Ordering a company car next week - But what.

[jay140285]

Right,

Next week I get the opportunity to order a company car. Having had a promotion and going from one office location I will be managing project around the Midlands - Worcester to Buxton in Derbyshire.

The commute is mainly 50% motorway and 50% fast cross country. My current car is a Saab 9-3 Tid Sport saloon and is comfy and quick.

The company last year had a green drive and the only car in my banding are the following:

VW Golf GT Tdi 140 bluemotion
VW Passat SE Saloon tdi 140 BM
VW Passat S Estate tdo 140 BM

Vauxhall Insignia Ecoflex Exclusive 130.

My thoughts are mixed, I have read an old thread on the insignia on here and reviews are mixed to say the least. I think it looks great, Plus side for me is that's its a hatch, so the dog can go in if needed, saves using our V8 Jeep every time we take the dog out.

Golf would be great, quick, will handle well look good but is it to small, thinking about the dog and we have a 6month old baby and all her stuff when we go away.

Passat S Estate, Looks like a hurst, great usable size but its S spec and lacking in kit, plus a colleague has just had one and said it handles like a boat.

Passat SE, Looks nice, decent kit, handles much better that the Estate in its variant level I can get. Down side is its a saloon so no pooch going in if we go away.


AAAAHHHHHRRRRR - Any thoughts.

Cheers

James

[ArsE92]

Resign?

[housen]

gt tdi for sure

[jay140285]

I can either go Cat and Fiddle route, but Normally A53 from Leak and over that way.

Estate just looks crap on its little 16inch rims, suppose I could change the wheels once I have it.

Apparently the SE sits 15mm lower??

[Disco You]

Go for the saloon, assuming that it isn't missing a piece of kit that any of the others aren't.

[10 Pence Short]

Of that list, I'd go for the one that'll impact the least on me in terms of company car tax.

[Krikkit]

tonker's got it right- I'd take the comfiest one of the three, even if it has to have crappy-looking alloys it's worth it for the extra comfort.

[Caulkhead]

Well, they're all about as exciting as watching paint dry so if I were you I'd take whatever saves you the most tax and spend the remainder on something interesting for the weekends.

[kambites]

Odd list, I take it you have a severely restricted list of manufacturers?

[onesickpuppy]

No chance of a car allowance instead? Would open things right up for you, but might not sit well with their 'green' outlook if you buy a big V8!

[kambites]

onesickpuppy said:

No chance of a car allowance instead? Would open things right up for you, but might not sit well with their 'green' outlook if you buy a big V8!

No, but something like a diesel 3-series would probably give the same CO2 rating and would be much nicer.

I'd probably go for the Insignia out of that list though. It's a decent sized hatchback and they aren't bad cars, just not especially good ones either.

[C.A.R.]

Insignia

All your colleagues are going to get a VAG car no doubt out of that list, the Insignia is the outsider. Difference being that the Insignia is in fact very good.

Dad's had his one for about 12 months now and it hasn't skipped a beat. One issue with an irritating rattle in the drivers door somewhere but nothing else.

Great level of kit too and incredibly quick! Mind his is the 160 diesel. Looks fantastic too.

[podwin]

That's depressing.

Take the Golf and use the V8 for the dog.

[Bill]

Caulkhead said:

Well, they're all about as exciting as watching paint dry so if I were you I'd take whatever saves you the most tax and spend the remainder on something interesting for the weekends.

And see if a lower spec Golf is cheaper, and get a roofbox.

[kambites]

Bill said:

Caulkhead said:

Well, they're all about as exciting as watching paint dry so if I were you I'd take whatever saves you the most tax and spend the remainder on something interesting for the weekends.

And see if a lower spec Golf is cheaper, and get a roofbox.

I think the dog might object to being put in a roofbox.

[Deva Link]

jay140285 said:

Golf would be great, quick, will handle well look good but is it to small, thinking about the dog and we have a 6month old baby and all her stuff when we go away.

My daughter has a Golf Mk6 and a 6 mth old baby and, while she manages, the Golf is surprisingly small by modern standards.

[jay140285]

Cheers All,

I know its a rep mobile, but still enjoy the drive over the peaks.

I do have a nifty TDI-tuning box that will be reprogrammed to suit the car I choose, so all will have about a 30bhp increase.

As for car allowance, I have looked into this, I will walk away after tax with £300pcm, that only gets me a new 116d. I looked the weekend.

I need something with warranty, the saab has only done 50k and cost me £500 this week on service and alternator.

As for the choices there used to be BMW / Audi / Lexus but these are for the top dogs only now. Us mere project managers get the above..

[hornetrider]

jay140285 said:

Cheers All,


I do have a nifty TDI-tuning box that will be reprogrammed to suit the car I choose, so all will have about a 30bhp increase.

Uh-oh.

[Deva Link]

jay140285 said:

As for car allowance, I have looked into this, I will walk away after tax with £300pcm,

...did you add back in the tax saving on not having a company car. And your business mileage allowance?

Having said that, I don't think opting out is good idea for people who do fairly high mileage, especially if a big chunk counts as commuting.

[jay140285]

Yes, technically my work location will be Buxton, although I live in Worcester and will be working from home at times, so if I opt out I need to fuel up to Buxton as my travel to work.

With the Company car I get a fuel card so its not an issue, on the company car tax calculator I will be paying £80ish for the car in tax and £40ish for the fuel card.

Plus although I have never been in debt or anything my credit rating isnt high, as I have not really ever taken credit - dont even use credit cards, if I havent got the money I dont spend it.

So getting finance for a 30k car could be tricky.