Which car for a salesman?

[Mr Overheads]

I'm recruiting my first dedicated salesman and he wants a car as part of the overall package. He's not a petrolhead himself so isn't too fussy, just wants something that won't be too flashy in a clients car park or too cheap e.g. Fiesta and something where the fuel costs are very low. He also has kids so 2 door or 2 seat car is out.

His suggestions were:
VW Passat CC or Blue
Mondeo
Volvo V40e
Golf Blue

I was thinking BMW 320d efficient dynamics or Maybe a Mazda 3

Or leftfield an BMW i3 with range extender - virtually no fuel cost at all and cheaper to lease then the BMW 320

So PH'ers. What cars do your number crunchers tell you is the cheapest to run for the employee (BIK, MPG for private mileage) and for the employer (Fuel, Road Tax, Lease Cost etc) while not looking too cheap too expensive to clients/prospects?

For comparison purposes I'm assuming 15,000miles 2year lease.

Finally how many of you opt for including maintenance? I've got a quote on a 320d eff. dy. £279 excluding maint & tyres or £315.29 with. So effectively £870.96 over 2 years for maintenance and tyres. Seems about right to me.

Edited by Mr Overheads on Friday 3rd June 13:16

Edited by Mr Overheads on Friday 3rd June 13:16

[KevinCamaroSS]

I would look to see what lease deals you can get, offer a selection of 3 and go with what he wants from that shortlist. Beware electric cars, presumably he will be doing a lot of miles.

[kiethton]

KevinCamaroSS said:

Beware electric cars, presumably he will be doing a lot of miles.

This, plus he may not have the charging infastructure to allow it - flat?

Is the 15k just business miles or would that be inc. personal

[Mr Overheads]

Yep since writing that I've discounted the i3 even with petrol range extender he'll have to add fuel probably daily at least.

[insurance_jon]

mercs are the cheapest at the minute.

little known fact is that you can get the same price the dealers pay straight from merc uk, so you avoid the margin

the guy I deal with there is a PHer too!

do you want connecting on email?

[Zoon]

Mr Overheads said:

Or leftfield an BMW i3 with range extender - virtually no fuel cost at all and cheaper to lease then the BMW 320

Are you sure an i3 is cheaper than a 320?
Normally always more, but an upside is his BIK will only be 5%.

[Mr Overheads]

Zoon said:

Are you sure an i3 is cheaper than a 320?
Normally always more, but an upside is his BIK will only be 5%.

i3 quote: 257pcm inc maint & tyres on a 3yr 15,000 deal
320d eff dyn: 315.29 inc maint etc. or 279 without.

[Mr Overheads]

Update to mileage 30,000 per year not 15,000 so definitely need fuel efficient.

[andy-xr]

Give him 3 to choose from, pick them from a reasonable Benefit in Kind perspective. If someone gave me a really nice 5 series I'd thank them and ask if it could be changed for something smaller as the amount I'd need to pay to just have it sat there wold be a killer

As an aside, I hired a new A class to do a trip to Cornwall, and it did the job really well. Tiny little 1.5 diesel engine gave back 65 mpg, fitted a lot of stuff in it. Wouldnt go for it if there's toddlers who need buggies and prams, but if they're able to walk on their own it would fit in nicely

[KevinCamaroSS]

Standard rep-mobiles are things like Focus, Astra, Octavia and 320.

[Mr Overheads]

So these are the cars that keep cropping up:

Merc A180d
Merc C300
BMW 320D ED
Lexus IS300h
Ford Mondeo Econetic

[smileymikey]

If I had the choice I would go for a Skoda Superb estate with the dsg gearbox. Proper business car (and bloody huge inside) and a nice place to be all day. Its quite well received by clients as well. List price isnt silly so tax shouldn't hurt too much

I had the use of a Hyundai i40 Estate for a couple of months, and ten thousand miles. I came away really impressed.

Edited by smileymikey on Friday 3rd June 17:09

[Chrisgr31]

It does depend on the image you want to portray but the Skoda and Hyundai are certainly worth looking at.

[Mr Overheads]

Chrisgr31 said:

It does depend on the image you want to portray but the Skoda and Hyundai are certainly worth looking at.

Iage to portray is completely anonymous to the vast majority of people who wouldn't look twice at a mid range rep car i.e. it generates no strong opinions.

[Chris200]

Give him a few options, like above, and then tell him to go and test drive. I personally love the A Class, but found it so uncomfortable to drive there is no way I could ever have one.

Last thing you want to do is order a car and he hates it or finds that he cannot get his weekend camping gear, dog and kids in it!!

[anonymous-user]

My friend does 40-50k a year in his 320d ED. He had an e90 320d before which he did similar/more mileage in. He swears by it, and I've seen the bills, they seem to be mainly oil changes with the odd set of pads and one wheel bearing on his last one at 190k miles.

[DSLiverpool]

The tool of choice is the 320 but also look at the Passat.
Sadly it really has to be German as the none Germans are not much cheaper
A 320 ED is super fuel efficient saving you £££ over 30k

[StevieBee]

There are some astonishingly good deals on E Class Mercs on lease at the moment. I've recently plumped for an E220 Bluetech with all the toys. £272 a month on 22,000 miles a year with six months payments down up front.

I think they're trying to clear out the old body shape stock.

[anonymous-user]

StevieBee said:

There are some astonishingly good deals on E Class Mercs on lease at the moment. I've recently plumped for an E220 Bluetech with all the toys. £272 a month on 22,000 miles a year with six months payments down up front.

I think they're trying to clear out the old body shape stock.

That's cheap!

[Trabi601]

StevieBee said:

There are some astonishingly good deals on E Class Mercs on lease at the moment. I've recently plumped for an E220 Bluetech with all the toys. £272 a month on 22,000 miles a year with six months payments down up front.

I think they're trying to clear out the old body shape stock.

New cars have been available for 6-8 weeks now - surprised anyone has any old stock left, as they were clearing them out for next to nothing months ago. I just missed out on getting an E220 AMG Night Edition as a fleet car - ended up with a 520d instead, as our leasing company ran out of stock.