New company car policy
New company car policy
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Discussion

SBN

Original Poster:

1,030 posts

178 months

Saturday 7th February 2015
quotequote all
I change my cars regularly.... The norm is 6 months until I got my 2009 m3. What a car, finally happy.... Can't think I'd ever sell it because it's such a complete car, that is until last week.

New car policy at work... Under 5 years old and more than 30mpg on both car allowance and company scheme.... Basically in screwed, I have a notice period and I need to change but can't think what to. To get something interesting for £400 a month under 5 years old proves an impossible task in getting anything similar to my m3.... Help please!

The other option under the company car scheme is a brand new audi s3 sportback which is interesting me.

What to do... What to do Arghhhhhhh

Wills2

28,719 posts

201 months

Saturday 7th February 2015
quotequote all
New c63 is 34.5mpg and new m3/4 is over 30mpg too (but I see not in the budget you're allowing, other BMW nothing that will give you the same experience perhaps get a 335i then take it to Birds/ACS for a tune and LSD.





Edited by Wills2 on Saturday 7th February 22:24

SBN

Original Poster:

1,030 posts

178 months

Saturday 7th February 2015
quotequote all
Finding a 335i saloon under 5 years old is pretty difficult.

M135i have come down somewhat, other options rather than company car would be an s4 perhaps.

Wills2

28,719 posts

201 months

Saturday 7th February 2015
quotequote all
Oh yeah forgot about the M135i, Golf R

This looks nice and the Merino nappa leather looks good.

http://usedcars.bmw.co.uk/3-Series/3.0-306bhp-335i...





Edited by Wills2 on Saturday 7th February 23:30

SBN

Original Poster:

1,030 posts

178 months

Sunday 8th February 2015
quotequote all
Absolutely perfect but at £400 a month? smile

hajaba123

1,336 posts

201 months

Sunday 8th February 2015
quotequote all
Get a new job

russy01

4,823 posts

207 months

Sunday 8th February 2015
quotequote all
SBN said:
Finding a 335i saloon under 5 years old is pretty difficult.

M135i have come down somewhat, other options rather than company car would be an s4 perhaps.
Currently in a M135i and looking to change to something different. Tested the S4 last week and well it was boring as hell compared to the BMW. It hung on well don't get me wrong, but the interior, engine, sound and well most things just felt a bit meh... The BMW S6 turbo felt streets ahead of the Audi V6 T (which is actually supercharged.)

M135i is a decent little motor and has your M3 pegged for everyday performance. But it certainly feels a lot more normal....

CornishRob

266 posts

160 months

Sunday 8th February 2015
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Used F10 M5? Do they do 30 mpg?

What about a 1M?

Wills2

28,719 posts

201 months

Sunday 8th February 2015
quotequote all
SBN said:
Absolutely perfect but at £400 a month? smile
Needs must man, up the budget! Remember you'll be saving on fuel.



Wills2

28,719 posts

201 months

Sunday 8th February 2015
quotequote all
CornishRob said:
Used F10 M5? Do they do 30 mpg?
Nope.

shibby!

927 posts

224 months

Sunday 8th February 2015
quotequote all
Put a private plate on a second hand car and no one will be the wiser?

2016 Focus RS possibly

JNW1

9,347 posts

220 months

Sunday 8th February 2015
quotequote all
SBN said:
I change my cars regularly.... The norm is 6 months until I got my 2009 m3. What a car, finally happy.... Can't think I'd ever sell it because it's such a complete car, that is until last week.

New car policy at work... Under 5 years old and more than 30mpg on both car allowance and company scheme.... Basically in screwed, I have a notice period and I need to change but can't think what to. To get something interesting for £400 a month under 5 years old proves an impossible task in getting anything similar to my m3.... Help please!

The other option under the company car scheme is a brand new audi s3 sportback which is interesting me.

What to do... What to do Arghhhhhhh
I've come across companies that stipulate things like an age limit and the number of doors a car must have if it's being purchased using a company car allowance and I sort of see that from the point of view of company image (old bangers don't give a good impression!) or what's appropriate for the job (if you need to take customers out a two door car perhaps isn't ideal). However, I've never come across one that stipulated a minimum mpg requirement and frankly what's it to do with them unless they're paying all the fuel bills? For drivers with car allowances most companies just reimburse a rate per mile for business use regardless of what you drive and if that applies at your company I think they have a bit of a nerve telling you how many mpg your car needs to do! What next, if you get a mortgage based on the salary you receive from them are they going to want to restrict your choice of house by stipulating a minimum energy rating it must have?!

Anyway, leaving all that aside, if an A3 is interesting would a Golf R not be worth a look? Looks good (understated works for me!), good performance and handling, nicely made and £400/month will also get you one with a pretty decent spec.

Wills2

28,719 posts

201 months

Sunday 8th February 2015
quotequote all
SBN said:
Absolutely perfect but at £400 a month? smile
I reckon you could haggle that nearer to 30k then 10% in and £500 over 36 months with a 13k balloon on 6% apr finance.

The extra monthly is offset against fuel and insurance savings thumbup


SBN

Original Poster:

1,030 posts

178 months

Sunday 8th February 2015
quotequote all
Currently have a fuel card so no issues on that front but the issues for me are that my grade gives x a month but the car must be younger than 5 years old and get 30mpg which don't apply to my m3.

I can stay on car allowance but it needs to meet the above criteria. What ever I get on this needs to be less than £400 a month otherwise it will be a lot more expensive a year than just getting one of the below.

Or I move to the car scheme and have a list of BMW, mercs, audi and vw'a to choose from. Bmw list is pants, mercs are a bit better, audi has the s3 sportback and the rest are rubbish, vw has all the Gti varients and the golf r.

Asked for a quote on the GTI, R and s3


JNW1

9,347 posts

220 months

Sunday 8th February 2015
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SBN said:
Currently have a fuel card so no issues on that front
Ok, in that case I understand why your company wants a say in how economical or otherwise an individual's car choice has to be!

randlemarcus

13,646 posts

257 months

Sunday 8th February 2015
quotequote all
"sorry, still have four years on the finance. Love to chat in 2019, TTFN" Sorted.

DavidJG

4,056 posts

158 months

Sunday 8th February 2015
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Our company policy is even worse: <120g/km CO2.

Try finding something even remotely enjoyable in this bracket!

DavidJG

4,056 posts

158 months

Sunday 8th February 2015
quotequote all
Our company policy is even worse: <120g/km CO2.

Try finding something even remotely enjoyable in this bracket!

SBN

Original Poster:

1,030 posts

178 months

Sunday 8th February 2015
quotequote all
Unfortunately one will have a notice period to comply or lose car allowance and fuel card frown

They are after all paying for me to have a car so I kind of understand it even if I don't want to sell my m3 frown


JNW1

9,347 posts

220 months

Monday 9th February 2015
quotequote all
SBN said:
Unfortunately one will have a notice period to comply or lose car allowance and fuel card frown

They are after all paying for me to have a car so I kind of understand it even if I don't want to sell my m3 frown
To be honest if you've had a scheme whereby your company has been giving you a fuel card whilst allowing you to drive anything you want you've probably had it good for a few years; sounds like someone has now decided enough is enough which I can understand! That said there are quite a lot of interesting machines with a combined figure over 30mpg so not a total disaster (albeit slightly annoying when you're happy with your M3!). Presumably you have the option to put money to the £400/month allowance although cars like the Golf R and M135i should be available within that budget anyway.