Car Rental Road Raves

WITH sales trebling in the past decade, Audi’s success is attributable to a popular and wide-ranging model mix.
Topping the range is the A8, Audi’s technological flagship with its aluminium spaceframe construction. Audi boasts the A8’s body is 41% lighter than steel-bodied rivals, benefiting fuel economy and emissions, yet is also the most rigid.Car rental uk
If that’s news to you then it seems you’re unlikely to fit into Audi’s profile of a typical A8 customer. The company says A8 buyers are very well informed individuals with their ‘own resources’ who are discerning in their choice of luxury car. While that may be true for 66% of A8 buyers in 2004, the remaining 34% of A8s were bought with company money.

Year-to-date, the fleet sales figure currently stands at 32%, which is likely to be boosted with the launch of the facelifted models. This sees all A8s adopt the prominent framed grille previously only seen on the range-topping 6.0-litre W12 model.
Along with the new look comes the adoption of a new standard SE specification and the availability of cornering light technology, optional ceramic brakes which last for four times the life of conventional steel discs, a digital radio and a new Bang & Olufsen stereo system.
Revisions to the engine range include the new entry-level 3.2-litre FSI V6 petrol in place of the 3.0-litre engine and a new 4.2-litre V8 TDI to replace the 4.0-litre version.
The two new engines enter at entirely different points in the price spectrum. The currently front-wheel drive-only (quattro models will be available in the future) 3.2-litre V6 SE represents an entry point to the range at £47,930, or £51,300 for the long wheelbase version, and the 4.2-litre V8 TDI quattro is available from £58,605 or £61,975 for normal and long wheelbase respectively. Car rental uk
The 3.2-litre’s pricing represents a saving of around £1,000 compared to its direct BMW and Jaguar rivals, and a significant saving over the Mercedes-Benz S350.
With no direct competition, the A8 4.2 V8 TDI is on its own in pricing, its nearest rival on price being the £51,840 S320 CDI. But the S-class can only offer six cylinders and is more than 120bhp short of the Audi’s 326bhp.
Of the new engines, the 3.2-litre petrol is one fleet buyers are more likely to gravitate to. With CO2 emissions of 238g/km and combined fuel consumption of 28.8mpg it betters its key rivals on both counts.
With the 4.2 V8 TDI you get a combined consumption figure of 30mpg and a CO2 emissions of 258g/km, which is high compared to six-cylinder rivals, but given the large performance advantage it offers that’s hardly surprising. Car rental uk
However, the A8 4.2 V8 TDI offers buyers who might more usually opt for a fuel-guzzling 12-cylinder petrol engine a genuine alternative.
Behind the wheel
IT IS hardly surprising that the 4.2-litre V8 TDI offers spectacular performance, thanks to 326bhp and a whopping 479lb-ft of torque from 1,600-3,500rpm.
Combined with its quattro four-wheel-drive system, Audi’s big saloon is able to exploit that abundant power extremely well, reaching 62mph from a standstill in just 5.9 seconds. Its six-speed Tiptronic automatic gearbox shifts smoothly, whether you choose to do so via the steering wheel-mounted paddles or leave it to its own devices.
After the relentless surge of the V8 TDI, the 260bhp 3.2-litre V6 seemed slow in comparison. It isn’t though, with a 0-62mph time of 7.7 seconds and plentiful mid-range acceleration. Both models exhibited remarkable refinement at high speed cruising on Germany’s autobahns.
The 3.2-litre FSI comes fitted with Audi’s Multitronic CVT (Continuously Variable Transmission) gearbox but it lacks the slickness of the conventional automatic in the TDI. Car rental uk
The 3.2 FSI is front-wheel drive only, but you’re unlikely to notice the loss of two driven wheels unless you’re harsh with the throttle and switch off the traction control. It’s unlikely you’ll do so. Despite Audi claiming the A8 will appeal to enthusiastic drivers it’s a car better enjoyed for its cruising rather than sporting ability.
Ask the A8 to drive with the verve of a BMW 7-series and it simply doesn’t deliver, the suspension unable to match the BMW for bump absorption or fluidity, the A8’s steering feel also lacking the kind of feedback offered by the Seven.
Instead, enjoy the easy power delivery of both new engines and soak up one of the best interiors around – Audi is unsurpassed among its premium rivals for interior ambience, build quality and ease of operation.
Even its MMI (Multi Media Interface) system, which controls the A8’s numerous car and entertainment controls, is easy to use.
Driving verdict
WITH the same high level of comfort as before, but with better equipment levels and two impressive new engines, the A8 is a strong competitor in the luxury saloon market. However, adopting the bold new grille across the range might turn off some buyers who were previously attracted by the A8’s understated style.

