!! ;-)

[Richie]

Originally Posted by Capone

A3 would probably be the most fun, however the V50 would be best for space for diving gear and will probably be better specc'd (I would assume).

.

Out of your original 3, I'd go for the Volvo.

The V50 is tiny compared to the Passat. Back seat up the V50 will not quite take a full set of kit (twin 12s stages, D/S bag etc).
It is only a tarted up Ford Focus after all and if you feel the urge to carry back seat passengers with legs forget it unless you can drive with your knees under your chin I lived with a V50 for 70,000 miles.

My choice, cost ignored, would be the Audi.

[Howard Payne]

Without a shadow of a doubt the A3 is the best of that bunch. You have to own a colostomy bag and grey vinyl shoes to even be allowed in Volvo let alone drive one

[Kalahari Diver]

Don't go with the Volvo guzzling gas idea. Sorry Vonny but My wife has a D5 S60 and it has genuinely averaged 40mpg over 38000 miles. And no she doesn't drive like an old lady!!!! However I did notice the TGV on the run down to Paris passed her, not much else though!

My feeling is try them all, you have to like driving your choice!
David.

[Woz]

If you go for the Passat get the self-levelling suspension option. The boot is massive on them so that's the load lugger of the 3. Volvo is ok but I hate the interiors and it's like the steering wheel is connected to the road through a bowl of porridge. Audi A3 is ok but small- especially rear legroom and space for child seats.

My diving and family man head would say the Passat. My sister and her husband both drive one and love them to bits. Never had any problems.