25k miles per year - £6k Merc or company car
Discussion
So as I’ve given away in my title, I’m looking for something to do 60 miles each way 4 days per week.
I can either buy something with £6k cash, which seems to buy some reasonably decent E220/C220/250 saloon or coupe Mercedes from around 2010-2013. Or one nice 350 coupe I’ve seen.
I’m after longevity here so a reliable engine and auto gearbox combo is a must which has ruled out some other prospects like the mondeo with the power shift.
Or…
There are some good options on the car scheme at work - keep for 10k miles and swap for a new one, never need to service, tax, MOT or put tyres or brakes on etc. although the hassle of changing every 5 months may get annoying.
Think of premium SUV coupe hybrid type of thing, between 300 and 370 per month. (Taken from net salary, no tax benefits sadly)
I guess I’m wondering if I’d be throwing away money on the brand new work car option or if it’s not actually too bad, given my mileage and consumables, servicing, chances of a random bill etc.
Thoughts welcome. ChatGPT reckons I should go for the work scheme but I try not to take my life advice from a robot
I can either buy something with £6k cash, which seems to buy some reasonably decent E220/C220/250 saloon or coupe Mercedes from around 2010-2013. Or one nice 350 coupe I’ve seen.
I’m after longevity here so a reliable engine and auto gearbox combo is a must which has ruled out some other prospects like the mondeo with the power shift.
Or…
There are some good options on the car scheme at work - keep for 10k miles and swap for a new one, never need to service, tax, MOT or put tyres or brakes on etc. although the hassle of changing every 5 months may get annoying.
Think of premium SUV coupe hybrid type of thing, between 300 and 370 per month. (Taken from net salary, no tax benefits sadly)
I guess I’m wondering if I’d be throwing away money on the brand new work car option or if it’s not actually too bad, given my mileage and consumables, servicing, chances of a random bill etc.
Thoughts welcome. ChatGPT reckons I should go for the work scheme but I try not to take my life advice from a robot
CMTMB said:
The work scheme sounds like a no brainer, both financially and in terms of reliability, stress and hassle.
Usually I wouldn’t even question it… but since we had a child and my wife went part time I’ve been more careful than usual, and tend to over think decisions like this ITP said:
Will it cost 4-4.5k/year to run a £6k 220cdi c or e? I doubt it. Maybe 1-1.5k unless you are unlucky. Then maybe 1k/year depreciation, so £2.5k. That s £200/month.
Depends how much you want a new car.
VEDDepends how much you want a new car.
Insurance
Servicing
Tyres
Bork Fund
Hassle if borkage occurs
A new (company) car takes most, if not all of that away for the fee
ITP said:
Will it cost 4-4.5k/year to run a £6k 220cdi c or e? I doubt it. Maybe 1-1.5k unless you are unlucky. Then maybe 1k/year depreciation, so £2.5k. That s £200/month.
Depends how much you want a new car.
This is the dilemma I suppose. And the possibility of said old Mercedes or whatever I chose sDepends how much you want a new car.
tting itself expensively. Dimebars said:
VED
Insurance
Servicing
Tyres
Bork Fund
Hassle if borkage occurs
A new (company) car takes most, if not all of that away for the fee
Indeed - the one thing that isn’t included is insurance, but the rest is as I would be handing it back at 10k miles for a new one so no service or tyres etc required. Insurance
Servicing
Tyres
Bork Fund
Hassle if borkage occurs
A new (company) car takes most, if not all of that away for the fee
The only other thing to consider is if I ding it I’ll have to pay for it or at least some of it
Dimebars said:
ITP said:
Will it cost 4-4.5k/year to run a £6k 220cdi c or e? I doubt it. Maybe 1-1.5k unless you are unlucky. Then maybe 1k/year depreciation, so £2.5k. That s £200/month.
Depends how much you want a new car.
VED. £20-35Depends how much you want a new car.
Insurance £300?
Servicing £400
Tyres £300
Bork Fund £500
Hassle if borkage occurs - new cars break down too
A new (company) car takes most, if not all of that away for the fee
Will you actually get a decent Merc for £6K? I'm no expert but understand there can be some quite expensive repairs to these diesel engines once they get leggy unless I'm confusing with BMW or Audi (swirl flaps, EGRs etc.).
