What Car (Sorry)

[roboxm3]

Afternoon All,

After doing some man-maths and reading a few other threads on here (including the help I got in my very own thread) re. company cars and car allowances, I think I'm going to go with the car option.

I had hopes of not having to drive a diesel or perhaps at least getting a personal deal on a more "sporty" diesel and saving some money but I just don't think it's going to be possible / feasible / worth the effort in my circumstances (approx. 22k personal miles plus approx. 8k business - £400 per month allowance @ 40% tax).

So, below is the short-short-list from the cars available, including what I think it'll cost me in tax, which as far as I'm aware will increase each year (our cars are on a 48 month term).

VOLKSWAGEN GOLF HATCHBACK 2.0 TDI GT 5dr Manual 1625.2
AUDI A3 SPORTBACK 2.0 TDI S Line 5dr Manual 1755.76
VOLKSWAGEN GOLF HATCHBACK 2.0 TDI GTD 5dr Manual 1779.22
SKODA OCTAVIA HATCHBACK 2.0 TDI CR vRS 5dr Manual 1787.9
VOLVO V40 HATCHBACK D3 R Design Nav 5dr Manual 1835.28
VOLVO S60 SALOON D4 [181] R DESIGN Nav 4dr Manual 1865.4
VOLVO V40 HATCHBACK D3 R Design Lux 5dr Manual 1869.48
BMW 1 SERIES HATCHBACK 118d M Sport 5dr Manual 1892.02
VOLKSWAGEN GOLF HATCHBACK 2.0 TDI GT 5dr DSG Auto 1923.94
AUDI A3 DIESEL SPORTBACK 2.0 TDI 184 S Line 5dr Manual 1950.48
VOLVO V40 HATCHBACK D3 R Design Lux Nav 5dr Manual 1955.88
BMW 1 SERIES HATCHBACK 118d M Sport 5dr [Bus. Media] Manual 1959.66
BMW 1 SERIES HATCHBACK 120d M Sport 5dr Manual 2002.22
BMW 2 SERIES COUPE 218d M Sport 2dr Manual 2018.56
BMW 1 SERIES HATCHBACK 118d M Sport 5dr [Prof. Media] Manual 2035.66
BMW 1 SERIES HATCHBACK 120d M Sport 5dr [Bus. Media] Manual 2069.86
SKODA OCTAVIA HATCHBACK 2.0 TDI CR vRS 5dr DSG Auto 2092.86
BMW 1 SERIES HATCHBACK 120d M Sport 5dr [Prof. Media] Manual 2145.86
VOLKSWAGEN GOLF DIESEL HATCHBACK 2.0 TDI GTD 5dr DSG Auto 2206.4
BMW 2 SERIES COUPE 220d M Sport 2dr Manual 2365.44
BMW 1 SERIES HATCHBACK 125d M Sport 5dr Manual 2372.16
BMW 1 SERIES HATCHBACK 125d M Sport 5dr [Bus. Media] Manual 2446.92

So great minds of PH, what would you do?

My head says the manual Octavia could be a good compromise of "sportyness" and cost, my heart says get the 125D.

If you've made it this far and can provide a reasoned response then I appreciate your efforts, even more so as it took me ages to format that list .

ETA. It looks formatted in the 'edit' window

[mattwilko]

The only car on that list I see on that list that I would consider is the manual GTD. I like manuals in hatchbacks, and to me it's just more interesting than the Volvos or an A3. The price difference between that and the BMW probably isn't worth it, but then if that's what you want and it's feasible, why not?

[M3DGE]

roboxm3 said:

Afternoon All,

After doing some man-maths and reading a few other threads on here (including the help I got in my very own thread) re. company cars and car allowances, I think I'm going to go with the car option.

I had hopes of not having to drive a diesel or perhaps at least getting a personal deal on a more "sporty" diesel and saving some money but I just don't think it's going to be possible / feasible / worth the effort in my circumstances (approx. 22k personal miles plus approx. 8k business - £400 per month allowance @ 40% tax).

So, below is the short-short-list from the cars available, including what I think it'll cost me in tax, which as far as I'm aware will increase each year (our cars are on a 48 month term).

VOLKSWAGEN GOLF HATCHBACK 2.0 TDI GT 5dr Manual 1625.2
AUDI A3 SPORTBACK 2.0 TDI S Line 5dr Manual 1755.76
VOLKSWAGEN GOLF HATCHBACK 2.0 TDI GTD 5dr Manual 1779.22
SKODA OCTAVIA HATCHBACK 2.0 TDI CR vRS 5dr Manual 1787.9
VOLVO V40 HATCHBACK D3 R Design Nav 5dr Manual 1835.28
VOLVO S60 SALOON D4 [181] R DESIGN Nav 4dr Manual 1865.4
VOLVO V40 HATCHBACK D3 R Design Lux 5dr Manual 1869.48
BMW 1 SERIES HATCHBACK 118d M Sport 5dr Manual 1892.02
VOLKSWAGEN GOLF HATCHBACK 2.0 TDI GT 5dr DSG Auto 1923.94
AUDI A3 DIESEL SPORTBACK 2.0 TDI 184 S Line 5dr Manual 1950.48
VOLVO V40 HATCHBACK D3 R Design Lux Nav 5dr Manual 1955.88
BMW 1 SERIES HATCHBACK 118d M Sport 5dr [Bus. Media] Manual 1959.66
BMW 1 SERIES HATCHBACK 120d M Sport 5dr Manual 2002.22
BMW 2 SERIES COUPE 218d M Sport 2dr Manual 2018.56
BMW 1 SERIES HATCHBACK 118d M Sport 5dr [Prof. Media] Manual 2035.66
BMW 1 SERIES HATCHBACK 120d M Sport 5dr [Bus. Media] Manual 2069.86
SKODA OCTAVIA HATCHBACK 2.0 TDI CR vRS 5dr DSG Auto 2092.86
BMW 1 SERIES HATCHBACK 120d M Sport 5dr [Prof. Media] Manual 2145.86
VOLKSWAGEN GOLF DIESEL HATCHBACK 2.0 TDI GTD 5dr DSG Auto 2206.4
BMW 2 SERIES COUPE 220d M Sport 2dr Manual 2365.44
BMW 1 SERIES HATCHBACK 125d M Sport 5dr Manual 2372.16
BMW 1 SERIES HATCHBACK 125d M Sport 5dr [Bus. Media] Manual 2446.92

So great minds of PH, what would you do?

My head says the manual Octavia could be a good compromise of "sportyness" and cost, my heart says get the 125D.

If you've made it this far and can provide a reasoned response then I appreciate your efforts, even more so as it took me ages to format that list .

ETA. It looks formatted in the 'edit' window

Nothing really lights my fire there, but if this is the list, the Skoda is a good car (looks smart in the right colour as well). Also depends on your personal circumstances - a one series would be too small for me. The S60 is a nice place to sit. You have to live with this thing for 120k/4 years, and you earn enough to be a higher rate tax payer - me, I'd go for whatever car I most like and within reason not worry about the tax, but I know that's not the most 'sensible' approach

[roboxm3]

mattwilko said:

The only car on that list I see on that list that I would consider is the manual GTD. I like manuals in hatchbacks, and to me it's just more interesting than the Volvos or an A3. The price difference between that and the BMW probably isn't worth it, but then if that's what you want and it's feasible, why not?

I've currently got a V40 on long-term hire until I've sorted this co. car lark out and as "nice" as it is, I'm not sure I'd actually choose to have it for four years.

Before the Volvo I had an A3 (1.6tdi "sport") and although it handled and rode better (it is the Cross Country, so probably not really a fair comparison) it was very numb feeling, like it was designed purely to go from A to B, if you catch my drift.

I hadn't really looked much further into the Golf as I'd assumed it'd be too similar to the A3 but I shall read a bit deeper...

[roboxm3]

M3DGE said:

Nothing really lights my fire there, but if this is the list, the Skoda is a good car (looks smart in the right colour as well). Also depends on your personal circumstances - a one series would be too small for me. The S60 is a nice place to sit. You have to live with this thing for 120k/4 years, and you earn enough to be a higher rate tax payer - me, I'd go for whatever car I most like and within reason not worry about the tax, but I know that's not the most 'sensible' approach

The list was actually much, much longer to begin with but I've gone through and removed anything non "sporty", automatic, estate, resembling a "4x4", Vauxhall, Kia, Hyundai etc. etc. and this is what I'm left with, so I'm by no means into being sensible.

The more I drive a Volvo the more tempting it's becoming but that's purely because all I have to do is steer and that's all I want to do at 6am but that could become boring.

I could just choose the 125D and suck up the tax and additional fuel costs but the thought does go through me a bit when it's not really my choice, just the best of the choices I have, if you know what I mean.

[mikeyr]

roboxm3 said:

Vauxhall, Kia, Hyundai etc. etc

No Kia Ceed GT on the original list? They look rather handsome and are a decent steer by all accounts

• * Ignore that - just seen it's diesel only ***

[M3DGE]

mikeyr said:

roboxm3 said:

Vauxhall, Kia, Hyundai etc. etc

No Kia Ceed GT on the original list? They look rather handsome and are a decent steer by all accounts

• * Ignore that - just seen it's diesel only ***

Or indeed what about the Astra GTC 2.0CDTi? Strange to eliminate these three manufacturers and leave Skoda on the list...

[Snollygoster]

I would take the 125d myself. If there was a 220d in Auto I would take that over it.

Just make sure you can afford (or your company let you within your allowance) to add cruise control with that mileage.

[V8A*ndy]

I'd be in that 2 series like a shot but you might not get on with the M nonsense suspension.

You can always order it without (option delete) but that's probably a bit pointless.

The S-line is worse mind.

GTD is certainly a strong contender on that list.

[roboxm3]

Snollygoster said:

I would take the 125d myself. If there was a 220d in Auto I would take that over it.

Just make sure you can afford (or your company let you within your allowance) to add cruise control with that mileage.

The 220D M Sport is manual only option and if it was auto it'd only be the boggo auto and not the 7-speed DCT jobbie anyway.

[MissChief]

I think I'd either go for the 220d Manual or go for the Golf GTD Manual and pocket the savings.

[roboxm3]

I've just had another look at the long list and there is an Alfa Giulietta 2.0 JTDM-2 150 Sportiva Nav...