THE Ford Focus is the UK’s best-selling car, and I’m starting to realise why the new version is continuing its success.
I’ve been driving our Titanium-spec 1.6 petrol five-door hatchback for almost two months, averaging about 300 miles a week, so it has given me plenty of time to get accustomed to motoring life in one of fleet’s stalwarts. Car rental uk.
The thing which stands out the most is comfort. Sometimes after a three-hour journey I’m ready to call the chiropractor, but it’s a different story in the Focus. This is mainly down to the seats, which are designed to support your back in all the right places. Something as simple as car manufacturers getting the seating right can bring joy to thousands of company car drivers. It is surprising how some firms struggle to master this. Car rental uk.
Other factors which ease a three-hour journey are the minimal cabin noise, especially on motorways, and the super-smooth suspension.
Ford has refined the new Focus with minimal gaps between body panels, thicker front door side glass and new double door seals all helping to block out wind noise. There’s nothing worse than having to crank up the stereo to drown out exterior noise.
Ford has also made the body structure 10% stiffer than the old model and added rear control blade multi-link suspension, which in layman’s terms means each rear wheel reacts independently when it hits a bump, helping to increase stability. Car rental uk
I don’t know what the technical terms mean, but they translate into a cushioned ride which irons out the hardest bumps on our roads.
And as well as comfort, the chassis and suspension also give confidence-inspiring front-end grip, meaning the Focus always feels planted to the road.
But while I’ve been enjoying the grip, I still haven’t got to grips with the £250 optional voice control system is fitted to our car.
This forms part of the advanced telephone pack which lets drivers control the Bluetooth-enabled telephone, stereo system, temperature control and satellite navigation by the sound of their voice. Car rental uk
So far I’ve failed to master the system, although this could be down to my Stoke accent, but I am determined to use it soon. I have used the satellite navigation system on several occasions, though. It gets drivers from A to B and it is really easy to choose locations through the touch screen.
I just want to view the map and my vehicle’s position but covering almost half the screen are buttons to alter the air-conditioning, radio volume, outside temperature, traffic alert, scale of map and vehicle positioning, making it far to busy.
Maybe once I’ve mastered the voice control these will miraculously disappear from the map – I hope so.
I’m also hoping fuel economy will improve. At present I’m averaging 35.3mpg, which is well short of Ford’s claimed 43.8mpg combined figure.
As most of my miles are being racked up on motorways, I’m a little disappointed with the Focus’ frugality. Model: Ford Focus 1.6i Ti-VCT Titanium 5drPrice (OTR): £15,825 (£20,025 as tested) Mileage: 3,005CO2 emissions (g/km): 155Company car tax bill (2005/6) 22% tax-payer: £52 a monthInsurance group: 7Combined mpg: 43.8Test mpg: 35.3CAP Monitor residual value: £5,374/34%HSBC contract hire rate: £322Expenditure to date: Nil

WITH sales trebling in the past decade, Audi’s success is attributable to a popular and wide-ranging model mix. Car Rental uk.
Topping the range is the A8, Audi’s technological flagship with its aluminium spaceframe construction. Audi boasts the A8’s body is 41% lighter than steel-bodied rivals, benefiting fuel economy and emissions, yet is also the most rigid. Car rental uk.
If that’s news to you then it seems you’re unlikely to fit into Audi’s profile of a typical A8 customer. The company says A8 buyers are very well informed individuals with their ‘own resources’ who are discerning in their choice of luxury car. While that may be true for 66% of A8 buyers in 2004, the remaining 34% of A8s were bought with company money.
Year-to-date, the fleet sales figure currently stands at 32%, which is likely to be boosted with the launch of the facelifted models. This sees all A8s adopt the prominent framed grille previously only seen on the range-topping 6.0-litre W12 model. Car rental uk.

