OK, you lot have always been helpful in the past so now's your chance to really shine...
I am changing jobs later this year, after (hopefully) successfully completing a probationary period, I get to choose my own company car. This is a little alien to me as historically I have worked for Civil Engineering companies where the choice is normally A or B and I'm struggling with the whole idea at the moment.
The only confirmed constraints at the moment are new, diesel and a £24k budget. The parent company is German and does show a preference for German cars but this isn't mandatory in the UK.
So... based on the wealth of knowledge and experience out there what would you recommend or avoid?
Thanks in advance

Audi A4 2.0 TDi should be around that price? Quite a few of the guys in work with me have them. I had a slightly bigger budget so had the 3 litre Quattro. It's absolutely superb and my colleagues love theirs as well!

Wyn

Be different, Land Rover Defender 90

Caber

I agree. new A4 is out soon. My wife just got the A6 quattro avant le mans spec
great car! I reckon Audi are really on top of their game at the moment.

Actually for 24K I'll do you my freshly SVA'd locost with donkervoort roof and swop the Pinto for a Transit diesel!

Caber

don't go bmw if you don't like tramlining. You really need to hold on on any kind of camber change. Also everything is heavy about them. If you are going to be doing high miles go for an audi really easy to drive. What about a high spec honda accord? Would a volvo come in at this price? apparently you never feel tired after a long run in 1. supposed to be the ticket for clocking up milages.

I had this issue mid last year....

Ended up with a Saab 93 Sportwagon Vector sport (Stuuuupid names... )
Not a bad car to be honest, drives ok, dont get tired in the leather, thought out ergonomics and a cooool fighter jet dash button!

I do 50k a year and the only downside is its not the best on diesel...


Oh and at 23... i look 35 when i get in it! Lets hope finding a kit car finds more of the opposite sex!

Easy Alfa 159

Skoda Octavia VRS Diesel. German through and through regardless of the sceptics. You could get a fully loaded one for around that money and it'll look good and sporty.Plus you MAY be able to chip it up in the power stakes. Also at your budget you could have it fully loaded with every imaginable extra available. Look on the skoda site you can build your own spec.

At least the BMW drives the correct wheels
318d ES Saloon squeaks into the budget and is probably worth a test drive.
Which to be honest is the best advise, come up with a shortlist of 3-4 cars and try them on the road.

That's where I'm trying to get to. Do I go for something like the 320D with a somewhat minimalist approach to gizmos or something like the Accord 2.2 with all the toys. Or the Alfa 159 where a trade off between the BMW and Honda spec would let me get the 2.4 with 210bhp. Or what about the L200 pick up where I could get the Elegance with all the toys and save a few quid on tax (and it would be useful for track days (towing, not using!))