The way I see it, Merc will work out cheaper if you are lucky for a year or so, but more expensive as soon as a couple of Merc tax items fail.
I'd go with the new car scheme. The hassle free factor has to be worth a few quid. I assume if you are changing car every 10k miles you have the option to opt out of the scheme every 6 months.
The way I see it, Merc will work out cheaper if you are lucky for a year or so, but more expensive as soon as a couple of Merc tax items fail.
I'd go with the new car scheme. The hassle free factor has to be worth a few quid. I assume if you are changing car every 10k miles you have the option to opt out of the scheme every 6 months.
SFTWend said:
Will you actually get a decent Merc for £6K? I'm no expert but understand there can be some quite expensive repairs to these diesel engines once they get leggy unless I'm confusing with BMW or Audi (swirl flaps, EGRs etc.).
The way I see it, Merc will work out cheaper if you are lucky for a year or so, but more expensive as soon as a couple of Merc tax items fail.
I'd go with the new car scheme. The hassle free factor has to be worth a few quid. I assume if you are changing car every 10k miles you have the option to opt out of the scheme every 6 months.
As I understand it the 220cdi in a Mercedes is quite a safe bet but obviously at this price point and the miles I’d be heaping on, anything can happen. The way I see it, Merc will work out cheaper if you are lucky for a year or so, but more expensive as soon as a couple of Merc tax items fail.
I'd go with the new car scheme. The hassle free factor has to be worth a few quid. I assume if you are changing car every 10k miles you have the option to opt out of the scheme every 6 months.
I’m leaning towards the hassle free option, doing this sort of mileage there is no ‘cheap’ way of doing it in comfort I suppose.
Clappedoutvolvo said:
Dimebars said:
VED
Insurance
Servicing
Tyres
Bork Fund
Hassle if borkage occurs
A new (company) car takes most, if not all of that away for the fee
Indeed - the one thing that isn t included is insurance, but the rest is as I would be handing it back at 10k miles for a new one so no service or tyres etc required. Insurance
Servicing
Tyres
Bork Fund
Hassle if borkage occurs
A new (company) car takes most, if not all of that away for the fee
The only other thing to consider is if I ding it I ll have to pay for it or at least some of it
ITP said:
Worth getting an insurance quote on any new car you can get on your scheme then if it s not included. Could be a lot more than an old merc. How about a clapped out Volvo? ThosecD5 s are pretty good
Yes, due diligence with insurance needs to be done, good point. Assumed it would be cheap due to all the safety features in new cars but that of course may not be true! I do love an old Volvo
I ve been quite unlucky in recent years and even the more sensible cars I ve had like diesel Octavias, insignias and Golfs have ended up costing me a load of money.
Now my mileage is going to increase from 18k pa to 25 I m trying to give it some more balanced thought as I don t want to be stranded in an old banger at 5am after a night shift.
I spent a couple of years doing a similar commute. I bought a £5k 320d thinking it would be the perfect tool for the job but it cost over £1k in repairs in the first few months and cost me a few days off work having no car. I sold it and got a new X3 30d, quite cheaply through a work scheme. Yes it no doubt cost me more overall but I had a much less stressful life and no fear of the next unexpected large bill.
It's going to be £3k/yr in fuel.
Which suggests an EV might pay for itself in a couple of years depending on how you look at it.
Are there EVs on the company scheme?
A PHEV might work out OK.
I reckon sub £10k cars are a gamble, you might do very well or quite badly.
I've known people come a cropper with old Mercs and every other thing that people bang on about 'going on forever, good for 200k miles minimum, blah blah, the breakers are full of these things.
Worst case, you pay £5 for a car, then you pay a £1k repair bill, which doesn't go that far these days, then something else goes wrong.
You may decide you've picked a lemon and cut your losses losing a couple of grand or more.
Best case, 20k miles is going to depreciate the car a good chunk even if nothing goes wrong.
People pay good money for something nearer 100k than 150k, but once you're over 150k, fewer buyers have deep pockets.
There are cars around for £2k which don't look significantly worse than their £5k cousins. I'd consider buying something for under half your budget.
When you need to do a lot of miles to get to work, it's a comfort to have the cash set aside for the next car.
Maybe a 3 series BM?