THE immortal lyric ‘summer’s here and the time is right for dancing in the street’ must be on a loop in the minds of staff at the UK offices of Saab this month.
Official sales figures for May show that Saab achieved its best share of the UK car market since imports began in 1960, with a tally of 2,382 cars, giving the company a record 1.27% share of the new car market.
For the first five months of the year, Saab’s registrations increased by 37% on 2004, at 11,229 cars. This success – much of it down to increased fleet sales through its closer links with Vauxhall – was achieved in a lacklustre market, down 3% compared to May 2004. Car rental uk.
Saab reported a 78% increase in 9-3 Convertible registrations during May in a booming ‘ragtop’ market. Six per cent of the cars sold were convertibles, up from 5.4% in 2004 and the highest share of the market ever held by the segment. So it is with unnerving timing that Fleet News begins a long-term test of a 9-3 2.0t convertible.
The range consists of three spec levels – Linear, Vector and Aero – and a choice of 1.8-litre 150bhp, 2.0-litre 175bhp and 2.0-litre 210bhp engines, all turbo-equipped, mated to five and six-speed manual or optional paddle-shift automatic transmission. Car rental uk.
All come with fully-automatic electric roof, alloy wheels, ‘infotainment system’ including single-disc CD player, seat-mounted head and thorax airbags as standard. Prices start at £24,405 for the 1.8t Linear and reach £29,905 for the 2.0T 210bhp Aero. Car rental uk.

I AM not sure fleets deserve the Astra Sport Hatch. In fact, at this price and with these looks, I’m not sure anybody deserves this car. It almost feels like cheating.
Surely a high-selling three-door hatch from a volume manufacturer with a 1.8-litre petrol engine for about £15,000 should be a sensible but mundane piece of kit. It should do its job quietly and studiously and not be seen making a fuss. Car rental uk
But the wild-looking Sport Hatch is an unexpected mould breaker. To own a car this alluring, shouldn’t you be paying much more money?
Quite simply, the sharp, raked shoulders and long, low sweeping roofline make this a car plenty of company car drivers, used to putting up with whatever comes their way, can be proud to own. Car rental uk
Driving around in it, I was utterly amazed by the amount of attention it received. For example, I found three young women, all with apparently good taste (in other words, they weren’t the type of Vicky Pollard, shotgun-riders-in-Max Power-cars that might have been attracted to hot Astras in the past), standing round it cooing in appreciation.
I would be willing to eat any hat I own if this sort of thing has ever happened in the history of the Astra before, and it shows just what a trick Ford has missed with the meek styling of the new Focus. Car rental uk
But the Sport Hatch is not just about cool, low-slung side windows and razored alloys. Underneath the chiselled muscles are good, honest Vauxhall mechanicals, well proven in the thousands of five-door Astras already sold. So it looks good, and you can depend on it to run reliably.
But the 123bhp 1.8-litre engine feels underpowered, although much of that is because it’s a car which looks as if it should be a scorcher, even when sitting still, so you’re psychologically set up for that. An equivalently-sized diesel would be quicker. Car rental uk

AS a piece of automotive sculpture, things really don’t get much better than this. Mercedes-Benz’s CLS is a saloon masquerading as a coupe... or is that a coupe masquerading as a saloon?
Either way, it’s a stunning car and, more importantly, one which really stands out. In the middle are four conventional doors, albeit with coupe-like shallow glass areas and a dramatically curved roofline. Car rental uk
But it’s at the back where things really get interesting. The rear slopes away from the roofline into an angular boot area, while at the front are a pair of aggressive-looking headlights which shroud the traditional Mercedes-Benz grille and its centrally-mounted three-pointed star.
It’s a major move away from the current family look and it presents executives with a new avenue if they want to add some flair to their next set of company wheels. Car rental uk
For businessmen right at the top of the corporate ladder, there are two V8 models – the CLS500 and 55 AMG, but for those who are still on the climb the CLS350 tested here has all the style of its bigger brothers but with less pace and some less gut-wrenching costs.
At a smidgen over £43,000 on-the-road, the entry-level CLS has pretty much every bit of kit you could possibly want, although leather seats are a noticeable omission – and a £1,100 option. Car rental uk
Power comes from a 272bhp 3.5-litre V6 engine coupled to 7G-Tronic, the world’s first seven-speed automatic gearbox.
The CLS doesn’t feel as quick as its on-paper performance claims, with the V6 really needing plenty of revs to get it going. But once cruising speed is reached the CLS changes character as it settles into a relaxed gait to cover miles with stylish ease. Car rental uk
This is a car you want to be seen in, so it makes no sense to drive too quickly. Rather like a shark stalking its prey, it’s best to approach other cars on motorways in a stealthy manner, let them take in the design details (the way the front arc of the wheel arch extends into a swage line which runs all the way to the rear lights is my favourite) as you cruise past and then disappear.
No car I’ve driven in recent months has received quite as many quizzical glances from other road users, so the CLS is certainly a car which you feel special driving.
As long as you love attention, this car is for you – shy types need not apply.
And there aren’t going to be that many on the road either. Mercedes-Benz plans to sell just 2,500 this year and 4,000 in 2006, with about 20% going to fleets (although that’s not including purchases made by company directors with their own cash). Of that figure, 65% will be the 350 model, with the 500 taking 30%.

