Company car downgrade

[Poppiecock]

xx99xx said:

A mate of mine who once worked for a multinational organisation in the UK (sales), said their whole sales team threatened to resign because the company removed the BMW 3 series from the car list. They promptly reinstated it.

My thoughts at the time were.....how ridiculous.

I know they probably spent a fair amount of time in the car, but to spit dummies out because they couldn't have a BMW (but plenty of other adequate equivalents to choose from) seems a bit OTT to me.

Depends on what you, personally, see as an 'adequate equivalent'. Not a lot comes close to the combination of the BMW B47 and ZF8 gearbox - plus the navigation / entertainment kit is just about the best in class, too. I guess if the alternatives were A4 / C-class / Lexus IS, they may not have grounds to complain - but if the alternatives were Mondeo / Insignia or even Passat, then I can see why they'd be unhappy.

[Cantaloupe]

Poppiecock said:

Depends on what you, personally, see as an 'adequate equivalent'. Not a lot comes close to the combination of the BMW B47 and ZF8 gearbox - plus the navigation / entertainment kit is just about the best in class, too. I guess if the alternatives were A4 / C-class / Lexus IS, they may not have grounds to complain - but if the alternatives were Mondeo / Insignia or even Passat, then I can see why they'd be unhappy.

ZZzzzzzzzzzzzz,................................. has he stopped talking yet ?

[Bullet-Proof_Biscuit]

Take the allowance instead, get a £10k loan, buy a millennium era Porsche, job done.

Now you're paying about the same monthly as you were with BIC tax, it will unlikely depreciate much, you will have a better car than your bosses' boss, and best of all you might get to sh&g his misses.

Just my 2 pence.

[Poppiecock]

Bullet-Proof_Biscuit said:

Take the allowance instead, get a £10k loan, buy a millennium era Porsche, job done.

Now you're paying about the same monthly as you were with BIC tax, it will unlikely depreciate much, you will have a better car than your bosses' boss, and best of all you might get to sh&g his misses.

Just my 2 pence.

And it could throw up the best part of a £3k bill for some Tiptronic work, new starter and a couple of window mechanisms. All whilst doing 20mpg and costing you money every time you drive a mile for the business.

Aside from that, great plan!

[xx99xx]

Poppiecock said:

xx99xx said:

A mate of mine who once worked for a multinational organisation in the UK (sales), said their whole sales team threatened to resign because the company removed the BMW 3 series from the car list. They promptly reinstated it.

My thoughts at the time were.....how ridiculous.

I know they probably spent a fair amount of time in the car, but to spit dummies out because they couldn't have a BMW (but plenty of other adequate equivalents to choose from) seems a bit OTT to me.

Depends on what you, personally, see as an 'adequate equivalent'. Not a lot comes close to the combination of the BMW B47 and ZF8 gearbox - plus the navigation / entertainment kit is just about the best in class, too. I guess if the alternatives were A4 / C-class / Lexus IS, they may not have grounds to complain - but if the alternatives were Mondeo / Insignia or even Passat, then I can see why they'd be unhappy.

Sorry, forgot to mention this was about 15 years ago and there were indeed other German equivalents available.

[Chozza]

phil-sti said:

. I’ve hit my yearly mileage in 9 months so I’ll have to park the car up at some point while the company find something for me to drive or use the train but I’ll still have to pay my company car tax.

Off topic ...but wouldn't this make the car unavailable so would be reflected as such on p11d. And not taxed?

[cheddar]

The op has indeed been handed the modern equivalent of that Maestro diesel.

It's akin to a pay cut and one that rubs it in on every single journey.

[Poppiecock]

Chozza said:

Off topic ...but wouldn't this make the car unavailable so would be reflected as such on p11d. And not taxed?

Technically, yes. But you do have to pay tax on the temporary replacement.

[Sheepshanks]

Bonzo1930 said:

I know there are those out there that think it's a free car and I shouldn't complain, its not free I pay tax on it and spend quite a bit of time in my mobile office.

What kind of job / company is it where they think an Ibiza is suitable car for a 'mobile office'? How many miles per day and what sort of journeys (city / motorway etc) are you doing.

[shep1001]

We have all sorts of premium brand German motors on our lists dependant on your grade. There are also less expensive everyday alternatives if that’s what you want.

There is no need to take them off the list, the BIK is getting eye watering. 5 series M sport diesel- £420/Month. I have gone for an electric Korean st box - zero BIK next year meaning I am £420 each month better off.

[bad company]

Oilchange said:

Mmm. Appears to me to be execs trying to put people into cars appropriate to some pathetic company pecking order.

It’s always been that way. In my days with big companies (long time ago) you wore your badge of rank on the boot lid of your car.

[Sheepshanks]

bad company said:

Oilchange said:

Mmm. Appears to me to be execs trying to put people into cars appropriate to some pathetic company pecking order.

It’s always been that way. In my days with big companies (long time ago) you wore your badge of rank on the boot lid of your car.

Until they opt out - our mid-spec level 5 Series company car driving managers mainly used their allowance to buy used Astras etc. Caused a lot of wailing from directors - then the CFO opted out and got a Polo!

[Bonzo1930]

Just a quick update the Ibiza is no more! Now been replaced with a Seat Leon a much nicer place to be

[Royce44]

I get your frustrations totally.

One of the first questions I'll ask is what the vehicles are like, I'm an engineer so spend at least 4hrs driving. As such I like, even need the cruise/air con etc. Especially after a day on site.

If a company provide you with a minimum spec vehicle, then generally everything else with the company is minimal

[AlexC1981]

Of all the cars I've had, the only one I really grew to dislike was my Ibiza.

[98elise]

softtop said:

I've changed jobs when they offered stty cars

So have I. It's part of your package and you end up paying a lot of tax for the benefit.

In my case (years ago) a 2ltr mondeo was downgraded to a 1.4ltr non turbo diesel escort. Commuting was hell. I lived with it for about a month before I left for another job with a decent car.

I wasn't the first to leave because of the car policy.

Edited by 98elise on Sunday 8th December 18:51

[softtop]

Royce44 said:

I get your frustrations totally.

One of the first questions I'll ask is what the vehicles are like, I'm an engineer so spend at least 4hrs driving. As such I like, even need the cruise/air con etc. Especially after a day on site.

If a company provide you with a minimum spec vehicle, then generally everything else with the company is minimal

Very true, probably run also by accountants and not sales people

[softtop]

Very funny and I do relate to some of those things though would never have said them in 'real life'

[crofty1984]

Poppiecock said:

People who don't have company cars don't realise just how much they cost these days - and often don't take into account that it's not a 'perk' if it's where you spend a large proportion of your working week.

Yup. My own personal cars have always been cheap second hand things I've been perfectly happy in. Now I'm paying £200 plus a month to be allowed to do around 300 personal miles a month in the work Honda. And yes, you could say "oh, but if you were to lease that it would be £300, so that's a bargain!". Not if I never would have bought it in the first place! I'm thinking of opting out this year.

[Oilchange]

Sounds to me like all the fun has been sucked out of ‘owning’ a company car. Or indeed any motoring benefits related to work.