Company Cars - image from a customer's view
Discussion
How does a company car affect your view of the company if you are a customer?
I.e. if they turn up in a Fiesta Econetic do you think, "this can't be a successful company," or, "they're nat overcharging me"?
Or the opposite end of the scale:
They turn up in a fully loaded S65 do you think, "wow, they're obviously successful," or, "they must be making a s
tload of money out of me"?
Which scenario is better, or would it be somewhere in between?
I.e. if they turn up in a Fiesta Econetic do you think, "this can't be a successful company," or, "they're nat overcharging me"?
Or the opposite end of the scale:
They turn up in a fully loaded S65 do you think, "wow, they're obviously successful," or, "they must be making a s
tload of money out of me"?Which scenario is better, or would it be somewhere in between?
in my last job we all drove low spec golfs - even though we were offered mid spec 3 series for the same price for the exact reason
in terms of what to get it all depends on your level in the company - if a director turned up in a corsa i'd be a concerned, but at the same time the tea boy doesnt need 5 series
my current comapny goes
Megane
Laguna
3 Series
5 Series
then directors have whatever they want - currently a DBS and a 911 Turbo
in terms of what to get it all depends on your level in the company - if a director turned up in a corsa i'd be a concerned, but at the same time the tea boy doesnt need 5 series
my current comapny goes
Megane
Laguna
3 Series
5 Series
then directors have whatever they want - currently a DBS and a 911 Turbo
Somewhere in betweeen I would of thought.
My thinking would be something that looks fairly decent on the outside, but with lots of toys on the inside.
A mate of mine used to have a company car and was told where possible dont park, where the customer can see the car.
Because you dont know what impression it gives to the customer.
He had a Lupo Gti
My thinking would be something that looks fairly decent on the outside, but with lots of toys on the inside.
A mate of mine used to have a company car and was told where possible dont park, where the customer can see the car.
Because you dont know what impression it gives to the customer.
He had a Lupo Gti
A friend of mine has 2 vehicles that he uses with careful thought.
An Audi A4 1.9tdi with 175000 miles. It is okay.
A Mercedes CLS 320cdi new.
He is very careful to select the right car when going to meetings to ensure the correct "image" is portrayed.
Thinking about it my deceased stepfather did the same. He had a Mercedes 240D and a Mercedes 500SEL. that was some time ago!
An Audi A4 1.9tdi with 175000 miles. It is okay.
A Mercedes CLS 320cdi new.
He is very careful to select the right car when going to meetings to ensure the correct "image" is portrayed.
Thinking about it my deceased stepfather did the same. He had a Mercedes 240D and a Mercedes 500SEL. that was some time ago!
On From A to B: Tales of modern motoring in the mid-'90s, a regional manager in a BMW was saying how he dabbled with running his own business, and to keep the cost base down he drove a Peugeot 309 which he always parked round the corner because it didn't give the right image of him as Chief Executve of his own company.
The company failed anyway, hence he was now in a BMW 320i Coupe while talking to camera driving down a motorway - and his colleagues all drove Mercedes Benz 190s but this didn't suit his personal image so he pulled strings and got a BMW when he started with the firm!
It's like the dentist wearing hob nailed boots who clumps into the waiting room to call you in, I guess...
The company failed anyway, hence he was now in a BMW 320i Coupe while talking to camera driving down a motorway - and his colleagues all drove Mercedes Benz 190s but this didn't suit his personal image so he pulled strings and got a BMW when he started with the firm!
It's like the dentist wearing hob nailed boots who clumps into the waiting room to call you in, I guess...
When I sold double-glazing (I was the good cop), I used an old Metro City. Sometimes prospective clients would have a look outside to see what I had turned up in. One actually told me that he would never have signed if I'd been driving something decent.
I agree, however, that if you're going to a client who may be investing big bucks in an offshore scheme (say, Jimmy Carr), then he's not going to trust your business acumen if you come across as a bit "low-rent" in choice of transport.
I agree, however, that if you're going to a client who may be investing big bucks in an offshore scheme (say, Jimmy Carr), then he's not going to trust your business acumen if you come across as a bit "low-rent" in choice of transport.
xRIEx said:
How does a company car affect your view of the company if you are a customer?
I.e. if they turn up in a Fiesta Econetic do you think, "this can't be a successful company," or, "they're nat overcharging me"?
Or the opposite end of the scale:
They turn up in a fully loaded S65 do you think, "wow, they're obviously successful," or, "they must be making a stload of money out of me"?
Which scenario is better, or would it be somewhere in between?
IMO it depends on what they are selling. If they are selling something in a market that is driven on price for example, then a bland-o-matic Golf/Focus/Astra TDi that is clean new-ish will be viewed by most as professional looking. If they arrive at a site visit in something that is obviously expensive/flash like a Bentley/DB9 then expect comments about overcharging. Some will view it as a sign of success and therefore a sign that they can do the job well, but the vast majority will just view it as showing off. I.e. if they turn up in a Fiesta Econetic do you think, "this can't be a successful company," or, "they're nat overcharging me"?
Or the opposite end of the scale:
They turn up in a fully loaded S65 do you think, "wow, they're obviously successful," or, "they must be making a s
tload of money out of me"?Which scenario is better, or would it be somewhere in between?
If you are some sort of life coach (if that is the right term), then it might be a good idea to arrive in something expensive, to show the customer "I know what I'm talking about, listen to me and you might be able to drive something like this".
I don't know what the customers thought, but the last company car I was in, the company catered pretty much exclusively to councils, so it was a Prius to tick the eco box so beloved of councils. More importantly I suspect is that it didn't set off the 'getting fat off taxpayer's money' alarm.
IMo, the better the car, the more likely I am to be impressed. However, thats because a company man paying big money in tax for a decent car makes my inner petrolhead smile.
Me, I get what suits my needs, not what impression my car makes. If the buying decision is based on what wheels I am armed with, these is something fundamentally wrong with my relationship with the client.
Me, I get what suits my needs, not what impression my car makes. If the buying decision is based on what wheels I am armed with, these is something fundamentally wrong with my relationship with the client.
We are an IT consultancy/software house and the people with company cars can have anything they like more or less as long as the lease deal fits certain criteria. "Junior" consultants get stuff like A3 TDIs, 118ds etc, the middle of the road tends to be stuff like A5 2.0T, 320ed, 123d, C220d, A6 2.0 TDI, 520d (people who want something a bit fun have had stuff like 350Z, S3, RX8 in the past) and the higherups drive stuff like 640i, Jag XF, Jag XKR, E92 M3, RR TDV8 etc. Most of them will visit clients. I don't think anyone would look twice at a £30k german diesel as they're actually pretty cheap to lease, although it depends what industry you're in I guess. Some people will see a BMW or Merc and think "expensive" and "overcharged".
It's a minefield.
My wife got told to park her previously owned Chim 450 round the corner, despite being only worth £12k. If she'd been in a £20k Mondeo they wouldn't have minded.
Needless to say that it didnt go down to well when we got a 997S....
Lots of people at all sorts of levels in my (large multinational) company have some very decent cars, and most people in the industry are fine with it - people work hard and get rewarded accordingly..
My wife got told to park her previously owned Chim 450 round the corner, despite being only worth £12k. If she'd been in a £20k Mondeo they wouldn't have minded.
Needless to say that it didnt go down to well when we got a 997S....
Lots of people at all sorts of levels in my (large multinational) company have some very decent cars, and most people in the industry are fine with it - people work hard and get rewarded accordingly..
If I buy another new van I'd seriously consider a reg plate that suggests it's 3 or 4 years old, specially if it's another merc (not likely though)
For most occupations I'd be tempted to drive a nicely specced mondeo rather than say a 3 series, or if you really must have say that 330, wap a 318d badge on it.
Sad but with our petty jealous society it makes a lot of sense...
For most occupations I'd be tempted to drive a nicely specced mondeo rather than say a 3 series, or if you really must have say that 330, wap a 318d badge on it.
Sad but with our petty jealous society it makes a lot of sense...
Smanks said:
If you are some sort of life coach (if that is the right term), then it might be a good idea to arrive in something expensive, to show the customer "I know what I'm talking about, listen to me and you might be able to drive something like this".
I remember driving past a silver Focus on the M4 covered in "life coach" graphics.No thanks, I don't need coaching to get to that sort of life.
aw51 121565 said:
On From A to B: Tales of modern motoring in the mid-'90s, a regional manager in a BMW was saying how he dabbled with running his own business, and to keep the cost base down he drove a Peugeot 309 which he always parked round the corner because it didn't give the right image of him as Chief Executve of his own company.
I remember that fondly...didn't the 'lowest of the low' have a diesel Maestro? He cried IIRC.Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff