I am a company car driver and my Civic Type R is now at lease end and my Fleet manager is pressurising me to make a decision on my next car.

I am sick of the high tax bills and mpg woes of the CTR [I get 18mpg urban, 30mpg motorway]. So I need something more wallet friendly.

My shortlist is as follows:-

Golf MK5 GT-Sport TDi 140 or 170

Golf MK6 GT 140

BMW 118d SE/Dynamic pack

Volvo C30 2.4l D5 R-Design

Honda Civic 2.2d Type S

I had a Golf GTi before the Type R and now miss the solid build of a VW so I am swayed to get the Golf. So my question to you would be what would you get? Either a fully speced up as std MK5 GT-Sport or go for the brand new MK6 GT which doesnt have leather etc std. Plus it isnt a Sport version.

Also if getting a MK5 I wouldnt opt for the DPF version because they are harder or worse to remap? What bhp could I get out of a 140 variant when remapping?

Thanks for your time!

Chris.

 i would go for the golf mk6 but it depends when you are thinling of changing cars and also when the mk 6 diesel gets released

            welcome to the forum

 When exactly do you have to return the company car? As the mk6 is not oging to be released as yet as u probably already know.. golf mk5 is as good though.. mk6 is practically a remake of the golf mk5 and has been reffered to as the golf mk5.5.. so if you want to opt for the leather trim and sport option then get the mk5.. thought about a mk4 anni tdi? they will hold there value even with the current climax and are a great car.. and very good for mpg value.. And about the mapping on the 140 variant im not too sure but search on the site there's loads of info and im sure its alredy been discused 1232 times.. p.s welcome to the forum

Golfin

for info my parents have a civic 2.2 type S and they don't really rate it very much. they struggle to get any more than 45mpg out of it, plus it's in and out of the dealers like a yoyo!

My friend has a BMW118 and I hate to say it but the interior is very plasticky although it does feel solid.

My personal choise would be a MK V GT as there some good deals and kit to be had atm.

Cheers

 I have heard that the 118d has poor plastics and build quality mainly rattles.

The 2.2l Civic would mean that I could claim 17p per mile back for fuel, I currently claim 15p per mile for my thirsty Type R. However I really do not want another Honda, mainly because of cheap build.

The Volvo R Design C30 has a good engine - 2.4l D5 which is quick. I dont know if I could get used to that weird rear! 

I am drawn into VAG cars though, my MK4 GTi Turbo was very well built.

I am going to test drive a few this weekend if I can.

Welcome, Chris

Go for the mk6 - in January's Whatcar ? it is in a group test again the Civic 2.2 diesel, the A3 sportback and the 118d...and it whoops all of them..by a mile. Whatcar have said it is the best all round car out there.

The 140 diesel will be available at the car's launch ( 15th January I think ) - and its common rail so is quieter / more refined than the outgoing version. The max. range is supposed to be 697 miles from 55 litres

Bear in mind that you'll have to pay a 3% surcharge on diesels for a company car, so you're looking at 18%. It might be worth considering the 1.4 TSi ( 160 PS ) which has an offical combined mpg of 45 and will remap to 205 bhp but will be 16% tax - and the car is £650 cheaper than the diesel. If you're thinking of remapping the mk6, don't go for the 7 speed DSG as the torque limits are too low to allow for a "good" map...

Brokers are offering 10% off the mk6 already..

With regards to the remap, the tuning companies limited the 170 remap to 205 bhp because of DPF issues - the 140 usually comes out at around the 185 bhp mark, give or take

HTH...

 Thanks for that long post!

The reason why I am less inclined to get a MK6 GT is because it doesnt come with the same spec as the MK5 GT Sport [full leather, etc] plus its just a GT, and when the GT Sport finally makes its debut I would be gutted to be driving a GT!

I think I could live with a 'older' model shape, esp with the extras it includes as std.

What options do you think are mandatory?

I am thinking, Highline Comp, Aux Connection, Storage Pack, Winter pack, cruise control [i know - thats std on a mk6!].

Whats the std radio on a GT Sport like? it comes with 8 speakers IIRC. Its going to be better than my tiny Civic system!

So if I was to remap the 140 then it is better to have the non DPF version!?

Thanks again.