A NEAR 700-mile round trip to Wales gave me the ideal opportunity to put the Vectra through its paces around the stunning Cardigan coast in Wales.
The Jackson family did its best to take virtually all of our household possessions with us, excluding beds and kitchen sink, obviously. Car rental uk
And do you know what? Even with all the paraphernailia which comes with taking a youngster on holiday, the Vectra’s boot still wasn’t full.
And it was a bit of a luxury to be able to see out of the rear windscreen with the car packed – not something the Renault Grand Espace I drove before could claim. Car rental uk
But having been used to driving the airy Espace, I felt as though I missed out on the stunning Welsh views on our trip there as the Vectra’s roof seems to crouch down on you and the dashboard rises to meet it.
I know most cars in this sector are the same, but the Vectra’s dark interior doesn’t help create an airy feel.
The Vectra also seems sadly lacking in stash pockets front and back, and why, when there are two drinks holders next to the handbrake, don’t they securely take water bottles or drive-through cups?
And like other Vauxhalls, the Vectra has an infuriating indicator stalk – it resists the usual tap with a finger when you want to cancel it, which gets to be both distracting and annoying. Car rental uk
Like other testers I had the honeymoon period of showing off the motorised boot lid, but the novelty soon wore off when I was drenched while waiting for the slow moving tailgate to open.
It’s all well and good on a fine day, but in the pouring rain when you just want to open the boot it’s a pain in the rear!
I had the chance during the trip to be a rear seat passenger, and was surprised by the lack of a door stash pocket and electric windows, and although there was ample legroom, the seat comfort left a lot to be desired.
More importantly back in the front the lack of parking sensors, which on a vehicle of this length (4.82m) should be standard, are sadly missing, and I struggled without them. Car rental uk
However, one option I was glad of is the stunningly efficient satellite navigation system.
It was put to the test several times in the wilds of Wales and came shining through – finding obscure little villages with the minimum of fuss.
I have a few niggles with the Vectra, but it’s more annoyance than a deal-breaker.

EARLIER this year, our A6 took a colleague and three friends on holiday hundreds of miles away to a French ski resort.
The furthest I’ve ventured in it is to a business meeting in Birmingham, about 90 miles from the office. But while there may not be any obvious similarities between the two places, arriving fresh and relaxed is a vital requirement. Car rental uk.
And the Audi is such a comfortable motorway cruiser that drivers are guaranteed to arrive fresh and ready to seal the deal. Car rental uk
And they’ll also look good when they arrive, too. The A6 is a stunning looking car and any friends who have been driving in front of me have remarked how beefy the A6 looks in their rear-view mirror. The deep grille sets the car off beautifully and adds to its muscular shape.
Another plus point is how easy it is to switch off the passenger airbag, ideal if you need to carry children in the front. Not all cars have this facility and in those that do it can be difficult to locate the switch. In the Audi, it’s clearly marked in the glovebox and deactivated using the ignition key. A visible warning light stays on when the airbag is turned off so you’re reminded to switch it back on once an adult climbs aboard.
Last week, the car underwent some cosmetic repair after, we assume, someone hit the bumper with a shopping trolley, causing some quite deep scratches. A quick call to Flying Colours and a reasonable repair bill of £55 plus VAT and it’s now as good as new again. Car rental uk
Audi A6 3.0 TDI quattro SE Tiptronic Price (OTR): £31,930 (£37,025 as tested)Mileage: 12,206CO2 emissions (g/km): 229Company car tax bill (2005/6) 40% tax-payer: £328 per monthInsurance group: 16Combined mpg: 33.2Test mpg: 32.4CAP Monitor residual value: £12,450/39%HSBC contract hire rate: £641Expenditure to date: £55 (bumper repairs)
Figures based on three years/60,000 miles

OUR Octavia set a record by having covered more than 10,000 miles before it even joined our long-term fleet. Car rental uk.
But the fact that it had so many miles showing soon proved a point we’ve often made about the way diesel engines mellow with age.
From the first time it was fired up, the 105bhp 1.9-litre TDI engine has behaved with the extra degree of smoothness that comes from a unit that is fully bedded-in.
And as the mileage now approaches 20,000, the Skoda is continuing to impress. Unless it is driven in manic fashion, it returns 55mpg, a figure likely to make the Octavia one of the cars of choice with company accounts departments. Even in press-on conditions, it still returns on the better side of 50mpg. Car rental uk.
That kind of parsimony also makes it a winner when you’re paying for your own fuel, of course, and economy of this order prompts me to wonder if this isn’t the most economical vehicle of its type currently available in the UK. Car rental uk.
Our Ambiente spec car has the comfort to go with its space and scores particularly high marks for rear seat accommodation.
I’m starting to regard this Skoda as being in a class of its own for all-round value. If there’s a better package on offer, I’d love to hear about it.
Model: Skoda Octavia 1.9 TDI AmbientePrice (OTR): £13,800Mileage: 19,975CO2 emissions (g/km): 143Company car tax bill (2005/6) 22% tax-payer: £45 per monthInsurance group: 7ECombined mpg: 53.3Test mpg: 55CAP Monitor residual value: £4,550/33%HSBC contract hire rate: £287Expenditure to date: Nil Car rental uk.

AS a piece of automotive sculpture, things really don’t get much better than this. Mercedes-Benz’s CLS is a saloon masquerading as a coupe... or is that a coupe masquerading as a saloon?
Either way, it’s a stunning car and, more importantly, one which really stands out. In the middle are four conventional doors, albeit with coupe-like shallow glass areas and a dramatically curved roofline. Car rental uk.
But it’s at the back where things really get interesting. The rear slopes away from the roofline into an angular boot area, while at the front are a pair of aggressive-looking headlights which shroud the traditional Mercedes-Benz grille and its centrally-mounted three-pointed star.
It’s a major move away from the current family look and it presents executives with a new avenue if they want to add some flair to their next set of company wheels.
For businessmen right at the top of the corporate ladder, there are two V8 models – the CLS500 and 55 AMG, but for those who are still on the climb the CLS350 tested here has all the style of its bigger brothers but with less pace and some less gut-wrenching costs.
At a smidgen over £43,000 on-the-road, the entry-level CLS has pretty much every bit of kit you could possibly want, although leather seats are a noticeable omission – and a £1,100 option. Car rental uk.
Power comes from a 272bhp 3.5-litre V6 engine coupled to 7G-Tronic, the world’s first seven-speed automatic gearbox.
The CLS doesn’t feel as quick as its on-paper performance claims, with the V6 really needing plenty of revs to get it going. But once cruising speed is reached the CLS changes character as it settles into a relaxed gait to cover miles with stylish ease.
This is a car you want to be seen in, so it makes no sense to drive too quickly. Rather like a shark stalking its prey, it’s best to approach other cars on motorways in a stealthy manner, let them take in the design details (the way the front arc of the wheel arch extends into a swage line which runs all the way to the rear lights is my favourite) as you cruise past and then disappear.
No car I’ve driven in recent months has received quite as many quizzical glances from other road users, so the CLS is certainly a car which you feel special driving.
As long as you love attention, this car is for you – shy types need not apply. Car rental uk.
And there aren’t going to be that many on the road either. Mercedes-Benz plans to sell just 2,500 this year and 4,000 in 2006, with about 20% going to fleets (although that’s not including purchases made by company directors with their own cash). Of that figure, 65% will be the 350 model, with the 500 taking 30%

VAUXHALL is banking on sharper design and greater versatility to keep its next-generation Zafira range in pole position in the race for compact MPV sales.
Sleeker lines from the latest Astra and added interior space are set to be a recipe for success with corporate buyers despite the flood of recent rivals, believes fleet sales director Maurice Howkins. Car rental uk.
He said: ‘We have been delighted by the success of the Astra and have established that potential customers like the fact that the new Zafira has adopted its bold styling.
‘Making the car bigger all round is another significant reason why we’re confident of maintaining our position in what is becoming a crowded market.’ Car rental uk.
Howkins added: ‘We are convinced this design keeps us at the top of the tree. The appeal of the car has been widened and I’m looking to build on the achievements of its predecessor, even though we’ve decided to take out some of the short-cycle business which has helped fleets account for around 70% of total registrations.’
Vauxhall is understood to be pulling out of several short-cycle deals as it runs out supplies of the current Zafira, which achieved 50,000 registrations in 2004. Car rental uk.
Howkins said: ‘The reasoning behind this is our aim to give a better service to the business sector as well as catering for higher retail demand. And the prediction by CAP of a £700 to £800 uplift in three-year/60,000-mile residual values over the outgoing car confirms our view that the future looks good for this model.’
Longer, wider and featuring increased overhangs at the front and rear, the new car boasts a fresh appearance and looks a higher-grade product.
Though the engineering of its Flex7 seating arrangement remains unchanged, detail modifications make it easier to use and loadspace is up by 120 litres to a van-like 1,820 litres when the two rear rows of seats are folded flat. Car rental uk.