Boring company car
Discussion
The time has finally come to order a new company car after mine has been delayed 4 months. I have never had a new car (owned or company) so I can't wait!
Previous cars (also boring Punto 1.2, Punto 1.9, Ibiza 1.9, V40 D2, and an A3 saloon (company).
My Audi A3 saloon 1.6tdi is very good at being a competent car, and that's it... It's neither exciting nor fast it is however very economical, 48.9mpg over 20,000 miles with a heavy right foot. It has no equipment whatsoever not even sat nav which is very frustrating with 20,000 business miles. Can't wait for it to go.
The new car list had a massive range of options from hybrid Lexus to a Octavia VRS and a Volvo XC40. I chose to settle on hopefully a blend of economy, toys and hopefully a good drive...
I have gone for the new A200 saloon, AMG line premium plus, which is basically all the toys apart from HUD. It's 163bhp 1.3 petrol turbo. I could have opted an A250 which is 2.0l turbo but I chose not to as my regular commute (not business) is 55 miles each way.
The only other input I had was the colour choice, Denim blue. Every other option was a variant of grey/silver/white.
I can't wait. I might even post a picture if anyone is interested when it arrives
and my best effort at a review!
I'll probably do it anyway .......
Previous cars (also boring Punto 1.2, Punto 1.9, Ibiza 1.9, V40 D2, and an A3 saloon (company).
My Audi A3 saloon 1.6tdi is very good at being a competent car, and that's it... It's neither exciting nor fast it is however very economical, 48.9mpg over 20,000 miles with a heavy right foot. It has no equipment whatsoever not even sat nav which is very frustrating with 20,000 business miles. Can't wait for it to go.
The new car list had a massive range of options from hybrid Lexus to a Octavia VRS and a Volvo XC40. I chose to settle on hopefully a blend of economy, toys and hopefully a good drive...
I have gone for the new A200 saloon, AMG line premium plus, which is basically all the toys apart from HUD. It's 163bhp 1.3 petrol turbo. I could have opted an A250 which is 2.0l turbo but I chose not to as my regular commute (not business) is 55 miles each way.
The only other input I had was the colour choice, Denim blue. Every other option was a variant of grey/silver/white.
I can't wait. I might even post a picture if anyone is interested when it arrives
and my best effort at a review! I'll probably do it anyway .......
And I guess keeping one eye on the BIK tax costs too I guess. I’m coming to the end of my time with a vRS company car. It’s been a great car (brisk, economical, massive inside, easy to use etc) but my god it’s expensive now. Two years of big hikes on tax now the government have decided that diesel is evil.
I’ve opted out and with the tax savings and my car allowance, a 140 is going to cost me less. Annoyingly the eGolf is now back on our list. I’d have cancelled my 140 order for one because they’re so sodding cheap as a company car user. It would have meant some compromises but the cash saving would have been worth it. One of our directors has just ordered a Kia Ev to replace his 320d and he reckons he’ll be £5k a year better off including fuel. That’s a lot.
I’ve opted out and with the tax savings and my car allowance, a 140 is going to cost me less. Annoyingly the eGolf is now back on our list. I’d have cancelled my 140 order for one because they’re so sodding cheap as a company car user. It would have meant some compromises but the cash saving would have been worth it. One of our directors has just ordered a Kia Ev to replace his 320d and he reckons he’ll be £5k a year better off including fuel. That’s a lot.
Court_S said:
And I guess keeping one eye on the BIK tax costs too I guess. I’m coming to the end of my time with a vRS company car. It’s been a great car (brisk, economical, massive inside, easy to use etc) but my god it’s expensive now. Two years of big hikes on tax now the government have decided that diesel is evil.
I’ve opted out and with the tax savings and my car allowance, a 140 is going to cost me less. Annoyingly the eGolf is now back on our list. I’d have cancelled my 140 order for one because they’re so sodding cheap as a company car user. It would have meant some compromises but the cash saving would have been worth it. One of our directors has just ordered a Kia Ev to replace his 320d and he reckons he’ll be £5k a year better off including fuel. That’s a lot.
Yes exactly, the BIK cost was about £50 a month better off than any form of diesel. I’ve opted out and with the tax savings and my car allowance, a 140 is going to cost me less. Annoyingly the eGolf is now back on our list. I’d have cancelled my 140 order for one because they’re so sodding cheap as a company car user. It would have meant some compromises but the cash saving would have been worth it. One of our directors has just ordered a Kia Ev to replace his 320d and he reckons he’ll be £5k a year better off including fuel. That’s a lot.
Court_S said:
And I guess keeping one eye on the BIK tax costs too I guess. I’m coming to the end of my time with a vRS company car. It’s been a great car (brisk, economical, massive inside, easy to use etc) but my god it’s expensive now. Two years of big hikes on tax now the government have decided that diesel is evil.
I’ve opted out and with the tax savings and my car allowance, a 140 is going to cost me less. Annoyingly the eGolf is now back on our list. I’d have cancelled my 140 order for one because they’re so sodding cheap as a company car user. It would have meant some compromises but the cash saving would have been worth it. One of our directors has just ordered a Kia Ev to replace his 320d and he reckons he’ll be £5k a year better off including fuel. That’s a lot.
I'd rather spend the extra on a 140 than have to drive an eGolf! I’ve opted out and with the tax savings and my car allowance, a 140 is going to cost me less. Annoyingly the eGolf is now back on our list. I’d have cancelled my 140 order for one because they’re so sodding cheap as a company car user. It would have meant some compromises but the cash saving would have been worth it. One of our directors has just ordered a Kia Ev to replace his 320d and he reckons he’ll be £5k a year better off including fuel. That’s a lot.
