company cars and tax

[FAST FORDS]

Hi
My company are making me take a company car, (I currently take the £360 b 4 tax allowance and run my own )I dont need a big car as i will still be keeping my VRS Octavia for week ends )

I do approx 10 k business miles mainly into London each day (no fun)

The list is big enough - any make, but limited to 160 kg c02, PETROL or Diesel

I want something fun / interesting to drive so far i've short listed the following (PLEASE FEEL FREE TO SUGGEST OTHERS or comment on below )

DS3 Diesel Hatchback 1.6 HDi 110 Dsport 3Dr 109 co2 AS the company pay me back £60 month to run it ( but only 12p mile )

9-3 Diesel Saloon 1.9 Ttid 180 SE 4Dr 119 co2 would cost me £ 92 +tax not
areo model would cost me £138 so it's out

Octavia Diesel Hatchback 2.0 TDI CR vRS 5Dr 149 co2, would costs me £ 110+tax

3 Series Diesel Saloon 320d Efficient Dynamics 109co2 would cost me £73+tax a month ( would like it more if coupe version was availble )

For diesels i get paid 12p /mile up to 1600cc or 15p mile upto 2000cc or 18p over 2000cc
SO really i need a 2100cc ds3 or Alfa Mito / Giulietta size car with dsg etc for london traffic ,but with low co2 and list price ( well i can dream )

BUT I DO LIKE :-
DS3 Hatchback 1.6 THP 16V Dsport 3Dr 155 co2 would cost me JUST £16.43/ month +tax
but think it may be the most fun to drive, but being petrol i would get 18 p
mile ( But could see me doing a trip to the ring in it )but am concerned that being a small car it may be too firm over all the speed bumps in London.

Is the tax related to the co2 and list price now , as i want to work out the difference in all of these and see how much the petrol ds3 would really cost me , if not it may be the 110 ds3 for me , i've yet to test drive any of these , so please add your suggestions THANKS

Edited by FAST FORDS on Tuesday 6th September 22:06

[Sam_68]

link

[Sam_68]

...oh, and welcome to PistonHeads, by the way.

[velocemitch]

Giulietta can come with the 140 brake diesel which comes in at 119g of Co2, might have the TCT option soon too so it's probably worth wandering down to an Alfa showroom... if there's one within a few hundred miles mind...

[edo]

320d ED.

[FAST FORDS]

Ar yes the alfa does appeal , i must look into it
thanks

re the 320 ed
is it an involving drive or just a very good car for traveling in ?

[edo]

/biased as I own a 320d ED/

I think it is a car that has great c02/BIK/Mpg without major compromise. Certainly it doesnt lack anything in the real world against the non ED I had as a company car before.

In real world driving making no attempt to economy it is giving 55mpg to date. That for a car that will crack 140mph (allegedly), 60 in around 8 seconds, and has more than enough power and torque in most every day situations. The ride is great since it doesnt have massive alloys or run-flat tyres, and you can have fun on your favourite A road. The only thing missing on ours is sports seats which I miss, but it had everything else and when you are buying a demo you cant have eveything...

[R12HCO]

edo said:

/biased as I own a 320d ED/

I think it is a car that has great c02/BIK/Mpg without major compromise. Certainly it doesnt lack anything in the real world against the non ED I had as a company car before.

In real world driving making no attempt to economy it is giving 55mpg to date. That for a car that will crack 140mph (allegedly), 60 in around 8 seconds, and has more than enough power and torque in most every day situations. The ride is great since it doesnt have massive alloys or run-flat tyres, and you can have fun on your favourite A road. The only thing missing on ours is sports seats which I miss, but it had everything else and when you are buying a demo you cant have eveything...

Couldnt agree more.

[snorkel sucker]

You could get an Elise ifyou want something fun. They fit your criteria

But if you are going into London you maybe want something sub 100g/co2 to avoid congestion charge? How about a 500 twinair?

[Amateurish]

Nissan Leaf? Zero co car tax...

How does your scheme work? Why do you have to pay for some cars and for others they pay you?

[GreatGranny]

How about the Scirocco TDi 170 DSG?

http://www.parkers.co.uk/cars/specs/Detail.aspx?de...

144 co2 and an auto for the commute. Its got a lower co2 than the 140 model according to Parkers.

Edit - Parkers out fo date, VW website has TDi Bluemotion DSG as 129 & 170 TDi DSG as 147. The petrol 1.4TSi 160ps is also 147 so that may be an alternative if you prefer a petrol.

http://www.volkswagen.co.uk/#/new/scirocco/which-m...

[edo]

Amateurish said:

Nissan Leaf? Zero co car tax...

How does your scheme work? Why do you have to pay for some cars and for others they pay you?

One word. RANGE. oh and 3 more words. TIME TO RECHARGE.

[Vlad the Imp]

As a long time company car and second car operator I think you've got this slightly wrong. Company cars are not meant to be fun and driving into London never will be fun no matter what you're driving. I'd base your company car choice on a compromise between what's the most tax efficient and what's the most comfortable to drive. If you're on fixed rate per mile I'd avoid an auto unless it's absolutely necessary as despite what manufacturers say they still have pretty poor real world fuel consumption.

Your second car is the fun car and while a VRs is moderately entertaining, the fact that your company car is now your practical transport means that you can go out and buy something properly fast and totally impractical.

[NotKenBlock]

I've recently gone down the same route and gone for a Passat CC

[Amateurish]

edo said:

Amateurish said:

Nissan Leaf? Zero co car tax...

How does your scheme work? Why do you have to pay for some cars and for others they pay you?

One word. RANGE. oh and 3 more words. TIME TO RECHARGE.

Read the OP, he only does 10k business miles mainly into London with an Octavia for weekends. The Leaf's range will easily cope with a daily journey like his. If he can recharge at work then it's *completely* free motoring. Certainly worth investigating I would have thought?

[FAST FORDS]

snorkel sucker said:

You could get an Elise ifyou want something fun. They fit your criteria

But if you are going into London you maybe want something sub 100g/co2 to avoid congestion charge? How about a 500 twinair?

Great choices but no real sports car on the list !!!
no too concerned abot c charge . i drive around it like most people

but thay have just put the fiat abarths on and convertibles man or autos , but not the essc kitted ones ?
keep the idears comming

re the Scirocco Diesel Coupe 2.0 TDI 170 GT 3Dr 134 would cost to much at £160 + tax
the Scirocco Diesel Coupe 2.0 TDI 170 GT 3Dr DSG 144 is £180 so too much nice looking cat thou

Edited by FAST FORDS on Wednesday 7th September 20:12

[Matt UK]

Vlad the Imp said:

As a long time company car and second car operator I think you've got this slightly wrong. Company cars are not meant to be fun and driving into London never will be fun no matter what you're driving. I'd base your company car choice on a compromise between what's the most tax efficient and what's the most comfortable to drive. If you're on fixed rate per mile I'd avoid an auto unless it's absolutely necessary as despite what manufacturers say they still have pretty poor real world fuel consumption.

Your second car is the fun car and while a VRs is moderately entertaining, the fact that your company car is now your practical transport means that you can go out and buy something properly fast and totally impractical.

[texasjohn]

320d ED is a good car

What about a MINI Cooper S? Is that on the list? Fun to drive, 180-odd hp, 40-45mpg, 149g CO2

[snorkel sucker]

FAST FORDS said:

snorkel sucker said:

You could get an Elise ifyou want something fun. They fit your criteria

But if you are going into London you maybe want something sub 100g/co2 to avoid congestion charge? How about a 500 twinair?

Great choices but no real sports car on the list !!!
no too concerned abot c charge . i drive around it like most people

but thay have just put the fiat abarths on and convertibles man or autos , but not the essc kitted ones ?
keep the idears comming

re the Scirocco Diesel Coupe 2.0 TDI 170 GT 3Dr 134 would cost to much at £160 + tax
the Scirocco Diesel Coupe 2.0 TDI 170 GT 3Dr DSG 144 is £180 so too much nice looking cat thou

Edited by FAST FORDS on Wednesday 7th September 20:12

The Scirocco 170 diesel is a very good car. I test drove one a couple of months back and I was impressed. Plenty quick enough and it sounded quite good...

Also drive a 500 abarth. Was good fun, but not as grown up or refined as the Scirocco, if thats what you are after

[BlueJazz]

The MINI Cooper is a good choice. A sports coupé similar to the VW is the Honda CRZ if you fancy a hybrid choice instead?