Car purchase advice requested - PHEV??

[chasethesun]

Dear collective brain,


Man Maths advice requested r.e. car purchase.


The scenario:

1. I have a new job requiring a 50 mile round trip commute 4 days per week. Starts next month.

2. Present daily driver is a supercharged range rover - 12-16mpg(!). Worth circa £6k. Not a big problem previously due to minuscule annual milage.

3. Current accommodation is detached, for 6 months or so. Next accommodation may be a flat without charging facilities.

4. Local city announced a 'Low emission zone' to start shortly - additional tax on car ownership when travelling into and out of the city. Something I do frequently.

5. High-rate PAYE tax payer

6. Sole director to a pre-revenue VAT registered company. Not likely to make a sale for another 12 months or so.


Taking the above into account - It seems that the optimal course of action is to buy a PHEV. Owned a MKV GTI previously - really enjoyed it. Considering a GTE.


The questions:


1.Do you agree with PHEV?

2. What route to buy?

3. Best to buy as an individual, plug in grant etc., or buy through the company?

4. Do you have access to the £2500 grant if purchasing a qualifying PHEV as a Ltd Co?

5. How does the scrappage scheme work? Would prefer to keep the RR and SORN it for when I need access to a bigger vehicle.


Buying/leasing though the company means transferring personal monies into the company to put against a directors loan account, to buy/lease the car, until such time IF the company becomes profitable. Note that the BIK rates are set to increase for PHEVs.


I do approx £5k business milage. This may change.


Thoughts? Things I haven't considered? Other car possibilities?

Look to make the purchase shortly. Wouldn't look to spend more than £25k on a replacement vehicle for the RR. It would be financed, either personally, or through the company.


I await the PH massive. Thanks

[Pica-Pica]

If you are a sole director, how come you lumber yourself with high-rate PAYE?

[chasethesun]

Day job, regrettably!

Thoughts on the above?

[ZX10R NIN]

The GTE only works well in short journey scenarios but on longer runs you might as well have a GTI also you can get diesel hybrids to so that way you get the best of both as well as breezing through ULEZ areas with no penalty.

Also remember in ULEZ areas you just need to have a Petrol from 2012 onwards or 2016 for diesels.

[chasethesun]

Thank you - that's helpful to know.

[ZX10R NIN]

Forgot to add Councils can't just legislate against either petrol or diesels they can only Tax cars by their EURO designation, so if the car you buy is Euro6 your fine.

[chasethesun]

Perfect- thank you

[Big GT]

In a similar situation we've just gone for a GTE - 20-30 miles in electric.

Until the end Sep,t GTE's you can pick up GTE lease deals sub £300 inc VAT. Low BIK as well if considering running through as a company car.

The thing with the GTE its a good car very little compromise unlike most other PHEV's at the moment.

[chasethesun]

Thanks Big GT - it's good to hear from someone who's made a similar choice. Does it feel, if not hot, at least relatively warm to drive?

[Pica-Pica]

ZX10R NIN said:

The GTE only works well in short journey scenarios but on longer runs you might as well have a GTI also you can get diesel hybrids to so that way you get the best of both as well as breezing through ULEZ areas with no penalty.

Also remember in ULEZ areas you just need to have a Petrol from 2012 onwards or 2016 for diesels.

Agreed.

[Pica-Pica]

ZX10R NIN said:

Forgot to add Councils can't just legislate against either petrol or diesels they can only Tax cars by their EURO designation, so if the car you buy is Euro6 your fine.

Or Euro 5 for petrols.