Bryan Hatter, a former md of Saab
(when the Swedes built proper Saabs), is becoming a regular Business Car Manager blogger. Here is his latest blog.
I was interested to read Sam Hardy’s report on the new Ford Fiesta – Ford Fiesta 1.25: What Car? Car of the Year tested.
I drove one yesterday.
I have passed over my Saab 9-3 Sport Wagon 2.0t auto to one of my sons, so thought I would look for something a little smaller and more economical.
I need to take four adults quite frequently. So a 4/5 door is essential to give easy access. (The big doors on a 2/3 door are a liability these days in car parks.)
I am not sure how far I am prepared to go in downsizing, but have had an eye on the new Fiesta and one of the new VW Golf TSi models. What Car? voted them top in their class.
To be fair I thought I had better start with the smallest. Fortunately, the Marlow dealer in Buckinghamshire had a Fiesta Titanium 1.4 petrol auto – apparently a rare beast at the moment.
At 3000 miles per year I have ruled out diesel and with the new generation of petrol engines, I can retain my street cred and still feel ‘green’ all over!
Notwithstanding having driven to the dealer in my wife’s Saab 9-5 Aero, I did not feel that the Fiesta was slow.
OK, it’s only got a four-speed auto, but it does have a manual override.
My first impression was that the seats were hard, but at least with the multi-directional steering column I could get a good driving position.
The doors closed with a reassuring clunk, suggesting good build quality. And the fit and finish around the facia and the interior also seemed fine.
It is good in traffic and once I got going, I forgot about the hard seats and enjoyed winding may towards Henley.
Returning via the Marlow by-pass, gave me another opportunity to assess it on quicker roads. I wasn’t looking for the ultimate in handling, but overall its road manners and stability were very reassuring.
The two things I am always critical about are ride-quality and transmitted road noise. The Fiesta is fine on both counts.
Next stop, then, is the VW dealer in Chalfont to try the 1.4 TSi Golf DSG. I’ll let you know what I think.
You can read Bryan’s last blog here: Driving impressions of the Vauxhall Insignia
Editor’s note: I haven’t had a chance to drive the new Ford Fiesta yet. But I saw one on the road last week – the same colour as the Fiesta pictured – and it looked really striking on the road: sleek, purposeful and modern. It really looks a very impressive motor car.
Bryan Hatter blogs for Business Car Manager
Northgate are in it for the long haul
WHEN it comes to long term rental, Northgate offers a comprehensive range of support packages for SMEs, with a wide range of fleet solutions to meet the diverse needs of
ChargedEV – helping SMEs on their electrification journey
CHARGEDEV specialises in the supply and installation of Electric Vehicle charging equipment across the UK and having installed over 23,000 domestic and workplace EV chargers to date, it has become
R2C – digitising the fleet management process
R2C Lite has been created to eliminate labour-intensive administration processes, aid compliance and increase business productivity for SME fleets running HGVs, vans, trucks, trailers and more, many of which will
Northgate’s mobility solutions keeping you on the road
NORTHGATE Vehicle Hire's additional mobility solutions options and support packages can be built into its existing rental contracts, cutting down the need for multiple supplier agreements to be signed and
BMW – looking after fleets large and small
WHETHER you are a sole trader looking for a car that works for your business or you manage a fleet of fewer than 50 company cars, the BMW Business Partnership
BMW i4 – makes a lot of sense for the company car driver
THE new BMW i4 is the German premium brand's first ever all-electric Gran Coupé and it's a very interesting proposition for company car drivers with a 2% BIK rate for
Innovation drives Wilson Auctions’ success
AS one of the first in the industry to introduce MVR (Motor Vehicle Repair Workshops) on its various auction sites nationwide, Wilson Auctions was highly commended in this year's Business
Tax efficiency – BMW’s X1 PHEV, a Business Motoring winner
BMW's X1 xDrive 25e is a Business Motoring winner, picking up the Best Small SUV gong at this year's awards. It features a 1.5-litre three-cylinder petrol engine and electric motor
BMW X5e – makes real sense to drivers and fleet managers
THE BMW X5 xDrive 45e offers user-choosers a large SUV which delivers low running costs and associated tax bills. Thanks to CO2 emissions of 27-31g/km, the X5 falls into the
Van Monster Remarketing – tops for Business Motoring Awards
EXCEPTIONAL levels of customer service are at the heart of the Van Monster Remarketing proposition. The personal nature of the service provided by its Remarketing account managers has enabled to grow
BMW iX electrifies the Business Motoring Award judges
THE BMW iX will add electric performance to any forward-thinking fleet manager, as well as a spacious, lounge-like interior to keep drivers focussed on the road ahead, with a range
BMW iX3 brings electricity into the mainstream
Following the i3 and i8, the BMW iX3 is the brand's first electric SUV and the winner of this Year's Business Motoring Awards Best Medium SUV category. And the electric
Executive express – BMW530e offers savings for company car drivers
THE BMW 5 Series Saloon is the epitome of a sporty business saloon and The 530e plug-in hybrid models combine performance and frugality to create an optimised executive car. With
KeyFleet Partner Programme – Best Company Car Programme winner
WITH electric vehicles on the rise and with many government initiatives and support of the EV revolution, KeyFleet has become an ambassador for EVs.All employees are trained in Whole Life
Keeping up with the times – Europcar, Business Motoring Award winner
MULTI-MODEL mobility is becoming increasingly important for SMEs, particularly in the short-term rental arena and the EuropcarOne mobility platform provides seamless access to a full range of solutions, from daily
SOGO – Business Motoring Best Mobility Provider Winner
SHORT-TERM leasing is essential to the mass adoption of electric vehicles before 2030 when sales of all new cars and vans powered wholly by petrol and diesel will be banned.
Flexibility is key – Europcar, Best Long Term Rental
FROM COVID-19 and semi-conductor shortages impacting on vehicle supply to rising inflation and uncertain trading conditions, the past 12 months have not been easy for any business. But they have
Leave A Comment