If you really want to buyer a banger Merc, then JFDI.
Which suggests an EV might pay for itself in a couple of years depending on how you look at it.
Are there EVs on the company scheme?
A PHEV might work out OK.
I reckon sub £10k cars are a gamble, you might do very well or quite badly.
I've known people come a cropper with old Mercs and every other thing that people bang on about 'going on forever, good for 200k miles minimum, blah blah, the breakers are full of these things.
Worst case, you pay £5 for a car, then you pay a £1k repair bill, which doesn't go that far these days, then something else goes wrong.
You may decide you've picked a lemon and cut your losses losing a couple of grand or more.
Best case, 20k miles is going to depreciate the car a good chunk even if nothing goes wrong.
People pay good money for something nearer 100k than 150k, but once you're over 150k, fewer buyers have deep pockets.
There are cars around for £2k which don't look significantly worse than their £5k cousins. I'd consider buying something for under half your budget.
When you need to do a lot of miles to get to work, it's a comfort to have the cash set aside for the next car.
Maybe a 3 series BM?
If you really want to buyer a banger Merc, then JFDI.
CMTMB said:
I spent a couple of years doing a similar commute. I bought a £5k 320d thinking it would be the perfect tool for the job but it cost over £1k in repairs in the first few months and cost me a few days off work having no car. I sold it and got a new X3 30d, quite cheaply through a work scheme. Yes it no doubt cost me more overall but I had a much less stressful life and no fear of the next unexpected large bill.
Thank you for your reply, this is the sort of real world type stuff I was hoping to hear. I’m not trying to validate getting a new car, I need a new car either way, but the options are a cheaper older car or the work one as I’d rather not finance.
Clappedoutvolvo said:
SFTWend said:
Will you actually get a decent Merc for £6K? I'm no expert but understand there can be some quite expensive repairs to these diesel engines once they get leggy unless I'm confusing with BMW or Audi (swirl flaps, EGRs etc.).
The way I see it, Merc will work out cheaper if you are lucky for a year or so, but more expensive as soon as a couple of Merc tax items fail.
I'd go with the new car scheme. The hassle free factor has to be worth a few quid. I assume if you are changing car every 10k miles you have the option to opt out of the scheme every 6 months.
As I understand it the 220cdi in a Mercedes is quite a safe bet but obviously at this price point and the miles I d be heaping on, anything can happen. The way I see it, Merc will work out cheaper if you are lucky for a year or so, but more expensive as soon as a couple of Merc tax items fail.
I'd go with the new car scheme. The hassle free factor has to be worth a few quid. I assume if you are changing car every 10k miles you have the option to opt out of the scheme every 6 months.
I m leaning towards the hassle free option, doing this sort of mileage there is no cheap way of doing it in comfort I suppose.
Both have benefits, at 25k a year you'll be servicing it twice so roughly £5-600 a year, at some point you'll wear some suspension components £600 (assuming you keep it around 3 years) also around £200 for a gearbox service.
You'll see a real world 55mpg on a run (assuming you're sitting around 77mph) more if you're going slower & more again with a decent remap.
E250cdi:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202510297...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202507074...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202510237...
If you don't mind a saloon you can get the same 220cdi drivetrain in a Q50, these are also ULEZ compliant:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202508105...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202506133...
There's also the M30d again ULEZ compliant (heated & air cooled seats adaptive cruise etc) only mid 40's on a run BUT very comfortable with a carking stereo too & well under budget:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202509036...
If you want a comfortable car to eat up the miles in all the above are good shouts.
OutInTheShed said:
It's going to be £3k/yr in fuel.
Which suggests an EV might pay for itself in a couple of years depending on how you look at it.
Are there EVs on the company scheme?
A PHEV might work out OK.
I reckon sub £10k cars are a gamble, you might do very well or quite badly.
I've known people come a cropper with old Mercs and every other thing that people bang on about 'going on forever, good for 200k miles minimum, blah blah, the breakers are full of these things.
Worst case, you pay £5 for a car, then you pay a £1k repair bill, which doesn't go that far these days, then something else goes wrong.
You may decide you've picked a lemon and cut your losses losing a couple of grand or more.
Best case, 20k miles is going to depreciate the car a good chunk even if nothing goes wrong.
People pay good money for something nearer 100k than 150k, but once you're over 150k, fewer buyers have deep pockets.
There are cars around for £2k which don't look significantly worse than their £5k cousins. I'd consider buying something for under half your budget.
When you need to do a lot of miles to get to work, it's a comfort to have the cash set aside for the next car.
Maybe a 3 series BM?
If you really want to buyer a banger Merc, then JFDI.
I can’t have an EV at the moment so that’s out of the question due to the electrics at home (would need more than just a charger installing) Which suggests an EV might pay for itself in a couple of years depending on how you look at it.
Are there EVs on the company scheme?
A PHEV might work out OK.
I reckon sub £10k cars are a gamble, you might do very well or quite badly.
I've known people come a cropper with old Mercs and every other thing that people bang on about 'going on forever, good for 200k miles minimum, blah blah, the breakers are full of these things.
Worst case, you pay £5 for a car, then you pay a £1k repair bill, which doesn't go that far these days, then something else goes wrong.
You may decide you've picked a lemon and cut your losses losing a couple of grand or more.
Best case, 20k miles is going to depreciate the car a good chunk even if nothing goes wrong.
People pay good money for something nearer 100k than 150k, but once you're over 150k, fewer buyers have deep pockets.
There are cars around for £2k which don't look significantly worse than their £5k cousins. I'd consider buying something for under half your budget.
When you need to do a lot of miles to get to work, it's a comfort to have the cash set aside for the next car.
Maybe a 3 series BM?
If you really want to buyer a banger Merc, then JFDI.
Point taken re. under £10k cars and I’m thinking the same.
I don’t really want to go the full banger route if I can help it… but something like this was what I was thinking:
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/2025101671...
Ultimately though it would likely cost a lot in random unexpected bursts and need 2 oil changes a year, one set of tyres at what, minimum 100 a corner..
Still mulling it over but at this point the slightly more expensive but hassle free option is winning in my head.
ZX10R NIN said:
Plan on keeping it for 3 years & you'll be fine with a 220/250cdi they'll see 180k with ease also add around £200 to make them Android auto
Both have benefits, at 25k a year you'll be servicing it twice so roughly £5-600 a year, at some point you'll wear some suspension components £600 (assuming you keep it around 3 years) also around £200 for a gearbox service.
You'll see a real world 55mpg on a run (assuming you're sitting around 77mph) more if you're going slower & more again with a decent remap.
E250cdi:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202510297...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202507074...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202510237...
If you don't mind a saloon you can get the same 220cdi drivetrain in a Q50, these are also ULEZ compliant:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202508105...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202506133...
There's also the M30d again ULEZ compliant (heated & air cooled seats adaptive cruise etc) only mid 40's on a run BUT very comfortable with a carking stereo too & well under budget:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202509036...
If you want a comfortable car to eat up the miles in all the above are good shouts.
Wow thank you for that, I’ll have a good browse through those links. Both have benefits, at 25k a year you'll be servicing it twice so roughly £5-600 a year, at some point you'll wear some suspension components £600 (assuming you keep it around 3 years) also around £200 for a gearbox service.
You'll see a real world 55mpg on a run (assuming you're sitting around 77mph) more if you're going slower & more again with a decent remap.
E250cdi:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202510297...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202507074...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202510237...
If you don't mind a saloon you can get the same 220cdi drivetrain in a Q50, these are also ULEZ compliant:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202508105...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202506133...
There's also the M30d again ULEZ compliant (heated & air cooled seats adaptive cruise etc) only mid 40's on a run BUT very comfortable with a carking stereo too & well under budget:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202509036...
If you want a comfortable car to eat up the miles in all the above are good shouts.
Sounds like solid advice.
I’d hopefully keep it 3 years, it’s all the car I’d need really.
I prefer the hassle free new car option but I’m struggling to see past actually owning a car, and the merc’s look like the ideal purchase for my use.
loskie said:
What kind of co car scheme doesn't include insurance?
They call it a loan plan scheme, the company buys the car brand new, I d be the registered keeper and pay to rent it from them as I understand it. It s not salary sacrifice or anything like that. Never had a company car elsewhere so not sure what the norm is. It’s not a bad deal though, I’d essentially be getting a £45k car for 360 per month.Gassing Station | Car Buying | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff