Help me make a decision

[mpm1987]

Hi all.

I will be starting a new job shortly, and in doing so, will be giving up my current company funded Insignia.

The Insignia is a company car, and also have an s2000, as a bit of weekend fun. When I start the new role this will be going also.

The new role has company car allowance in the yearly salary. approx 450 a month.
With the new role, I expect to be doing 20-25k a year, so diesel will still be the sensible choice I'd imagine. I get 45p mile for first 10k, and then 25p a mile for mileage after.

I was set in my mind to get an E92 320d Msport Auto, with Nav and leather. AUC from BMW, circa 20k.

Now being a bit nosey, I've looked in to the VAG group 2.0tdi 170bhp lumps with the DSG box- what an amazing box, which has now got me confused. Mainly Scirocco- yes I know bit different to the 3 series, but being 24, feel that the Scirocco suits my lifestyle better, and would probably have lower running and servicing costs.

I guess the point of this thread. Although I've gone off topic a bit, is to ask owners of these cars their thoughts on them. Also thoughts of other people who run their own cars, and take an allowance each month.

Thanks.

[Frances The Mute]

I'm in virtually the same position - although my mileage should be a touch lower than what you're looking at.

I was considering taking the money option and leasing a car as the scheme has some absolute howlers on the list.
320D's are pretty expensive for what they are unless you have a low annual mileage (~10K). By the time you figure in maintenance, insurance, tyres etc it becomes a more difficult propostion.

At present, my thinking is that I'll settle for an Insignia 2.0d Ecoflex which has 10% tax (due to the emissions) and low consumption figures which would see me making money every month when taking into account my mileage rate, too. That way, I can free up my exisiting car and some money for (another) weekend car to have fun in after driving the dullbox daily. Namely an E39 M5. Woof.

[Krikkit]

For a mile muncher I'd be going for whichever had the best ride over anything else - you've got a weekend toy for setting your hair on fire, in the week I'd want something relaxing.

[SBN]

For ultimate mile cruncher comfort get the bmw. You will not regret it, but make sure its an auto and if possible stretch for a 330d

[mpm1987]

Krikkit said:

For a mile muncher I'd be going for whichever had the best ride over anything else - you've got a weekend toy for setting your hair on fire, in the week I'd want something relaxing.

S2000 will be getting sold. I can't afford to run 2 private cars, and save for a house.

[Cemesis]

I presume the 450 is before tax, which (again presumably) at 40% takes this to 270.

However, are you getting 45p/25p per mile on top? If so this is untaxed (I believe) and will equal another 8250 a year if you do 25k. That totals 11,490 which should leave you with a massive profit on anything you buy, even taking fuel into account.

Normally company car allowance means you don't get the 45p/25p and instead get something like 11p, which obviously works out alot less.

[300bhp/ton]

mpm1987 said:

Hi all.

I will be starting a new job shortly, and in doing so, will be giving up my current company funded Insignia.

The Insignia is a company car, and also have an s2000, as a bit of weekend fun. When I start the new role this will be going also.

The new role has company car allowance in the yearly salary. approx 450 a month.
With the new role, I expect to be doing 20-25k a year, so diesel will still be the sensible choice I'd imagine. I get 45p mile for first 10k, and then 25p a mile for mileage after.

I was set in my mind to get an E92 320d Msport Auto, with Nav and leather. AUC from BMW, circa 20k.

Now being a bit nosey, I've looked in to the VAG group 2.0tdi 170bhp lumps with the DSG box- what an amazing box, which has now got me confused. Mainly Scirocco- yes I know bit different to the 3 series, but being 24, feel that the Scirocco suits my lifestyle better, and would probably have lower running and servicing costs.

I guess the point of this thread. Although I've gone off topic a bit, is to ask owners of these cars their thoughts on them. Also thoughts of other people who run their own cars, and take an allowance each month.

Thanks.

Maybe I'm unique in thinking this, but I kinda thought most people had to pay for their own car and the fuel they use.


Some numbers:

450 x 12 = 5400
45p x 10,000 miles = 4500
25p x 15,000 miles = 3750



Cost like tyres and servicing are cost everyone else has to face, so they are not "additional" costs to you, just normal for anyone running a car.

But being giving 13,650 a year would to my mind open up some rather interesting options to run a car with.


Just to help that out, if 95 RON costs 1.37/litre, that's 6.22/gallon.

If you have a car doing 28mpg it works out at only 22 pence per mile to fuel. So even on you lower fuel rate every mile would see you pocketing 3 pence (3p x 15,000 miles = 450), which would likely pay for a service or a large part of the cost of tyres.

If I'm reading it right you're telling me you'll be given 450/month to buy/maintain the car plus all of your fuel paid for plus extra money over (by quite a bit) to either pocket or help maintain the car.

for the love of sanity why are you looking at boring diesels??

Surely this is the BEST time ever to consider something rather OTT, fast and big engined.

[mpm1987]

Cemesis said:

I presume the 450 is before tax, which (again presumably) at 40% takes this to 270.

However, are you getting 45p/25p per mile on top? If so this is untaxed (I believe) and will equal another 8250 a year if you do 25k. That totals 11,490 which should leave you with a massive profit on anything you buy, even taking fuel into account.

Normally company car allowance means you don't get the 45p/25p and instead get something like 11p, which obviously works out alot less.

There isn't as such a car allowance. The Salary is a fair amount more than I am on now they have basically included the allowance into the basic, but I have decided that 450 per month is the most I am wanting to spend on a car. I have been told I can have an M3 if I want, but obviously will still only get the 45p/25p a mile.