The quantity surveyor (I.e tight) in me was tempted though. As of next financial year EV’s attract no BIK tax so the cost is purely the loss of a car allowance. I have done the opposite, the company car list in work has gone terrible ( few years ago was a great spread). Now basically all you have have is a 320d se... at circa $345 a month BIK I have diced to take the cash and run. Our company cars are kept for 4 years, my concern was having a car which I would not choose and get stuck with it for 4 years with the potential tax rises in the future!
So I have now opted out, though work really wants us all to go this way. Basically once we are out, we are out........
So what next... Again gone opposite, as I don't want to take finance out right now and want to bank some money I have just put a deposit on a 58 plate E Class 320CDI lol. So old barge to do some mileage lugging for next year and only cost me maintenance with no finance payments.
Of course im going to put a thread on it once get it. Just see how it handles the next 12 months.
So I have now opted out, though work really wants us all to go this way. Basically once we are out, we are out........
So what next... Again gone opposite, as I don't want to take finance out right now and want to bank some money I have just put a deposit on a 58 plate E Class 320CDI lol. So old barge to do some mileage lugging for next year and only cost me maintenance with no finance payments.
Of course im going to put a thread on it once get it. Just see how it handles the next 12 months.
RhysH said:
I have done the opposite, the company car list in work has gone terrible ( few years ago was a great spread). Now basically all you have have is a 320d se... at circa $345 a month BIK I have diced to take the cash and run. Our company cars are kept for 4 years, my concern was having a car which I would not choose and get stuck with it for 4 years with the potential tax rises in the future!
So I have now opted out, though work really wants us all to go this way. Basically once we are out, we are out........
So what next... Again gone opposite, as I don't want to take finance out right now and want to bank some money I have just put a deposit on a 58 plate E Class 320CDI lol. So old barge to do some mileage lugging for next year and only cost me maintenance with no finance payments.
Of course im going to put a thread on it once get it. Just see how it handles the next 12 months.
The only guarantee with BIK is that it goes up. Diesel is now very expensive. Will be interesting to hear how you get on with an older barge.So I have now opted out, though work really wants us all to go this way. Basically once we are out, we are out........
So what next... Again gone opposite, as I don't want to take finance out right now and want to bank some money I have just put a deposit on a 58 plate E Class 320CDI lol. So old barge to do some mileage lugging for next year and only cost me maintenance with no finance payments.
Of course im going to put a thread on it once get it. Just see how it handles the next 12 months.
Shame you can't opt out - that certainly limits your options!
Looking back I was lucky to get the choice of a company car or opting out for an allowance back in 2004.
As the company car options were pretty boring I opted out and took the allowance, although the HMRC business mileage rates pretty much dictated a diesel.
I hope you can find something you like - or can at least live with.
Looking back I was lucky to get the choice of a company car or opting out for an allowance back in 2004.
As the company car options were pretty boring I opted out and took the allowance, although the HMRC business mileage rates pretty much dictated a diesel.
I hope you can find something you like - or can at least live with.
Mr Tidy said:
Shame you can't opt out - that certainly limits your options!
Looking back I was lucky to get the choice of a company car or opting out for an allowance back in 2004.
As the company car options were pretty boring I opted out and took the allowance, although the HMRC business mileage rates pretty much dictated a diesel.
I hope you can find something you like - or can at least live with.
Fingers crossed the A200 drives well enough to keep me entertained, it certainly has enough toys to keep me entertained. Looking back I was lucky to get the choice of a company car or opting out for an allowance back in 2004.
As the company car options were pretty boring I opted out and took the allowance, although the HMRC business mileage rates pretty much dictated a diesel.
I hope you can find something you like - or can at least live with.
I wish I could have driven one before ordering but it was a "live list" where cars were removed once they ran out of stock. As the list was 4 months late there was a massive backlog of orders and the list kept getting smaller the longer I looked at it.
JacobsCracker said:
I would have definitely taken car allowance but unfortunately my position is an "essential user" so opting out is not an option....
My big plans for a 335d coupe were ruined. Although as has been mentioned, perhaps for the best I didn't grab a big oil burner right now!
I opted out and bought a 3 year old 335D, I wish I hadn’t bothered. Very dull car that wasn’t worth the money or the loss when I sold it, current E220cdi that replaced (5 years old) has been better in every way except outright acceleration. My big plans for a 335d coupe were ruined. Although as has been mentioned, perhaps for the best I didn't grab a big oil burner right now!
AlmostUseful said:
I opted out and bought a 3 year old 335D, I wish I hadn’t bothered. Very dull car that wasn’t worth the money or the loss when I sold it, current E220cdi that replaced (5 years old) has been better in every way except outright acceleration.
When I opted out I bought a pre-registered 123d and really liked it - just not the depreciation! 
So after business miles ended I replaced it with a BMW Z4 Coupe, and realised what I had been missing!
Mr Tidy said:
When I opted out I bought a pre-registered 123d and really liked it - just not the depreciation!
So after business miles ended I replaced it with a BMW Z4 Coupe, and realised what I had been missing!
I’m not stressing about depreciation on my 140 as it’s being funded by a car allowance and I know it’s going to be brutal because of all those cheap finance deals. I’m just treating the allowance as a different pot of money that’s not really mine...plus it’s better than spunking loads away in tax.So after business miles ended I replaced it with a BMW Z4 Coupe, and realised what I had been missing!
Court_S said:
The only guarantee with BIK is that it goes up. Diesel is now very expensive. Will be interesting to hear how you get on with an older barge.
Depending on the car, that's not true. My BIK reduces next year (20/21 financial year). Admittedly that's not the norm, but everything else goes up too... fuel, insurance, tyres... 
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