Company car; what to get & what to look out for?

[aberdeeneuan]

For me, I have two young kids. I don't have time to enjoy a toy/3rd car (not the ability to run it!) so I don't mind spending a bit more to get one car that does everything well. It's a compromise in a way, I'd never choose diesel (though it's been very good) and I'd have a coupe (but that's a pain for the kids, no matter what anyone says).

Few years time, I'll downsize it and get something smaller/cheaper and run a toy alongside it with the money saved, but for now it's the right thing for me.

As an aside, the new Octavia VRS is pretty good on our scheme, I'm going to look at that next time as well - not sure exactly how big it is though compared to the 3 series.

[acme]

aberdeeneuan said:

I'd never choose diesel

I've had a diesel daily for the past 5 years and did state I'd replace with a petrol, ideally a MK6 Golf GTI or Focus RS MKII - looks like I'll be sticking with diesel for the time being! I'm thinking with HMRC rates for expensing fuel petrol might actually end up costing me......

[CraigyMc]

acme said:

I'm getting the impression the 3 series is favourite with you company car drivers!!

One question for those who've done it for a while, does having a 'better' car, i.e. paying more BiK make much of a difference, or does it simply become like a washing machine, simply a white good etc?

I guess this is perhaps aimed more at those who have another vehicle to enjoy.

I'd say this: Work out how long you're going to sit in it.

eg. 20K miles per year at an average of 43mph (my overall average, yours may be different) is 465 hours, which is 58 8-hour working days worth of time.

Basically, if you're going to be in it a hell of a lot, ensure you're OK with the inside of the car.

Many company car drivers go for nicer cars on this sort of basis, and many go for the cheapest thing they can get their hands on, because they don't care. It's a matter of your own opinion as to which will suit you.

C

[RicksAlfas]

CraigyMc said:

I don't mean an upgrade CD (ie newer maps -- those are horrifyingly expensive).

I mean an upgrade to the firmware that the car uses to understand and display the maps, talk to bluetooth phones and the like.
It's a user-upgradeable thing, you just need a USB key to do it. It's free.

More info here: http://www.bmw.co.uk/en/topics/owners/mobile-devic...

C

Won't work on mine. I did everything I should - put my chassis number in, etc.
But the car just says "Software not compatible with this car".

[CraigyMc]

RicksAlfas said:

Won't work on mine. I did everything I should - put my chassis number in, etc.
But the car just says "Software not compatible with this car".

This is from when I did mine -- what does your car say?

[RicksAlfas]

I'm on
MX-002.005.022
TX-002.005.022

It can see the stick, but when it reads it, it says "This software not compatible with this car. Please refer to bmw.com/update"

[CraigyMc]

RicksAlfas said:

I'm on
MX-002.005.022
TX-002.005.022

It can see the stick, but when it reads it, it says "This software not compatible with this car. Please refer to bmw.com/update"

I wonder if you have to upgrade in turn to get to the latest. I didn't have to do that.

C

[acme]

CraigyMc said:

I'd say this: Work out how long you're going to sit in it.

eg. 20K miles per year at an average of 43mph (my overall average, yours may be different) is 465 hours, which is 58 8-hour working days worth of time.

Basically, if you're going to be in it a hell of a lot, ensure you're OK with the inside of the car.

Many company car drivers go for nicer cars on this sort of basis, and many go for the cheapest thing they can get their hands on, because they don't care. It's a matter of your own opinion as to which will suit you.

C

I do think this is how I feel as well, it's one of the reasons having a comfortable car probably an auto appeals, the thought of sitting on that po*y M25 all the way round it changing gear doesn't appeal.....

[CraigyMc]

acme said:

I do think this is how I feel as well, it's one of the reasons having a comfortable car probably an auto appeals, the thought of sitting on that po*y M25 all the way round it changing gear doesn't appeal.....

I only went for the manual 'box because I live somewhere that traffic isn't usually much of a problem.
If I was doing it again today, the 8-speed would be hard to look past as it's a fab bit of kit and to be honest the long gearing can make traffic jams annoying in the manual.

C

[acme]

CraigyMc said:

I only went for the manual 'box because I live somewhere that traffic isn't usually much of a problem.
If I was doing it again today, the 8-speed would be hard to look past as it's a fab bit of kit and to be honest the long gearing can make traffic jams annoying in the manual.

C

My main concern on the BM manuals is as mentioned my experience on the OH's 1 series, it's very springy and the clutch is VERY stiff, & I can't imagine on a 12 plate 1 series with 17k miles it's on its way out!

[CraigyMc]

acme said:

CraigyMc said:

I only went for the manual 'box because I live somewhere that traffic isn't usually much of a problem.
If I was doing it again today, the 8-speed would be hard to look past as it's a fab bit of kit and to be honest the long gearing can make traffic jams annoying in the manual.

C

My main concern on the BM manuals is as mentioned my experience on the OH's 1 series, it's very springy and the clutch is VERY stiff, & I can't imagine on a 12 plate 1 series with 17k miles it's on its way out!

The actual gearshift mechanism on mine isn't over-sprung to my mind. It's quite a nice box. The clutch is however quite heavy (no great shakes to me, but in half an hour of traffic the sole of your foot won't like you much). The pendulum DMF is different from all the other BMWs though -- you should try it to see what it feels like (one of the differences between the ED and the "normal" 320d is that it encourages you to use low RPM with the special flywheel).

C

[acme]

I've found that on the 1 series it really 'springs back & out of your hand', don't get me wrong, it's not a bad box it's just that 20 years of reading about BM's being drivers cars but not having actually driven one I expected more. As for the clutch, I'm amazed, it's almost as stiff as my weekend car, I'm surprised the OH hasn't complained - in fact it's due its first service & I've suggested it's looked at!

[RicksAlfas]

I fancy the auto next without a doubt. I had to have a new gearbox in mine at 18,000 as it wouldn't go into reverse! However that's not the reason I fancy the auto. I'm just sick of traffic jams.

The ED flywheel is very clever. Everytime I drive my wife's Golf in traffic I wonder why it feels like it's trying to pull it's engine off the mounts...

[acme]

As you can tell from the Golf/FRS comment I hadn't intended to get an auto next by any stretch (would only have considered a manual GTI) but assume I will be getting to know the motorway network somewhat better so it makes sense - not an issue in itself I just want something suitable.

Still can't get out of the lease company what the options are!

[motor mad]

I went with a Golf Match (mk6) last year. It was fairly cheap from a BIK perspective, comfortable and had all the bits I wanted. Its not going to be a car I'll ever own, so I just look at it as a business tool. It was about £140 under my allowance, so that money gies back towards paying the tax.

I can't fault it.

[acme]

motor mad said:

I went with a Golf Match (mk6) last year. It was fairly cheap from a BIK perspective, comfortable and had all the bits I wanted. Its not going to be a car I'll ever own, so I just look at it as a business tool. It was about £140 under my allowance, so that money gies back towards paying the tax.

I can't fault it.

This is another alternative, thing is having had a MK5 Golf for 5 years I do fancy a change, but having sat in a new MK7 at the weekend I really quite like the interior, much better than mine. As ever it all depends on what the options are.....

[motor mad]

acme said:

This is another alternative, thing is having had a MK5 Golf for 5 years I do fancy a change, but having sat in a new MK7 at the weekend I really quite like the interior, much better than mine. As ever it all depends on what the options are.....

Yep I agree. The options list can have a stupid impact on the BIK. Our company policy was that we had to have a car with metallic paint. The reason being was it's easier for the lease company to sell the cars on at the end of the term. I wasn't bothered about metallic paint, because it was a further £600 towards the BIK.

In case it hasn't been mentioned the BIK is the list price of the car plus options. I know it needs to be simple to calculate, but nobody pays list for a new car.

[acme]

Sorry I should've stated I meant what the options are car wise, as in what I can choose from, but point taken about the options being also factored into BiK, i.e. the 8 speed auto in the BM's are £1500 which will impact it all!

[hepy]

I do about 25k miles a year, including a few long drives (Blackburn to Heathrow last week).

I've got a 120d sport, and it's very comfy and a nice place to be. However, today a had a loan 120d M Sport, and that was just a little bit nicer and seemed to drive better, may be the low profiles?

Low tax as well.

Have you thought of an Alfa Guilettea? I looked at one before I got the one series, and that seemed to be ok on tax.

oh, and spec the DAB...I didn't and I wish I had.

[acme]

Must say I quite like the Guiletta, unfortunately Alfa's aren't on our list, which is a shame. I kind of subscribe to the Top Gear philosophy that all petrol heads should own one once, & if someone else is paying even better!