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15 Aug 1997
View CommentsThe salary survey we printed back in May identified the most popular makes of company car as offered to sales men and women in the IT business.
We asked the motor manufacturers what they would expect fleet managers to be shopping for this summer - the results are detailed on these pages.
For the most part they focus on what you might call the upper middle-classes.
Several would propose different ranges for senior executives: the 7 Series at BMW, for example, and Mercedes Benz S-class.
And if you're one of the growing band of user/choosers, you should be able to look further afield again. But either way, make the most of it: this August may be the last to see the annual spending spree on new cars because the powers that be appear to have come out in favour of two changes a year.
Audi A6
Engine 1.8l to 2.8l V6
Top speed 135-147 mph
Acceleration (0-62 mph) 9.4-8.1 secs
Economy 28.8-34.4 mpg (combined urban and extra-urban figures)
Price From u22,565
Extras Climate control with compensation for the sun on different sides of the car
BMW
3 Series
Engine na
Top speed 113-143
Acceleration (0-62) 316i 12.7
Economy 316i 35.0 (combined urban and extra-urban figures)
Price From 16,775
Extras Tracker 24-hour monitoring for u434 plus u90 a year; gives an insurance discount of about 10%
5 Series
Engine 2.0l-4.4l (3.5l V8 from September)
Top speed To 146
Acceleration (0-62) 528i 7.5
Economy 528i 32.8 (combined urban and extra urban figures)
Price From u24,165
Extras Proved safest in US crash tests; airbag to protect head in side impacts
Ford
Mondeo
Engine 1.6l-2.5l V6 24v
Top speed 112-140
Acceleration (0-62) 8.3-13.8
Economy 28.0-39.8 (combined)
Price From u13,765
Extras Aircon instead of sun-roof on key fleet vehicles; company car driver test drive programme; cruise control and trip computer on Ghia X
Renault
Laguna
Engine 1.8l to 3.0l V6
Top speed RTi 2.0 16v 127
Acceleration (0-62) RTi 2.0 16v 9.8 secs
Economy 29.4
Price From u12,840
Extras Aircon as standard from the RT upwards
Megane
Engine 1.4l to 2.0l 16v
Top speed RXE 2.0 Classic 122
Acceleration (0-62) 9.7
Economy 31.7 (combined urban and extra-urban figures)
Price From u11,420
Extras Four cars in the range joined by the Cabriolet this summer
Mercedes Benz
C-class
Engine 1.8l 16v to 2.4l V6 18v
Top speed 118-144
Acceleration (0-62) 8.5-13.0
Economy 28.5-30.7 (combined urban and extra-urban figures)
Price From u19,990
Extras Passenger seat and child seat occupancy sensors to prevent the airbag being triggered
E-class
Engine 2.0l 16v to 3.2l V6 18v
Top speed 128-147
Acceleration (0-62) na
Economy 27.4-35.8 (combined urban and extra-urban figures)
Price From u25,545
Extras Sensors as above; aircon on E280, E320 and E300 Turbodiesel
Vauxhall
Omega GLS
Engine 16v 2.0l
Top speed 130mph
Acceleration (0-60) 10
Economy 17.8 urban, 34 inter-urban
Price From u18,250
Extras Aircon or sun-roof option
Vectra
Engine 16v 1.6-2.5l
Top speed To 143
Acceleration (0-60) 12.3
Economy 42.2
Price From u14,785
Extras From October, Trafficmaster in GLS, SRi and CDX models.
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