another what car thread (kind off)

[ritch]

having used search and Google to search the site, I have found some posts but not all the answers I'm looking for! apologies for the long post - just wanted to get as much info/detail into the one post!

basically I'm trying to find some options for possible car replacement in 2011, but with the HMRC fuel rates for business mileage as a influencing factor.

Some background;
I get a car allowance from my employer which is reasonable, and a business mileage rate which is poor - currently 11p/mile (I have a 2.0 diesel).

My employer uses HMRC rates -
Petrol to 2000cc = 16p/mile
Petrol over 2000cc = 21p/mile
Diesel to 2000cc = 11p/mile
Diesel over 2000cc = 16p/mile

My current car is 2.0l diesel, 1986cc so gets the HMRC rate of 11p. It does a avg of 44mpg which at todays fuel costs (122.9/litre) costs 13p/mile to run! So I run at a loss.

I'm thinking if I can get a petrol that is 2001cc or larger that can return 33mpg or more (or running costs of 16p/mile), I can get a nicer car and get 21p/mile for business miles :-) or get a larger diesel engine (over 2001cc & 16p busines mile) to make the HMRC rates work in my favour.

I do approx 15k miles a year, 7k - 8k business miles. Most of this is motorway, so want to ditch the manual box and hard suspension - a wafty mile muncher is appealing!
I will have a budget of £6k - £10k (total) for a car next year.
Will be looking at something from 2004 onwards, preferably quality / prestige with an auto box.
Had initially been thinking about a C220 CDi or E220 CDi estate as diesel replacements.

So what I'd like some advice and recommendations is;
What decent petrol cars, 2001cc and over, with autobox can do 33mpg or more?
Requirements are for a decent size saloon /hatch or estate, obvious candidates are BMW, Audi, SAAB, Merc etc - are these safe buys at 4 - 6yr old? Up till now had been looking at the diesel options - petrol suggestions welcomed?

In terms of overall running costs, is a petrol car the better option or sticking with diesel? Is there a cross over point, in terms of running costs between the 2?

thanks in advance

[ritch]

anyone?

[Steve_F]

A lot of info in there, try summarising it at some point. I got bored reading it tbh. Might get a bit more help if it's a quick read.

[300bhp/ton]

ritch said:

having used search and Google to search the site, I have found some posts but not all the answers I'm looking for! apologies for the long post - just wanted to get as much info/detail into the one post!

basically I'm trying to find some options for possible car replacement in 2011, but with the HMRC fuel rates for business mileage as a influencing factor.

Some background;
I get a car allowance from my employer which is reasonable, and a business mileage rate which is poor - currently 11p/mile (I have a 2.0 diesel).

My employer uses HMRC rates -
Petrol to 2000cc = 16p/mile
Petrol over 2000cc = 21p/mile
Diesel to 2000cc = 11p/mile
Diesel over 2000cc = 16p/mile

My current car is 2.0l diesel, 1986cc so gets the HMRC rate of 11p. It does a avg of 44mpg which at todays fuel costs (122.9/litre) costs 13p/mile to run! So I run at a loss.

I'm thinking if I can get a petrol that is 2001cc or larger that can return 33mpg or more (or running costs of 16p/mile), I can get a nicer car and get 21p/mile for business miles :-) or get a larger diesel engine (over 2001cc & 16p busines mile) to make the HMRC rates work in my favour.

I do approx 15k miles a year, 7k - 8k business miles. Most of this is motorway, so want to ditch the manual box and hard suspension - a wafty mile muncher is appealing!
I will have a budget of £6k - £10k (total) for a car next year.
Will be looking at something from 2004 onwards, preferably quality / prestige with an auto box.
Had initially been thinking about a C220 CDi or E220 CDi estate as diesel replacements.

So what I'd like some advice and recommendations is;
What decent petrol cars, 2001cc and over, with autobox can do 33mpg or more?
Requirements are for a decent size saloon /hatch or estate, obvious candidates are BMW, Audi, SAAB, Merc etc - are these safe buys at 4 - 6yr old? Up till now had been looking at the diesel options - petrol suggestions welcomed?

In terms of overall running costs, is a petrol car the better option or sticking with diesel? Is there a cross over point, in terms of running costs between the 2?

thanks in advance

I think only you can really answer your questions tbh.

In terms of money.

8000 miles will get you this amount back

@ 16p = £1280
@ 21p = £1680

So a diesel will need to be more economical to make up the short fall in pence per miles.

Lots of options, I'd have though £10k would get you something like a 2.2d Jaguar X-Type. These should be able to do 40-45mpg and go quite well. A £300-400 remap will really wake them up too.

Not sure how economical they are, but the 2.4 JTD Alfa's would seem a sensible thing to look at too to get you in the higher pence per mile bracket.

Another option to look at would be LPG conversions. I'm sure you could buy something like a 3.0 V6 Jaguar XJ and have it LPG'd within budget, or even something like a 530i BMW. In terms of cost per mile I'd expect them to return in the order of 36-44mpg. You'd also be on the 21p/mile rate and have a nice luxury car too.

[ritch]

Steve_F said:

A lot of info in there, try summarising it at some point. I got bored reading it tbh. Might get a bit more help if it's a quick read.

good point well made!

Summary of 1st post;
* which autobox, mile munching, reliable, prestige??, low maintenance car (2004 onwards) for £6k - £10k?
some criteria -
* Petrol (PREFERRED) must 2001cc or above and do over 33mpg, likewise diesel must be 2001cc and do over 40mpg to break even or better for mileage claims (HMRC rates 21p petrol and 16p Diesel).
* Have mostly been looking at diesels (so far) so petrol alternatives of BMW 520d 525d, Merc C / E 220cdi Audi A4 / 6 2.5TDi etc that can do 33mpg or better!

thanks!