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My firms car is due for change in the next few months, and it seems, due to a glut of unsold VW Scirocco 2.0lt TDi 140 BHP Diesel BlueMotion models, they are being offered to fleet users at a knock down price.

At first I thought great, how cool a 2 door coupe, even though I am turned 50!.

Then I checked about having the towbar taken of my current Mk6 Golf, and put onto the Scirocco, as the towbar is only a year old.

Then horror of horrors, there is no type approval for the Scirocco to have a towbar, even if I could have one made bespoke, all warranties would be void, so it's a no.

Which is not good news, as I tow a half ton trailer, and will be heading of to France in July.

I am pleading with the boss's to have a re-think, but as I am the only person that tows, out of our fleet of 30 cars, I don't think there is going to be a change.

The words gutted, don't even begin to describe how I feel, but how stupid of VW not to get type approval for the Scirocco to have a towbar, the car even runs on the same floor pan as the Golf, I am not a happy bunny at the moment.

Tentz, you are so cruel, I am just hoping it's a big wind up, as my boss, and the lad's are always taking the mick out of the fact that I go camping with a trailer.

Anyway, I will find out for definate what is happening, at the end of this comming week.

Just read a review on the Scirocco, the rear seats are only good for adults upto 4ft!, and the boot will barley take a set of golf clubs.

That will be a great car for one of our team, who has 3 kid's, so I won't be the only one complaining I guess.

Hi Tentz, lets not go there, I have a Cabanon, and Mrs Francais is not keen on the idea of spending 3 weeks in my Terranova LaserLite tent, down in the South of France.

Ok the LaserLite does pack down small, at only 1kg, and is strictly a 1 person tent, despite the advertised 1+1 berths.

Hi Rob.

           Wish I had that option, but the car will brand new from the factory in June, so all warranties would be void, if I went down the bespoke route, also there is the issue of coding the electrics to the vehicle.

I had a close shave a couple of years back, when the firm told us, we were to get the Toyota Prius, that also is not type approved for a towbar, although the Dutch kicked up a fuss, and there is a after market none Toyota approved towbar for the Prius available.

Luckily at the time, Toyota would not cover the lease, due to our high mileage, 30k per year being the average for each car in our fleet.

Hi LlaniDavis.

                   Those were my findings also, I will find out at the end of the week, if any of us can opt out of the Scirocco car, for another more sensible car, for those like me and others with family, but it's not looking good, as the firm likes us, all to have the same vehicle.

Will keep you all posted.

Is it an option to get your own cheap smallish diesel for towing? I would imagine something pretty small will manage a 500kg tow so running costs should be as low as they can be.

I know you rightly won't get much sympathy for getting a shiny new Scirocco (!!)  but obviously a company car is part of your package and to change all that so you can;t use that car as main tow car is understandably frustrating (I would be in similar position although we do have second car)

Hope you get it sorted

Always good to have a plan B though!

Roofbox.co.uk do Thule roof bars for the Scirocco so tent camping may be an option if you end up with it

Don't dismiss the option of running your own car if you get offered a cash alternative especially if you can claim the full 45p/25p business mileage rates from your employer

Quote: Originally posted by Francais on 19/3/2012

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For us the only car is the company car, which I have to say I do use and abuse to the extreme!, have not owned my own car since 1985, ever since then I have been on a company car, so after 27 years of cost free motoring, apart from a little extra income tax to pay, and maybe a little private fuel, as it's always hard to work out what is business or private miles, so best to put most of it as business miles, I don't intend to become a car owner anytime soon.

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Quote: Originally posted by Francais on 19/3/2012

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For us the only car is the company car, which I have to say I do use and abuse to the extreme!, have not owned my own car since 1985, ever since then I have been on a company car, so after 27 years of cost free motoring, apart from a little extra income tax to pay, and maybe a little private fuel, as it's always hard to work out what is business or private miles, so best to put most of it as business miles, I don't intend to become a car owner anytime soon.

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Hi Andy.

            That's great news, as the Fiat Panda takes a towbar no problem, not to mention being in a lower tax band for me, so I would be paying a lot less income tax, than with the Scirocco lol.

Just an update, thankfully the firm has to declined the Scirocco offer, despite being very good, and they have opted for the VW Golf Match BlueMotion 1.6 lt TDi (Diesel), which is pretty much the same car as I have now, so will hopefully be able to transfer the towbar and electrics over to the new car, when the time comes.

More good news is that, due to a lee time of 13 weeks, the new car will not be available untill the end of August, well after I get back from my South of France camping holiday.

So happy days.