Which Eco-Car?

[Salazaar]

I've got the option of signing up for my new employer's car allowance scheme. I don't claim to fully understand all the ins and outs of the scheme but as I understand it I'll be able to buy a new car b taking a loan through an approved company, which will be either fully or partly (depending on a large number of variables) funded by my employer.

I'll also have to pick from certain grades of car, which leaves me with roughly the following few:

RENAULT, CLIO DIESEL HATCHBACK, 1.5 dCi 86 eco2 Expression [AC], 2010
VAUXHALL, CORSA DIESEL HATCHBACK, 1.3 CDTi [95] ecoFLEX S, 2010
SEAT, IBIZA DIESEL SPORT COUPE, 1.2 TDI CR Ecomotive SE, 2010
VOLKSWAGEN, POLO DIESEL HATCHBACK, 1.2 TDI Bluemotion, 2010
FORD, FIESTA DIESEL HATCHBACK, 1.6 TDCi [95] Econetic [AC], 2010

Plus a few others which I've ruled out because they're too expensive or I just don't like them.

So, any thoughts? They all cost similar amounts and have similar spec on paper...

[finlay666]

I'd personally go for the Fiesta or the Ibiza

I wouldn't get the Clio after my experience with a french diesel engine (in typical french fashion the turbo went on strike then the engine totally surrendered)

[Moby-Dick]

I got my fiesta via my company scheme - its the 1.6 Titanium.
For a fully loaded ( and I mean *all* the toys) It impacts my bottom line by about £250 a month for 2 years. inc tax / insurance / servicing.

[scaryjim]

I'd go for the Ibiza personally, but mostly because I'm a complete Seat fanboy (my sister worked for them for many years, so I got to passenge in pretty much their entire range at one point or another!). That said I think VAG are generally regarded as a "safe pair of hands", so either the Ibiza or the Polo should be a pretty safe choice.

[McMav]

Kia cee'd 1.6 crdi ecodynamics.

[mycarsavw]

What happens to the car once you've had enough of it and need something else?

Is it yours to sell and profit (hah!) from?

The Polo will have the highest resale value.

Me, I'd go for the Ibiza or the Polo - the Polo will be the more refined of the two.

[MSIC]

The Skoda Fabia has 3 power-output variants of the 1.6L diesel.
The cheapest (and most economical) is the 75 bhp version, which you could buy in S spec for £11k.
The 105 bhp version, similar economy & same CO2 emissions, in SE spec is £13k.

I'm a new Skoda owner (Yeti for me) and love it.

Edit: Sorry, it may or may not be obvious depending on you following motoring press, but I assumed you know that the Fabia is essentially mechanically identical to the Polo, the Ibiza and the new Audi A1, so the quality is there.

Edit #2: Just one quick thought. I used to use a car lease scheme through my employer that went well generally, but just as i was leaving the scheme they changed it so that they provided insurance too. Watch out for this - they dont take in to account No Claims Bonuses, and then when you eventually leave that scheme, you will have lost any NCB's that you previously had. Potentially a serious hidden cost.

[PetrolHead]

If it was my choice I would forget about the Clio and the Corsa.

Ibiza/Polo will be very similar, the Polo will ride better, but the Ibiza will handle better.

Fiesta seems to be the best small car around at the moment.

I would test drive all 3 and find out what suits you best, and then let us know what you decided on.

Pics would be nice also

[DanceswithUnix]

Yeah, you really have to go test drive some. My impressions, Clio will leave you stranded or try to kill you. The German stuff will bore you to death.

Alfa Romeo Mito seems in that price range though sadly not with the 50mpg multi-air turbo petrol engine.

[Salazaar]

The way the scheme is run I'm seriously limited in choice. To pretty much the exact ones I've listed - diesell and emissions under 99g/kg but excellent mpg.

I was very tempted by both the Polo and the Ibiza but I've heard the engine is quite noisy. Swinging towards the Fiesta but I'll see if I can find them all locally to test drive.

[Guy]

Out of that list I would sway towards either the Fiesta, or either the Polo/Ibiza. Personally I think the Ford would win overall though.

Go and have a look around all the models your interested, best and only real way to tell what will be right for you. Quick note, stay WELL clear of any of the Gowrings Ford franchises!

[joshwa]

Both the Polo and 1.2 TDI Ecomotive are 75PS? Seems much lower than the others? Based purely on this I'd go for the Fiesta, also the Fiesta if it's the only one with AC. (Ignoring the Renault anyway)

[Behemoth]

I'd be taking a look at the Fiesta, nothing else on that list really sets my world on fire.

If the Kia C'eed had been on that list it would have been well worth a look

[MSIC]

I recognise the limitations that you can buy from, and that it's not strictly you buying it as such, however the Auto Express 'Driver Power' survey was published today, might be worth a glance.
Also broken down in to sections, eg the running costs page here

[DanceswithUnix]

The way the scheme is run I'm seriously limited in choice. To pretty much the exact ones I've listed - diesell and emissions under 99g/kg but excellent mpg.

I was very tempted by both the Polo and the Ibiza but I've heard the engine is quite noisy. Swinging towards the Fiesta but I'll see if I can find them all locally to test drive.

Sounds like an irritating criteria

Mind you, after decades of looking awful I think the latest Fiesta doesn't look that bad tbh.

Serious point, what is the income tax implications of the scheme? Some years ago I was offered a company car, and it came down to my tax allowance was going to be hurt via schedule D to the tune of 250/month to drive a car I was going to hate. Needless to say I turned them down, my old Alfa was fun and cost way less than that.

[Salazaar]

Serious point, what is the income tax implications of the scheme?

The implication (and the point of the scheme) is that you effectively get a company car without paying company car tax.

In practice I'll own the car privately but I'll get an allowance which should cover some or all of the loan... Though there are so many clauses and caveats that I'm having a hard time working out how it'll all fall in to place; once the paperwork comes through I'll have a clearer idea of what my allowance will be.

Car wise I'm limited to the lowest VED band, so eco-diesels. Plus a high efficiency car would benifit me, 70 miles per day of commuting