Loaded compact vs naked sedan

[_Rick_]

So, I'm in an interesting situation, where I will ask my boss to allow me to spec my (2/3-year-lease?) company car, since I'm currently driving a hand-me-down that was destined for the pool anyway.

My budget is in the low 30k euro (list!) price. So no deals, used cars, special offers and what not.

For that price I can get bare Mondeos, 6s, Insignias, Octavias, and some other Japanese and French sedans. I'll be stuck with a base engine and a manual though, and basic kit.

Alternatively, I can get an Astra, a Giullietta, a Leon, a Focus and get close to top-spec, with a decent engine, that will pull, getting close to the magic 100kW/ton, where a car starts driving more effortlessly. It'll be mostly manuals, since there's no quality autos in that market segment.

If you had the choice of these two alternatives, what would you go for? Leather interior, LED-lights, keyless everything and sufficient motivation, or a longer wheelbase and less creature comforts, as well as sluggish acceleration.

I'm personally tending towards small but loaded, but will probably have to go for some test drives - the Focus ST sounded like fun, until I had a jarring ride in one....That won't do for a car in which I'll spend the hardest time of each day, and many more hours than I would like to.
But the longer wheelbase and potentially more refined ride and maybe better seats of the "proper" sedan continue to intrigue me.

No poll, because I don't care about the actual ratio, but rather anecdotes. And try to put on your Euro-glasses

 

[NutBucket]

I'd go the smaller car in better spec. Any reason you need a bigger car? Seems like a disadvantage in Europe.

 

[nedfunnell]

Yes, I agree with NutBucket. A higher specification model of a smaller car you can live with is going to be better as a daily driver than a bigger, stripped-down car.

I always enjoyed my older, higher-trim-level used cars more than brand-new stripped-down rentals.

 

[MongGrel]

Bought a fully decked out Mazda 3 5 door with a 5 speed auto years ago over something stripped down.

The only thing I didn't get was the leather interior, which they said they would install pretty cheap att. But I don't like leather in FL, it gets hot when parked outside.

I still like the little dude.

I would have said the Focus out of the options, but I guess it doesn't work for you, a sporty model of one would have a stiffer ride.

 

[Art&Science]

The Insignia is the best "driver's car" in your list, I'd get that. In face, I'd take a base Insignia over a base 3-Series any day of the week.

A loaded Focus is still a Focus.

 

[_Rick_]

The Insignia is the best "driver's car" in your list, I'd get that. In face, I'd take a base Insignia over a base 3-Series any day of the week.

A loaded Focus is still a Focus.

The Insignia is what my colleague, who handed down the 118d auto to me, got - with seat and light upgrade over base - but only 100kW Diesel engine and auto box. So it doesn't have that "effortless pull" that's so addictive when you're on the Autobahn. Helpful too, with the rather large speed deltas between the lanes.

 

[foghorn67]

Unless it's a sports car, or some purpose built machine...I prefer loaded cars. It's not just the features, it's the upgraded interiors and appearance packages that go a long way for me.
My next car will be either a new loaded compact or a used loaded some other class car.

 

[Bacstar]

I'd go with the car with the nicest stereo system. If you're going to spend a lot of time in a vehicle, a nice stereo makes up for a lot... ex-So-Cal driver.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Please, for the love of God, get the Alfa!

 

[_Rick_]

Please, for the love of God, get the Alfa!

Do I have to convince my boss that 2.5k for "Rosso Competizione" is worth it?

 

[boomhower]

I love my gadgets, I couldn't deal with a base at this point.

 

[mazeroth]

I always go for a stripped down car. I bought a new Chevy Traverse that stickered for $31k (paid way less). I could have optioned one out for close to $50k if I wanted one that was loaded. I can't fathom how a car with $20k in options would really provide that much better of a driving experience. The Traverse that I have is freaking awesome.

 

[Ancalagon44]

Get a 1 year old fully loaded small car.

 

[slag]

Loaded all the way. I like my comforts like heated seats (cooled if available), heated mirrors, steering wheel, auto climate control, parking sensors and backup cam, leather, nav, etc...

 

[NutBucket]

Please, for the love of God, get the Alfa!

Exactly!! That would make an awesome company car.

 

[BurnItDwn]

Yea, This sounds like a no brainer. Get the Alfa.

 

[_Rick_]

If only there wasn't someone from the next door office parking theirs at work, I might be even more enthusiastic about it.
Also specced out a 308 GT (200 HP, niiice) and a low-powered 508 to similar prices - and you can get decent kit into the 508 by sticking with the base engine. Which is still 165 HP, so not too dramatically shabby.

My fear is, that the boss might prefer I pick something suitably German - the least German car in the fleet is still a Skoda

 

[satyajitmenon]

Euro hot hatch?

http://www.topgear.com/car-news/list/ten-most-powerful-hot-hatches

 

[BurnItDwn]

If not alpha, this is going to sound odd, and not one of the options, but Citroen's Cactus looks interesting ... several folks have reviewed on Jalopnik, very favorably.

 

[_Rick_]

If not alpha, this is going to sound odd, and not one of the options, but Citroen's Cactus looks interesting ... several folks have reviewed on Jalopnik, very favorably.

I nominated that one as "Coolest car of the Decade" over at Top Gear UK's website

But, it's a tad slow to do "effective" Autobahn commutes in -- you can only get a triple with 110 hp or a 100 hp Diesel. I'd like to have more acceleration from 100 mph upwards, not a 100 mph top speed

I think I'm just not laid back enough for this car....

 

[_Rick_]

Euro hot hatch?

http://www.topgear.com/car-news/list/ten-most-powerful-hot-hatches

Any of those are well into the 40k range. And too "sporty" and "fun" for my Boss
He even denied my colleague an Evoque on those grounds... .

So my proposal ought to be "reasonable" so I can get it through negotiations.

 

[Ancalagon44]

If only there wasn't someone from the next door office parking theirs at work, I might be even more enthusiastic about it.
Also specced out a 308 GT (200 HP, niiice) and a low-powered 508 to similar prices - and you can get decent kit into the 508 by sticking with the base engine. Which is still 165 HP, so not too dramatically shabby.

My fear is, that the boss might prefer I pick something suitably German - the least German car in the fleet is still a Skoda

What about an Opel or VW hot hatch?

Just not a VW diesel!

 

[_Rick_]

The new Astra can be specced to a nice tech-fest, and doesn't look too revolting. So that's definitely a candidate. But German hotness is out of my price league - a GTI with the base niceties like leather, lighting and multimedia (and without some of the more frivolous extras available) gets to 35k.
VW option lists are hell, and all the packages render half the options incompatible. And...well, it's a Golf. It's a bit on the bland side, by definition. In general the German options, besides the Astra, aren't to my liking.

A V40 might be another option though - or a low-spec S60.

 

[thomsbrain]

At least for America, I might put in a dissenting vote for the mid-size stripper. Most Japanese and American companies are still pouring their best engineering efforts and best build quality into the mid-size segment. I'll trade blind-spot monitoring for a chassis that is instantly recognizable as stiffer by the first pothole and for a drivetrain built for 300,000 hard miles. Couple that with the fact that many mid-sizers are matching or beating the mileage of their compact comparisons. x2 when looking at subcompacts. If they got 10 more MPG, it might be a different story, but if they aren't cheaper to operate, what's the point of going smaller outside of a major urban city?

 

[_Rick_]

At least for America, I might put in a dissenting vote for the mid-size stripper. Most Japanese and American companies are still pouring their best engineering efforts and best build quality into the mid-size segment. I'll trade blind-spot monitoring for a chassis that is instantly recognizable as stiffer by the first pothole and for a drivetrain built for 300,000 hard miles. Couple that with the fact that many mid-sizers are matching or beating the mileage of their compact comparisons. x2 when looking at subcompacts. If they got 10 more MPG, it might be a different story, but if they aren't cheaper to operate, what's the point of going smaller outside of a major urban city?

In this case, I'm not paying for operating costs, but only for initial purchase price, so while I have to convince my boss that maintenance and fuel (over a 2 yr lease) isn't going to be noticably bad. Apparently he doesn't even insist on Diesel.

What I tend to worry about is indeed chassis comfort and seat comfort, which can be better in the small sedan, compared to the hatchback - but then that's very much a car-by-car thing as well, so I'll probably be taking some preparative test drives over the next few months.