Difficult Purchase Decision - Recommendations ?
Discussion
Afternoon PH, long time lurker looking for advice on a purchase. I’ll do my best to keep it short but please bear with me.
After 3 years of using pool cars at work, the option has been removed and a car allowance system has been implemented and I have until November to find a car. This coincides with me buying and moving house early next year which isn’t the best timing, but you’ll read why below.
A couple of things to consider:
1. I live in the West Midlands, in an area that although relatively quiet and desirable, has in the past few years seen car theft go up heavily, so insurance is a pain.
2. I have a Mrs and 10 month old (read car seat / buggy.)
3. I am looking to keep it in the 15-20k range.
4. I average 25-30k miles a year (PCP is painful.)
5. I’m looking for something practical & fun.
6. I’m verging on 30 and in the last two renewals, my insurance has gone up on average 230 quid a year (£917 on a 15 plate Astra SRi Turbo last year)
7. My work and personal miles (very luckily) are funded by a fuel card supplied by work, I pay £35 a month for the personal miles regardless of car/how many I do.
With all that in mind, I’lol try to give some examples of where my interests currently lie,
BMW 135i - seems a decent motor, good fun, inside could be a little more refined. Insurance is up around £1500 a year. I’ve managed to find a great example, 2016 ,11k miles, very good spec inc adaptive susp, heated seats, pro nav, etc. For £300 a month @ 48 months with 2k down.
BMW 330i (F30) 2016/17 - as above, slightly less well specced and 26k miles, insurance around the same area, £300 ish a month @48 months 2k down.
Golf GTI 2.0 TFSI 2016/17 - haven’t had the opportunity to drive one of these yet, interior looks abit leave it, insurance around 1k but can find good examples for 15k (extra money can go toward a remap.) R is out of the question, 4 gone this year alone from around the local area, 1 of which was in the wee hours, in the owners home at gun point.
Aside from these, I’m pretty open to suggestions within reason. I spend 2 hours a day on the motorway and as such will be sticking with an auto for the ease of drive.
A lot of Cars are unfortunately not practical owing to the fact that some scrote will either attempt to or succeed in stealing them and the fact I have a 10 month old lad means I don’t fancy having Barry the burglar in my house at 3am.
Here are the cars I know have been taken locally in the past 12 or so months, 2 x S3, 1 x RS4, 2x range rovers, 1 x A45 AMG and countless fiesta STs.
Hopefully some of you will be able to come up with something I haven’t already thought of.
After 3 years of using pool cars at work, the option has been removed and a car allowance system has been implemented and I have until November to find a car. This coincides with me buying and moving house early next year which isn’t the best timing, but you’ll read why below.
A couple of things to consider:
1. I live in the West Midlands, in an area that although relatively quiet and desirable, has in the past few years seen car theft go up heavily, so insurance is a pain.
2. I have a Mrs and 10 month old (read car seat / buggy.)
3. I am looking to keep it in the 15-20k range.
4. I average 25-30k miles a year (PCP is painful.)
5. I’m looking for something practical & fun.
6. I’m verging on 30 and in the last two renewals, my insurance has gone up on average 230 quid a year (£917 on a 15 plate Astra SRi Turbo last year)
7. My work and personal miles (very luckily) are funded by a fuel card supplied by work, I pay £35 a month for the personal miles regardless of car/how many I do.
With all that in mind, I’lol try to give some examples of where my interests currently lie,
BMW 135i - seems a decent motor, good fun, inside could be a little more refined. Insurance is up around £1500 a year. I’ve managed to find a great example, 2016 ,11k miles, very good spec inc adaptive susp, heated seats, pro nav, etc. For £300 a month @ 48 months with 2k down.
BMW 330i (F30) 2016/17 - as above, slightly less well specced and 26k miles, insurance around the same area, £300 ish a month @48 months 2k down.
Golf GTI 2.0 TFSI 2016/17 - haven’t had the opportunity to drive one of these yet, interior looks abit leave it, insurance around 1k but can find good examples for 15k (extra money can go toward a remap.) R is out of the question, 4 gone this year alone from around the local area, 1 of which was in the wee hours, in the owners home at gun point.
Aside from these, I’m pretty open to suggestions within reason. I spend 2 hours a day on the motorway and as such will be sticking with an auto for the ease of drive.
A lot of Cars are unfortunately not practical owing to the fact that some scrote will either attempt to or succeed in stealing them and the fact I have a 10 month old lad means I don’t fancy having Barry the burglar in my house at 3am.
Here are the cars I know have been taken locally in the past 12 or so months, 2 x S3, 1 x RS4, 2x range rovers, 1 x A45 AMG and countless fiesta STs.
Hopefully some of you will be able to come up with something I haven’t already thought of.
At the risk of having no end of abuse flowing in my direction - why, oh why have you narrowed it down to overrated, overpriced German machinery?.
Try to be less narrow-minded in your choice. There is machinery out there that is better built, has better warranty, and has better back-up.
Sadly, the mind-set of the British car buying public has been brainwashed into thinking that German manufactured cars are the best you can buy - NO THEY AIN'T!!!!
2 examples. Almost anything Japanese or South Korean.
A phrase I used constantly on my 2 children, "don't be a sheep"
Try to be less narrow-minded in your choice. There is machinery out there that is better built, has better warranty, and has better back-up.
Sadly, the mind-set of the British car buying public has been brainwashed into thinking that German manufactured cars are the best you can buy - NO THEY AIN'T!!!!
2 examples. Almost anything Japanese or South Korean.
A phrase I used constantly on my 2 children, "don't be a sheep"
datum77 said:
At the risk of having no end of abuse flowing in my direction - why, oh why have you narrowed it down to overrated, overpriced German machinery?.
Try to be less narrow-minded in your choice. There is machinery out there that is better built, has better warranty, and has better back-up.
Sadly, the mind-set of the British car buying public has been brainwashed into thinking that German manufactured cars are the best you can buy - NO THEY AIN'T!!!!
2 examples. Almost anything Japanese or South Korean.
A phrase I used constantly on my 2 children, "don't be a sheep"
It’s less narrow mindedness and more that the BMW / Audi / VW dealers are all a 3 mile drive from my address, from there there’s also Volvo & Kia. Try to be less narrow-minded in your choice. There is machinery out there that is better built, has better warranty, and has better back-up.
Sadly, the mind-set of the British car buying public has been brainwashed into thinking that German manufactured cars are the best you can buy - NO THEY AIN'T!!!!
2 examples. Almost anything Japanese or South Korean.
A phrase I used constantly on my 2 children, "don't be a sheep"
I have previously owned Audi and have used a Kia Sportage extensively, I’m not against any suggestions and will definitely take each with their merits.
Now you've done it.
First you let datum hear that you were considering something German, now you've mentioned main dealers. You may as well find yourself a Trump supporter and suggest that Hillary Clinton isn't all bad (other similes are available)
All your suggestions seem pretty sensible to me. I'm not sure how much driving pleasure you can actually get on long motorway drives TBH.
First you let datum hear that you were considering something German, now you've mentioned main dealers. You may as well find yourself a Trump supporter and suggest that Hillary Clinton isn't all bad (other similes are available)
All your suggestions seem pretty sensible to me. I'm not sure how much driving pleasure you can actually get on long motorway drives TBH.
Edited by anonymous-user on Thursday 30th August 12:47
charltjr said:
Now you've done it.
First you let datum hear that you were considering something German, now you've mentioned main dealers. You may as well find yourself a Trump supporter and suggest that Hillary Clinton isn't all bad (other similes are available)
All your suggestions seem pretty sensible to me. I'm not sure how much driving pleasure you can actually get on long motorway drives TBH.
I’ll get my coat then ! First you let datum hear that you were considering something German, now you've mentioned main dealers. You may as well find yourself a Trump supporter and suggest that Hillary Clinton isn't all bad (other similes are available)
All your suggestions seem pretty sensible to me. I'm not sure how much driving pleasure you can actually get on long motorway drives TBH.
Edited by charltjr on Thursday 30th August 12:47
Regardless of how much fun can be had, anything will be an improvement on spending 2 hours a day listening to whining 1.4T Astra trundling along at 70 odd
datum77 said:
At the risk of having no end of abuse flowing in my direction - why, oh why have you narrowed it down to overrated, overpriced German machinery?.
Try to be less narrow-minded in your choice. There is machinery out there that is better built, has better warranty, and has better back-up.
Sadly, the mind-set of the British car buying public has been brainwashed into thinking that German manufactured cars are the best you can buy - NO THEY AIN'T!!!!
2 examples. Almost anything Japanese or South Korean.
A phrase I used constantly on my 2 children, "don't be a sheep"
The only abuse from me is you using the phrase "why, oh why"Try to be less narrow-minded in your choice. There is machinery out there that is better built, has better warranty, and has better back-up.
Sadly, the mind-set of the British car buying public has been brainwashed into thinking that German manufactured cars are the best you can buy - NO THEY AIN'T!!!!
2 examples. Almost anything Japanese or South Korean.
A phrase I used constantly on my 2 children, "don't be a sheep"
datum77 said:
At the risk of having no end of abuse flowing in my direction - why, oh why have you narrowed it down to overrated, overpriced German machinery?.
Try to be less narrow-minded in your choice. There is machinery out there that is better built, has better warranty, and has better back-up.
Sadly, the mind-set of the British car buying public has been brainwashed into thinking that German manufactured cars are the best you can buy - NO THEY AIN'T!!!!
2 examples. Almost anything Japanese or South Korean.
A phrase I used constantly on my 2 children, "don't be a sheep"
He's looking for a fun car around £15-20k. How do you figure a M135i is overpriced? What exactly is it overpriced against, what is he going to buy from non-German manufacturers that offers RWD and a grunty 6 cylinder engine? Try to be less narrow-minded in your choice. There is machinery out there that is better built, has better warranty, and has better back-up.
Sadly, the mind-set of the British car buying public has been brainwashed into thinking that German manufactured cars are the best you can buy - NO THEY AIN'T!!!!
2 examples. Almost anything Japanese or South Korean.
A phrase I used constantly on my 2 children, "don't be a sheep"
If he was after a soul-less motorway cruiser then I would agree than something like a Hyundai i40 would be worth looking at against a 318d. But when it comes to finding something sporty with a little grunt that can also eat motorway miles then it seems he's narrowed it down to the right cars.
Get a TVR wont do anything you want to use it for but it will be fun.
on a slightly more serious note a diesel sounds like the way forward. might be the fuel of tractors but the MPG over 25k to 30k miles is going to be substantial. 330d I think are a nice compromise and a remap makes them very peppy!
on a slightly more serious note a diesel sounds like the way forward. might be the fuel of tractors but the MPG over 25k to 30k miles is going to be substantial. 330d I think are a nice compromise and a remap makes them very peppy!
Michaelbailey said:
Get a TVR wont do anything you want to use it for but it will be fun.
on a slightly more serious note a diesel sounds like the way forward. might be the fuel of tractors but the MPG over 25k to 30k miles is going to be substantial. 330d I think are a nice compromise and a remap makes them very peppy!
Just seen you get fuel paid for, now my accountants side is kicking in and it all sounds very heavy on tax...on a slightly more serious note a diesel sounds like the way forward. might be the fuel of tractors but the MPG over 25k to 30k miles is going to be substantial. 330d I think are a nice compromise and a remap makes them very peppy!
If you are a high rate tax payer you will be paying a fortune!
edit- after doing quick sums it does look okay considering you do so many miles. still I have found its rare that its cheaper this way around
Edited by Michaelbailey on Thursday 30th August 14:25
Michaelbailey said:
Michaelbailey said:
Get a TVR wont do anything you want to use it for but it will be fun.
on a slightly more serious note a diesel sounds like the way forward. might be the fuel of tractors but the MPG over 25k to 30k miles is going to be substantial. 330d I think are a nice compromise and a remap makes them very peppy!
Just seen you get fuel paid for, now my accountants side is kicking in and it all sounds very heavy on tax...on a slightly more serious note a diesel sounds like the way forward. might be the fuel of tractors but the MPG over 25k to 30k miles is going to be substantial. 330d I think are a nice compromise and a remap makes them very peppy!
If you are a high rate tax payer you will be paying a fortune!
edit- after doing quick sums it does look okay considering you do so many miles. still I have found its rare that its cheaper this way around
Edited by Michaelbailey on Thursday 30th August 14:25
So as far as our numbers people can tell me I have a £6k offset against my p11d BIK in business miles at the end of the year and can use any reimbursement to lower the expected mileage for the year following (?)
Christ on a bike they’ve made this complicated 😒
We've got a two year old- our pushchair doesn't fit in the back of my 1 Series.
Our family car is a Skoda Octavia vRS estate. It's a great drive, has a cavernous boot and loads of rear room for bulky child seats and the occasional set of grandparents. Ours is petrol (217 bhp version) and great fun to drive- Evo liked the diesel almost as much, and it's probably less attractive to thieves than the German opposition. I'd recommend one to anyone.
Our family car is a Skoda Octavia vRS estate. It's a great drive, has a cavernous boot and loads of rear room for bulky child seats and the occasional set of grandparents. Ours is petrol (217 bhp version) and great fun to drive- Evo liked the diesel almost as much, and it's probably less attractive to thieves than the German opposition. I'd recommend one to anyone.
HustleRussell said:
The 1-series and the Golf both seem on the small side considering the 10 month old. Not at all doable if a second baby comes along...
those are both large hatchback cars with 5 doors, how is that impractical? You dont need a range rover to carry a baby in a carI was going to suggest fiesta ST until you said you don't like how many near you are being pinched.
treeroy said:
HustleRussell said:
The 1-series and the Golf both seem on the small side considering the 10 month old. Not at all doable if a second baby comes along...
those are both large hatchback cars with 5 doors, how is that impractical? You dont need a range rover to carry a baby in a carI was going to suggest fiesta ST until you said you don't like how many near you are being pinched.
Eventually went on to chop it in for Cup 197 in 2011 and the rest as they say is history.
I seriously considered one right up to earlier this year when a 4th was taken from the first 3 digits of my postcode, at which point I realised they are highly likely the most stolen car since the cosworth.
Still very nice too look at though !
Alfa numeric said:
We've got a two year old- our pushchair doesn't fit in the back of my 1 Series.
Our family car is a Skoda Octavia vRS estate. It's a great drive, has a cavernous boot and loads of rear room for bulky child seats and the occasional set of grandparents. Ours is petrol (217 bhp version) and great fun to drive- Evo liked the diesel almost as much, and it's probably less attractive to thieves than the German opposition. I'd recommend one to anyone.
Our family car is a Skoda Octavia vRS estate. It's a great drive, has a cavernous boot and loads of rear room for bulky child seats and the occasional set of grandparents. Ours is petrol (217 bhp version) and great fun to drive- Evo liked the diesel almost as much, and it's probably less attractive to thieves than the German opposition. I'd recommend one to anyone.
What pushchair do you have!? I can fit ours in the back of my Mini.
LeMur9 said:
It’s actually my first foray into this set up, it was a conventional fuel card / pool car for a long time. After some brief calculations my business mileage will be around 16-18k PA, my personal 5 ish (25-30 was a high estimate based on last years performance.)
So as far as our numbers people can tell me I have a £6k offset against my p11d BIK in business miles at the end of the year and can use any reimbursement to lower the expected mileage for the year following (?)
Christ on a bike they’ve made this complicated ??
A very very brief summary is the car fuel benefit charge is £23,400. This is then applied at a percentage which is calculated by looking at the Co2 output of the vehicle. With the government shrinking this down anything over 180g per km is now 37%. This then adds onto your wage as if you got that amount as a payrise which if you are a high rate tax payer will be 42%. In tax this equals approximately £3,600 over the year. So as far as our numbers people can tell me I have a £6k offset against my p11d BIK in business miles at the end of the year and can use any reimbursement to lower the expected mileage for the year following (?)
Christ on a bike they’ve made this complicated ??
A lot of tax...
I appreciate that the business miles negates this a bit but it is nearly always better to claim mileage back from your employer... depending on what rate i suppose but i think most businesses pay out the going rate of 45p a mile for first 10,000 and then 25p after that. Fundamentally its a number crunching exercise and if you were paying the fuel ultimately fuel efficiency will matter hugely. If you wish message me when you have your car choice and i will crunch out whats best for you and ask to see what their mileage rates are. Hope i answered the question you didnt ask!
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