Actually, apart from the leather the GT MK6 is so well equipped. It looks very sexy from inside:-

http://cdn.volkswagen.co.uk/assets/common/pdf/brochures/golf-vi-brochure.pdf

IKWYM but you'd be getting an "old " car when you may as well get a new one.

As for options, its up to you. I have sunroof, winter pack, lux pack 1, parking, sat nav inc 6 x CD ( currently disconnected in favour of retro ipod connection ), phone prep, metallic & 17s. I don't think any are mandatory but Highline is definately preferable. I also have the following ( cough ) "options" which VW didn't offer which are Eibach springs and a remap

Not sure about the standard system - the MFD2 is more powerful and sounds just fine IMO

the mk6 is much better inside IMO than the mk5 - its growing on me..

 After looking at the MK6 brochure I think I might have to have one! I can live with alcantara sports seats instead of the leather. You get an awful lot std.

SOLD

We've got a C30, and whilst it is a great car - it's built for comfort rather than handling. So don't expect Golf style dynamics. Suits the missus down to the ground though and takes us to the South of France and back regularly without the kind of fatigue I got doing the same in my cars, so it depends on your priorities??

The seats are fantastic. The interior is great. Looks are quirky, but we like it and you don't see many about. Boot space is half that of the Golf. Only 2 seats in the back (again doesn't bother us) upgraded stereo is the best factory-fit I've heard in a car. no issues so far, touch wood, with any aspect of it in terms of faults etc - which isn't bad considering we had one of the first and you'd expect 'teething' problems.

 Ha ha!

That RCD510 stereo looks very nice too.

I think I need a chat with the fleet manager!

 Thanks for the input Tony

 I tried to make a post on this thread in mornign but looks like it didnt go through or something :S. Anyway I think MK6 is the right choice, they are very very nice cars and the WhatCar group-test really shows how good it is. As you discovered the spec isnt really any less than a MK5 GT Sport, which only had leather for a few months to bump up sales, it originally had fabric seats. I wouldnt budget on remapping just yet though, you never know you might get a plesent surprise with the MK6, remember it weighs less than the MK5.

 I found this pic of the GT MK6 on Wiki and I think the chrome looks really good, I am normally more of a matt black anti bling sort of person.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:VW_Golf_VI_TSI_am_2008-10-11.jpg

That interior is simply stunning. It reminds me of the high end Audi's cabin. I am going to opt for the RCD510 touch screen headunit. Its so new that it isnt formally on my list, the leasing company is finding out all the particulars for me. BTW it will be cheaper on tax and fuel due to the extra mpg and lower CO Emissions it produces with the CR unit.

Do you have a link to that group test?

hold off for the mk6 mate 

christurbo:

.BTW it will be cheaper on tax and fuel due to the extra mpg and lower CO Emissions it produces with the CR unit.

going from memory, the 2.0 Tdi 140 has Co2 of 129g...but its a diesel so you'll get hit with 3% as I said above so it'll still be 18% banding. The think the 1.4 TSi is 145g..so may that's 17% tax ? ( i think i said 16 above ? )

 Yep but because the 1.4 is below 1400cc I would get a rubbish contribution from the Inland revenue's pence per mile rate.

I would get a whopping 12p per mile for a 1.4 which would mean I would need to get 44mpg.

Diesel - I would get 13p per mile - which would mean I would need to get 45mpg.

I saw an Audi Sport today in white. Very nice - however I only have the 1.4 TSI and the 1.9D versions on the list.

I have the 2.0l TDi 140 SE on there but its pretty poorly spec'd IMO.

I think its still a Golf MK6..........

christurbo:

So if I was to remap the 140 then it is better to have the non DPF version!?

In bear in mind all MK VI diesel engines include a DPF to meet the EURO5 emissions standard.

 The DPF shoudltn cause too many problems in the MK6 since its standard accross the range as b0rk correctly pointed out. They tend to work quite well with the modern common rail units, so I doubt we will see a repeat of the 170PD+DPF issues.

Regarding DPF's vauxhall/opel still seem to be having issues them on their range of CR engines particularly when paired with low mileage zafira's or astra's...

IMHO modern diesel engines just aren't suitable for low mileage short trip driving.