Company car allowance - which car?

[LeadFarmer]

Help needed please with the options open to us as the wife is moving to a new job that pays £400 per month company car allowance (she's a low rate tax payer).

Here's what we are thinking....
Don't want to get a new car on PCP or lease until she knows if the job is right for her, so this means buying a 2nd hand car. That way we can sell it if she later changes jobs.
Unsure of expected mileage until she's been there a while, so thinking initially something like a diesel Ford Focus under £10k
If she's happy with the job and ends up staying long term we can consider a different approach.

Sound about right?

[LeeM135i]

Yes, I do the same thing. Something uncool like an Astra will get you a newer / lower milage car than a Focus.

Looking to buy a 3 year old Kia for £12k/£13k so I can have the 4 year warranty just incase something goes wrong other than the usual service items.

Most mid size cars are perfectly happy cruising all day on the motorway with no problems what so ever. They then make a good deposit when it's time for something newer.

[ZX10R NIN]

LeadFarmer said:

Help needed please with the options open to us as the wife is moving to a new job that pays £400 per month company car allowance (she's a low rate tax payer).

Here's what we are thinking....
Don't want to get a new car on PCP or lease until she knows if the job is right for her, so this means buying a 2nd hand car. That way we can sell it if she later changes jobs.
Unsure of expected mileage until she's been there a while, so thinking initially something like a diesel Ford Focus under £10k
If she's happy with the job and ends up staying long term we can consider a different approach.

Sound about right?

Sounds spot on but look at Vauxhall's as you'll get a nicer lower mileage one then the equivalent Focus.

New shape 1.6d Elite Nav:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202202012...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202202172...

1.6d Biturbo Elite Nav

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202202032...

2.0d Astra Elite:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202111099...

BiTurbo

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202201181...

Astra GTC SRI

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202112030...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202201221...

[LeadFarmer]

Thanks for those details, we will start searching Autotrader etc

[SWoll]

Having driven any number of Ford/Vauxhall hire cars over the past few years I'd suggest the Focus justifies it's higher used price very well.

[JQ]

Personally I'd ignore that it's a car allowance, she's just being paid an extra £400pcm (non-pensionable) and is required to have a car. Buy whatever car you'd normally get. You don't have to spend every penny of the allowance on a car and similarly you can spend more if you want.

[SWoll]

JQ said:

Personally I'd ignore that it's a car allowance, she's just being paid an extra £400pcm (non-pensionable) and is required to have a car. Buy whatever car you'd normally get. You don't have to spend every penny of the allowance on a car and similarly you can spend more if you want.

There will likely be some limitations around what can be bought though. Vehicle age, engine size etc. can be limited by come companies in an attempt to ensure reliability and fuel costs.

[JQ]

SWoll said:

JQ said:

Personally I'd ignore that it's a car allowance, she's just being paid an extra £400pcm (non-pensionable) and is required to have a car. Buy whatever car you'd normally get. You don't have to spend every penny of the allowance on a car and similarly you can spend more if you want.

There will likely be some limitations around what can be bought though. Vehicle age, engine size etc. can be limited by come companies in an attempt to ensure reliability and fuel costs.

In which case those restrictions are far more important than where the money is coming from.