The family wheels

[GregorJP]

My wife gets to renew her company car in the next couple of weeks and I fully intend not to allow her to come home with a 1.6 diesel economy Audi A3 without telling me like she did last time :mad:

So I've been on the case with the car lease people. Taking into account price, tax, the fact that it must be 5 door and brand new, diesel, etc, the final pecking order is:

- Golf GT TDI mk 7 (150bhp)
- Megane 165 DCI GT Line Sport
- A3 Sportback 140 S-line
- Mercedes A Class 180 CDI AMG Sport

I'm thoroughly inclined towards the Megane, as it has the Renaultsport chassis tweaks, but I'm worried that it will fall to bits. The new Golf looks ok and will be almost as quick (in relative terms).

Opinions please.

[Yanto]

Golf.

Understated class.

[shimmy]

All decent cars.

I wouldn't buy French as it will fall to bits and as its a daily reliable car you want....

Merc is a bit naff

A3 looks dated but great little car

Gotta be a Golf IMHO without lookin at spec and data but for the money worth lookin at the Focus and Seat as well.

[s.mac]

I'll break the fold here

My wife had the old 225 cup megane (F1 type) and it was a great car for the 3 years, never missed a beat and handled really well.

We have a Golf TDI, not bad but not as good as the megane.

Quite like the look of the new A class

[GregorJP]

Thanks. I agree with everyone, actually. We've had a couple of Golf GT diesels as family cars over the years (including the mk4 150 bhp one, which was awesome). You can't really go wrong with them.

However, drove the Megane Cup Sport at Silverstone a couple of months ago and loved it. With the Megane, we'll get all the toys and the Golf will be pretty basic.

Shimmy's idea of looking at a Ford might be a good shout, so I'll look into it.

[Bealo]

Never driven any of them but i would have the Golf just because it's a Golf!

[toplad]

Golf.

Understated class.

Exactly

Others need not apply

[shane@mbtech]

The new A class AMG models are great looking little cars.

Im keen to see what the new A45 AMG will be like.

[sailorbaz]

Golf without Doubt.

We've had a mkV since new and at 120k miles it's due replacing in the new year so the obvious choice is go for a Mk7. Obviously that's just my opinion, ;-)

New Astra? Just throwing it in there.

[mattCSLnut]

No brainer that one ;) GOLF is a safe bet :thumbs:

[Neil M]

Golf TDIi 150 PD is bullet proof and residuals (whatever they are) are probably they best of the bunch.

[mattCSLnut]

Golf TDIi 150 PD is bullet proof and residuals (whatever they are) are probably they best of the bunch.

Sorry Neil but the 150 PD TDi is not as bullet proof as U say. Worn out cams, week head gaskets and Boom! Bang! turbos have proven that time & time again :banghead:
It's the 130 PD TDi that's the best of the TDi bunch. It's even better then the later MK V 140 TDi that has it's fair share of common problems.

[shane@mbtech]

I personally think that VW/Audi in the last 5 years have become very problematic.

[mattCSLnut]

I personally think that VW/Audi in the last 5 years have become very problematic.

That's absolutely correct and it seems more then just your personal opinion. Just look at the systematic problems VAG are having with that 2.0 TDi engine, which BTW accounts for about 80% of their UK car sales. From suddenly failing engine oil pumps, irrespective of mileage :clown: (especially terrible on a Diesel) to dodgy injectors :banghead: (which VAG are now reluctantly recalling after 1000s of their customers reported this problem to VOSA) to failing Head Gaskets :banghead: & premature Turbo failures. Enough to put you off VAGs for life :whistle:

[GregorJP]

Thanks all for the contributions. By way of update, the order went in for the Megane yesterday. The consensus view toward the Golf made it a harder decision, but the main reason for the choice is that it's a sportier set up than the Golf (Renaultsport suspension, etc) and you get more extras for the money. Also, had several Golfs but never owned a Renault before and was curious, so we'll see if everything I've read about dodgy reliability is true. The good news is that it's a lease car, so I can drive it like I stole it :supz:

[Neil M]

The old man has a Mk.4 Anniversary TDi with the 150 engine as a run about, 123,000mls. and never missed a beat, regular servicing and annual cleaning of the turbo bits sees to that - touch wood!

Anyway GregorJP, I thought this car was your wife's? I'm sure she will get a lot of benefit from it having Renaultsport suspension, did you let her choose the colour?

[GregorJP]

The old man has a Mk.4 Anniversary TDi with the 150 engine as a run about, 123,000mls. and never missed a beat, regular servicing and annual cleaning of the turbo bits sees to that - touch wood!

Anyway GregorJP, I thought this car was your wife's? I'm sure she will get a lot of benefit from it having Renaultsport suspension, did you let her choose the colour?

Mk 4 TDI is a great car. Quick too.

Correct, it's her company car, but in winter I won't use the CSL. The last time she chose her company car we ended up with an Audi A3 1.6 TDI economy version...

I had to do a sales job on the renaultsport suspension in the same way that I have to persuade her to ride shotgun in the CSL with the noise, bumpy ride, squealy brakes and erratic driving. I'm also in the process of persuading her that me buying an E36 M3 track car is a good idea...:beer:

[GregorJP]

Mk 4 TDI is a great car. Quick too.

Correct, it's her company car, but in winter I won't use the CSL. The last time she chose her company car we ended up with an Audi A3 1.6 TDI economy version...

I had to do a sales job on the renaultsport suspension in the same way that I have to persuade her to ride shotgun in the CSL with the noise, bumpy ride, squealy brakes and erratic driving. I'm also in the process of persuading her that me buying an E36 M3 track car is a good idea...:beer:

Ladies, just an update on this - took delivery of the Megane this week and I have to say that as a family runabout, it's pin sharp and so much more fun than the Golf we looked at. Very stiff suspension and respectable turn of speed. In fact, I can see why people rave about the Megane Cup.

Meantime, I have not managed to get the CSL off the drive. Snow and Cups don't mix. :banghead: