Traders, perhaps you can help.

[freenote]

So I'm in the position of needing to purchase 2 cars for my business. Budget c£3k and can't really travel much more than 40 miles or so from London to collect.

Now, I don't want to offend the many traders on here, but how can I reassure myself that I'm buying off of a dealer who would help me if there were any issues with the car and isn't likely to sell me something that's a pile of rubbish.

Half the dealers I call in London seem to advertise full history when they actually mean no history or mot history etc etc.
Also, many have poor customer service skills on an initial call so I'm sure any follow-up issues will be a pain to deal with.

I can't buy privately.

Any thoughts or even recommendations of London/Herts etc dealers very welcome.

And once again, I am not stereotyping an industry here; there are dodgy dealers in every industry and I'm asking for help to avoid them.

[Toaster Pilot]

Why can't you buy privately?

At this kind of money, condition/history is paramount and you need to assume you're not getting any support on a £1500 car, IMO. (assuming you meant £3k for both, not £3k each)

[freenote]

Sorry, £3k each.

[IanCress]

With the best will in the world, any £3k car could have potential faults and worn parts that the dealer does't know about, and could cause you hassle down the line. You're maybe better off spending money on getting the vehicles inspected before you purchase them, and setting aside some money for a warranty.

[anonymous-user]

Traders who deal in 3k cars are all likely to be stbags.

At that price they will have little mark up and be selling on volume. Assuming a 3k is an older car or high miler then the likelihood of issues with reliability is greater. If the trader is tasting about £400 from that sale then any after sales is likely to be non existent if you go back for help.

[CYMR0]

Can you lease?

A cheap, 60 mpg new car that doesn't go wrong and doesn't leave your staff stranded or annoy your customers, and which can be offset against tax from income (at least partially) is likely to leave you financially better off and give you an easier life than £3k of immediate capital outlay.

[freenote]

CYMR0 said:

Can you lease?

A cheap, 60 mpg new car that doesn't go wrong and doesn't leave your staff stranded or annoy your customers, and which can be offset against tax from income (at least partially) is likely to leave you financially better off and give you an easier life than £3k of immediate capital outlay.

Agreed but leasing not an option at the moment.

[Bennet]

I'd be spending £2000 a piece on two 1.8 petrol toyota avensis* with good service history bought in private sales from decent seeming slightly older chaps and keeping £2000 in the bank to fix anything that goes wrong with either of them. Which it shouldn't.

'*or something equally Japenese, reliable and boring to drive.

[jgtv]

Before you do anything that might catch you out, look into what it might end up costing you to provide these "cheap" cars because tax is based on the original list price not what you paid.

The Revenue don't like pool cars in the books unless you very good at keeping records so make sure you dont end up getting screwed.

[Bennet]

jgtv said:

Before you do anything that might catch you out, look into what it might end up costing you to provide these "cheap" cars because tax is based on the original list price not what you paid.

The Revenue don't like pool cars in the books unless you very good at keeping records so make sure you dont end up getting screwed.

Could you expand?

I'd have thought the asset was valued at cost and depreciated over x many years. How does the original list price come in to it?

[Roo]

Bennet said:

jgtv said:

Before you do anything that might catch you out, look into what it might end up costing you to provide these "cheap" cars because tax is based on the original list price not what you paid.

The Revenue don't like pool cars in the books unless you very good at keeping records so make sure you dont end up getting screwed.

Could you expand?

I'd have thought the asset was valued at cost and depreciated over x many years. How does the original list price come in to it?

I assume he's talking anout the BIK liability for the employee.

I wouldn't want to driving a £3k ched and paying tax on its P11D value of £30k for example.

[V8forweekends]

Roo said:

Bennet said:

jgtv said:

Before you do anything that might catch you out, look into what it might end up costing you to provide these "cheap" cars because tax is based on the original list price not what you paid.

The Revenue don't like pool cars in the books unless you very good at keeping records so make sure you dont end up getting screwed.

Could you expand?

I'd have thought the asset was valued at cost and depreciated over x many years. How does the original list price come in to it?

I assume he's talking anout the BIK liability for the employee.

I wouldn't want to driving a £3k ched and paying tax on its P11D value of £30k for example.

^^ This - I nearly fell foul of his a while back - Jag cost ~ £12k but would have been taxed (if a company car provided for my use) at the original list price of ~ £50K. So the company didn't buy it for me .....

[freenote]

Well I'm looking for 2 x Honda Jazz so tax isn't a huge issue.

Anyone able to give me a recommendation of a good dealer who may be able to help. I'm calling up dealers and unfortunately they don't fill me with confidence.

I always find it difficult to buy cars and have bought a mix of private and trade previously but as it's for the business I'm being a bit more picky/sensible and coming up with nothing!

[IanCress]

freenote said:

Well I'm looking for 2 x Honda Jazz so tax isn't a huge issue.

Anyone able to give me a recommendation of a good dealer who may be able to help. I'm calling up dealers and unfortunately they don't fill me with confidence.

I always find it difficult to buy cars and have bought a mix of private and trade previously but as it's for the business I'm being a bit more picky/sensible and coming up with nothing!

They're not filling you with confidence because you're probably asking them to guarantee nothing will go wrong with the 8 year old cars you're trying to buy from them. Nobody will commit to that. If you want complete peace of mind then you will have to buy new / lease.