What would you do?

[Chris Stott]

Got my new company car list through. It's a bit disappointing as it looks like our lovely HR department have reduced the budget by around 10%, meaning that despite getting promoted, I have about the same budget as I got 4 years ago (current car Mondeo 2.2TDCi titanium X).

Anyhow, it is what it is, so here are the options...

2012 BMW 320d ED (extras allowance £1,278 ex vat)
2012 BMW 320d SE (£527)
2012 BMW 320i Sport (£1,452)
2012 BMW 320i SE (£2,310)
BMW 320d MSport Touring (£418)
BMW X1 2.0d SDrive ED (£1,768)
Ford Mondeo 2.0d (163) Titanium X Sport (£1,610)

Car will cover c.40k miles a year, mostly up and down the motorways. I have a 996 for weekends, but I don't want anything rubbish to drive so have discounted some other cars on the list (eg; all the Audi's - which also seem to be expensive to lease given the low specs available).

Car must have bluetooth, split folding seats, proper USB ipod connector and heated seats (good for my back), and if it's a BMW, it must have sports seats. Ideally, it would also have Xenons and leather, but I can live without them. Solid paint is fine. I can contribute up to 5% of the price in extras myself, but I'm only prepared to pay £3-400. BIK not really that important. IRS mileage allowance must fully cover business mileage.

I haven't made my own mind up yet as I'm waiting for a 3 series to test drive.

[JayTee94]

If it is the newer shape BMW 3'er then I would opt for that.

The spec is dependant on what you think would suit your needs more.

[poing]

320d SE, cheapest of I'm understanding the figures in brackets and SE spec is a bit more comfy to cover big miles. None of them are exciting as such so spend the least and go for comfort is my thinking.

[benjj]

Is the modern 320i a straight 6 still or has it gone all eco cack with a 4 pot?

[Fox-]

Don't whatever you do order the 320d M Sport Touring as it's an E91. Which would have been great as a company car in 2006, not so much in 2012.

[Fox-]

benjj said:

Is the modern 320i a straight 6 still or has it gone all eco cack with a 4 pot?

2 litre turbo.

[pacman1]

M Sport Touring looks the best to me.

[benjj]

Fox- said:

2 litre turbo.

Nothing is farking sacred these days

[Fox-]

pacman1 said:

M Sport Touring looks the best to me.

No, no, no. It's an old shape car, you dont want a new one of those anymore. It is being replaced in a few months - the Saloon already has been.

[pacman1]

Fox- said:

pacman1 said:

M Sport Touring looks the best to me.

No, no, no. It's an old shape car, you dont want a new one of those anymore. It is being replaced in a few months - the Saloon already has been.

So, in a few months it'll be a classic! What's the matter with Ph'ers these days, new shape is everything then?! Balls to that. Not like he's picking up the depreciation tab is it..

[Fox-]

pacman1 said:

So, in a few months it'll be a classic! What's the matter with Ph'ers these days, new shape is everything then?! Balls to that.

If you want an E91 go and buy one in the classifieds for £7k. You can do better with an allowance the size of his.

[va1o]

Is it the latest F30 3-series?

I'd take the 320d ED either way though and use the extra allowance to spec leather and or nav. No point going for anything else in my eyes if you have a weekend fun car, so the priorities should be comfort and running costs.

Buying a petrol to do 40k miles a year would be mental IMO!

[pacman1]

Fox- said:

pacman1 said:

So, in a few months it'll be a classic! What's the matter with Ph'ers these days, new shape is everything then?! Balls to that.

If you want an E91 go and buy one in the classifieds for £7k. You can do better with an allowance the size of his.

Perhaps, but he only has 7 similar repmobiles to choose from. Can he opt out and choose properly, maybe get paid per mile?

[The Moose]

I would have a look at the X1 just for sts and giggles - I've heard mixed things about them so you may well enjoy it?!

Controversial I know!!

[Chris Stott]

va1o said:

Is it the latest F30 3-series?

Yes, it's the new model 3er.

I can get an ED with split fold seat (how can this not be standard, FFS), sports heated seats, sports 3 spoke steering wheel and xenons... in poverty solid white or black (with £450 of my own cash)... but they look a bit miserable on 16's... the SE and Sport models look so much better on 17's (not allowed to upgrade wheels on our scheme).

pacman1 said:

Can he opt out and choose properly, maybe get paid per mile?

Yes, he can... but I don't fancy putting 160k miles on my own car with all the risk that I'd be taking on once the car is out of warantee.

The Moose said:

I would have a look at the X1 just for sts and giggles - I've heard mixed things about them so you may well enjoy it?!

Controversial I know!!

Not so controversial... I know they look 'a bit odd', but it's only really a 3er wagon (with the added convenience that goes with a hatchback) and I can spec one up quite nicely. Plus the ED version is reasonably brisk, very economical, and cheap on company car tax. I've booked one for a test drive.

Edited by Chris Stott on Monday 5th March 21:57

Edited by Chris Stott on Monday 5th March 21:58

[smugglersvin]

You should splash out a bit extra and get a straight six 3 series, Me and a couple of mates chipped in and bought this one for £50 2 years ago to do the home to Rome in and its still going strong.
We only paid that amount though as we wanted the optional sunroof otherwise it would have been £45, and we wouldn't of touched it if it didn't have a full BMW service history lol.

[va1o]

What about an F10 520d, is that an option at all? List price is very close to the 3-series these days. Has the leather and 17in alloys as standard both in regular SE and in ED form.

Nothing VW Group on the list?

[The Moose]

smugglersvin said:

You should splash out a bit extra and get a straight six 3 series, Me and a couple of mates chipped in and bought this one for £50 2 years ago to do the home to Rome in and its still going strong.
We only paid that amount though as we wanted the optional sunroof otherwise it would have been £45, and we wouldn't of touched it if it didn't have a full BMW service history lol.

OT, but where the hell do you find these for 50 notes?!

[smugglersvin]

Surrey through a friend of a friend lol, but it did need a new set of discs and pads to get it through a ticket.

[benzito]

320SE would get my vote,
but WTF is a Bmw X1 - i've just googled it now and it looks like the most pointless pile of twaddle I've seen for a while, like a minature 4by4 that's not really a 4by4 but makes up for this by being incredibly ugly??