One car fits all dilemma

[jurph]

Hi All

At a loss as to what to do about a new car.

Currently own a 2018 Octavia VRS estate. It’s a perfectly adequate vehicle. However, my workplace has a rule that your car can’t be over 7 years old if you take the car cash allowance (I want to keep receiving this).

I need a car with a big boot and would like one that’s vaguely fun to drive. I can’t find a replacement for the Octavia as it fits the bill perfectly. It’s also had quite a bit of money spent on it recently.

I’m considering a second car (small and fun) to use for work, perhaps a couple of years old. This seems frivolous as both cars would be sat at home most of the time (ironically, I don’t actually drive much for work). However, a small second car could also have a benefit in that my partner could use it to learn to drive…

Anyone been in a similar situation. I had thought about a 21/22 plate Octavia VRS, but can’t bring myself to spend more money on a car which is so similar to what I have.

Budget up to 27/28k if replacing the Octavia, or 13/14k on a second fun, newish, small car…

[SWoll]

2 cars seems like a bad idea with so little use. Either of these should fit the bill for 3 years I would think. The Merc a bit over budget but just an example.

[jurph]

Tempting options. Rightly or wrongly, I think I’d want to buy such vehicles via approved used. But that’s another debate in itself!

[Huzzah]

jurph said:

Tempting options. Rightly or wrongly, I think I’d want to buy such vehicles via approved used. But that’s another debate in itself!

+ both options are now 4 yrs old so you'll soon be in breach of the 7 yr rule (again)

[SWoll]

jurph said:

Tempting options. Rightly or wrongly, I think I’d want to buy such vehicles via approved used. But that’s another debate in itself!

Usually pretty easy to get an AUC warranty even if not buying direct, takes 5 minutes online with Audi as did it myself a couple of weeks ago. I certainly wouldn't pay a significant premium for an AUC personally.

Huzzah said:

+ both options are now 4 yrs old so you'll soon be in breach of the 7 yr rule (again)

Is 3 years considered soon?

Edited by SWoll on Wednesday 23 April 12:41

[OutInTheShed]

Electric second car?

[Huzzah]

SWoll said:

jurph said:

Tempting options. Rightly or wrongly, I think I’d want to buy such vehicles via approved used. But that’s another debate in itself!

Usually pretty easy to get an AUC warranty even if not buying direct, takes 5 minutes online with Audi as did it myself a couple of weeks ago. I certainly wouldn't pay a significant premium for an AUC personally.

Huzzah said:

+ both options are now 4 yrs old so you'll soon be in breach of the 7 yr rule (again)

Is 3 years considered soon?

Edited by SWoll on Wednesday 23 April 12:41

For a low mileage family wagon, yes (in my book)

[ChocolateFrog]

Put a cheap private plate on your current car. If it's well maintained is there anyone at work anal enough to notice?

[SWoll]

Huzzah said:

For a low mileage family wagon, yes (in my book)

What does the type of car have to do with it?

3 years is the standard length of most lease deals, and buying something newer that meets the ask is going to be very limiting from a choice perspective.

[magpie215]

ChocolateFrog said:

Put a cheap private plate on your current car. If it's well maintained is there anyone at work anal enough to notice?

I was going to suggest the same....

[SWoll]

ChocolateFrog said:

Put a cheap private plate on your current car. If it's well maintained is there anyone at work anal enough to notice?

Won't work. They'll want paperwork including insurance/MOT etc. before paying the car allowance if its anything like companies I've worked for previously.

[ThingsBehindTheSun]

ChocolateFrog said:

Put a cheap private plate on your current car. If it's well maintained is there anyone at work anal enough to notice?

Do they actually check or ask for proof? I was able to run a 2007 shed for four years and collect the car allowance as nobody ever asked and I work from home anyway.

My plan if they started getting funny was just to buy something like a Dacia Sandero.

[Skodillac]

Move up to the 276bhp Skoda Superb:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202503049...

[jurph]

I would say getting three years out of the car would be a minimum, preferably more.

Unfortunately an electric car is a no go. Live in a terraced house with very unpredictable road parking.

Details of the car are all logged, alongside insurance details and MOT, so no getting round it unfortunately.

[SWoll]

jurph said:

I would say getting three years out of the car would be a minimum, preferably more.

As ever it's a balancing act between requirements and budget, so something has to give.

[markirl]

Have you done the sums to see if the car allowance is worth it?

Is the obvious solution not just a 3-4 year newer Octavia vrs?

[Chuffedmonkey]

ChocolateFrog said:

Put a cheap private plate on your current car. If it's well maintained is there anyone at work anal enough to notice?

My place checks yearly. Asks for insurance and vehicle details and when Its due its first MOT no doubt ill get asked to provide that too. Our place has a 3rd party company running everything vehicle related, from company vehicles to privately owned car allowance vehicles.

[jurph]

markirl said:

Have you done the sums to see if the car allowance is worth it?

Is the obvious solution not just a 3-4 year newer Octavia vrs?

Perhaps a newer vrs is the answer, but the newer model doesn’t seem hugely different to the one I have.

Has anyone experience of a Cupra Leon estate? The one which is pretty much a Golf R. They don’t seem bad value, have all the toys, lots of space etc

[66HFM]

As others have suggested, go with a cheap private plate on it and when challenged say you weren't aware that it was 7 years old.

Presumably your organisation has an Environmental Policy, when asked state that you are keeping your ULEZ compliant car (hopefully it is) running as you didn't wish to add to the environmental impact of manufacturing a new car.

The Environmental Policy would hopefully say something along the lines of ' minimising greenhouse gases etc'....

Good luck

[ZX10R NIN]

Leftfield

G70:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202504161...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202502209...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202504020...

G80:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202411156...

DS 9:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202504010...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202503059...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202504010...

508 Sport Engineered:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202503310...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202502118...

508 GT Premium:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202504231...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202503190...

CX 60:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202504030...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202502149...

Edited by ZX10R NIN on Thursday 24th April 19:17