£21k Estate Car.... Choices? Opinions?

[Dominic]

I would say that generally, the lower the car's emissions, the better the tax situation.

This is quite a useful site to illustrate tax scenarios;

http://comcar.co.uk/newcar/companycar/p ... hooser.cfm

Or here;

http://comcar.co.uk/newcar/companycar/t ... select.cfm

If you have something in mind, feel welcome to give me a shout, and I can do some number crunching for you. With regards to leasing Vs buying, it really depends on a few issues - the car value, the capital allowance rates, and the capital allowance capping.

[rossybee]

Not sure a 140bhp TDi estate will compare to a GTi...

Flame suit on... I had a poke around an Octavia which I think is better looking on the outside, but the cabin was a noticeable step downmarket. Might (maybe, possibly, perhaps) have still gone for the Skoda if there wasn't a good deal to be had on the Golf.

Dealer wise, Specialist Cars VW Aberdeen, nasty nasty nasty. Specialist Cars Skoda Dundee, couldn't be arsed to even acknowledge us. Barnetts VW Dundee, an absolute pleasure. Had a looky at a used golf in West End Honda (in the Ferry) too.. also good to deal with, no pressure, very clean car.

Another thumbs up for Barnetts, bought and service the vulva there, and more recently been sniffing around VW side at the mk7 gowf gti, sales chappie is excellent and non-pushy. Not far from my hoose either

[campbell]

I think Skoda must have relaxed their requirement for solely family businesses to run their dealerships then.

Poor show from Specialist Cars etc.

Cannot disagree ref Octy interior. With the prospect of the kids trashing it, the effect on my blood pressure was always going to be lower as a result:-)

All in all a great call, Graeme. Our two spent their early years in a Golf too

[Mike Scib]

Could be time for a new family car methinks!



http://www.skoda.co.uk/news/new-octavia-vrs

[graeme]

That is seriously good looking, and it's not like the old one was ugly!

[woody]

Like that!

ETA: A friend of mine is in sales at Skoda Ayr now, can PM his contact details if anyone requires.

[j2 lot]

very much an Audi with a Skoda badge, but none the worse for that

[BiggestNizzy]

very much an Audi with a Skoda badge, but none the worse for that

They are, they do cut costs, interior trim is probably the most obvious example.

[Doc883]

very much an Audi with a Skoda badge, but none the worse for that

They are, they do cut costs, interior trim is probably the most obvious example.

Closer to a VW with a Skoda badge but all from the same dna pool along with SEAT.

[campbell]

Oh dear.

<vehicle fleet plans for 2014 now in tatters>

!!!

[DDtB]

Just when you thought this was over!!!

So... 9 weeks after ordering the car via Arnold Useless Fecking Clark, we call them for another update. A few weeks back all was fine and they even suggested it may be a facelift model we get. But then this week, we find out that they can't actually supply the car at all and the order is cancelled.

Much complaining to Vauxhall and Arnold is in progress (waste of time I know) and pointing out the lies they are now telling - like the fact the manager has been trying to get hold of us since week 3 to tell us it was cancelled ?!?!, a fact he failed to mention in 2 calls we've had with them in recent weeks and not missing the fact we have not had a single call from them either!

In the meantime, we are now back to square 1 and need a £21k estate car with a 1m x 1m boot that's also not totally sh*t.

Can't be from Arnold, clearly. Insignia is a no-go due to the model changeover it seems. Likewise, hate the current mondeo and there's a new one due soon too. Mazda 6 is tempting, but probably out of budget. Octavia estate is a bit much too (I think?!)

Any ideas/suggestions for current bargains ?!

Cheers,

Dave.

[campbell]

The outgoing Octavia estate would have been available for strong discounts. They may have sold them all by now. But it's worth checking out some of the car supermarket places, they may have the odd one left.

Same applies to SEAT Exeo which I hear is discontinued (poor man's Audi A4 based on previous shape - could be worse though).

How long before such shoddy service at Arnold is rumbled? How did they grow so big?

[Lazydonkey]

My dad's mate has just lost his Inverness Toyota franchise to Arnold. He went out for drinks with his toyota "account manager" as a goodbye thing and the guy conceded that everyone knows Arnold are sh*t at customer service but they have the buying power to mean that it doesn't matter......they simply shift so much metal that the manufacturers don't want to fall out with them.

Sad but true.

[campbell]

That sounds like what used to be called a "monopoly". Needs tackling...

[Rag_It]

He went out for drinks with his toyota "account manager" as a goodbye thing and the guy conceded that everyone knows Arnold are sh*t at customer service but they have the buying power to mean that it doesn't matter......they simply shift so much metal that the manufacturers don't want to fall out with them.

Sad but true.

I suspect I know the very man who took him out for drinks his Toyota/Lexus role covers Scotland I think, and his views of The Shark are very clear as per above!