Okay guys I need some help..

Its time for me to get my first company car.

Tomorrow I plan to visit the dealerships to try and strike a bargin, but I'm aware Contract hire sites might be cheaper (Economies of Scale etc).

Any good sites to browse? If anyone is clued up and doesn't mind giving some advice could you please drop me a pm and I will discuss my Budget.

Many Thanks,

James.

Are you opting out, or are the company supplying your chosen car? If the latter, then let them sort it.

If opting out, you might be better leasing from someone like lex and getting maintained contract for your expected mileage. If mobile most of the time, you could expect to cover 20-30k easy each year. As an example, I'm fully mobile and covered 52K.

Obv that's a lot of depreciation, and not something you want to carry yourself and worry about big bills. Leased, it's someone elses issue, and usually you can walk away if you loose your job and prove it was for company use (file a copy of your job desc or entitlement letter with the contract).

Think smaller scale. Were not a massive PLC.

My boss is the owner, I'm a director.

Company supplying obviously, but i get to choose what i'd like. Milage around 20k~ p/a with the intent to hand it back after 2-3years.

I'm allowed to use it for whatever purpose personally so I'd like somthing a bit fun but not too expensive, Not completely sure how the Tax works.

In the mean while my fabia which is currently high milage for its age will be hybernating for that period to let age / avg milage catch up. Also give me alot of time to make her just the way i want.

Cheers for the input nevertheless.

Regards.

James.

Forgot to mention insurance. If your opting out, you'll be needing class 1 business cover. Also work out your fuel rates

Factor the insurance and the money the firm give you into running costs. Get it wrong and opting out is bad. Get it right, and you could end up paying nothing for private use!

Edit- just seen your reply. Try the likes of Lex and Lombard, Aviva etc. You could get a lot of car for £400/month all in (maintenance, road tax). BUT remember the tax man will sting you on the P11D value, so dont go too mad

If you don't have anyone to sit in the back get an Insignia SRi, VX are keen to deal and the car looks fantastic, you have to see it in the flesh to really see it, go have a look even if it's just for the crack.

Saw an Insignia today, I’m not sure.. it’s different. I think it looks like the offspring of a new Jag and a Lexus. Which maybe can’t be a bad thing.

So I did the dealers today, told them they had to go all in on the discount etc to match an online Contract Hire Company, Some played ball but it was clear cheaper cars just aren’t worth it, for a small amount of money from my pocket a month more you can get quiet a significantly more substantial car. i.e., 207 1.4Hdi Vs. Skoda Octavia vRS 2.0tdi 170bhp with 18" in the deal. Residual Value is the Bingo Ticket.

It is hard going for new car shopping, with the P11D scales, Insurance costs, Running Costs, % Depresiation over 3yeas and estimated mileage which is hard to tell on a growing company. I’m not going to refuse business in say Newcastle, but I don’t want that to be a monthly commute if I sign on 20k miles p/a.

Because I’m still a 20% tax earner the company car costs aren’t massive which is good I guess.

I’m going to put forward to my boss the Octavia vRS Diesel, I like it, Cheapish on the P11D, 45+ mpg, 170bhp and for me actually not bad insurance for business use. I'd like to keep in the forum family also. He has a Superb and a Octavia II 4X4 already and a Octavia vRS before that. And obviously my current Fabia vRS makes it a Briskoda Mini meet everyday :-) and the Skoda idea isn't going to be an issue.

A Skoda vRS I find has been a frequent ice breaker with clients even in my little Fabia. It helps sometimes honestly.

Octavia vRS tdi owners past and present any comment welcome, I’m hoping it’s going to be a bit more fun to drive than my now standard Fabia vRS, and I’m sure it will be. *If this goes ahead. Fingers Crossed eh.

James.

Most companies would assume the car is totally worthless after 3 years. Mine write off my car in 2, as by 3 yrs they're well over 100k. So residuals arent always a factor if the firm gets it's company mileage out of it.

Good thing is, you can stick to variable and have the one service a year if the car lets you.

BTW, are you saying 20K business use, or 20k including private use? If the latter, then that's not a lot of business use. I do as little private as possible, but still notched up 14k ontop of the 1500/week I do for work.

Good choice of car tho

Most companies would assume the car is totally worthless after 3 years. Mine write off my car in 2, as by 3 yrs they're well over 100k. So residuals arent always a factor if the firm gets it's company mileage out of it.

Good thing is, you can stick to variable and have the one service a year if the car lets you.

BTW, are you saying 20K business use, or 20k including private use? If the latter, then that's not a lot of business use. I do as little private as possible, but still notched up 14k ontop of the 1500/week I do for work.

Good choice of car tho

I can see your point but we are not a large organisation.. yet. And my boss will not see kind to the idea of writing off £15k in 3years lol. However the deal with the Octy is goodish. Could go for a Fiesta 1.2 Something for free but it’s not in my blood.

Business Mileage will be thought though careful, I live where the M4 meets the M5 and then go West 10miles as the crow. Long trips up the M5 can include multiple visits if possible, with Hotels provided if needed (I mean my friends in different unis :-)). And likewise M4 trips. Personal mileage is kind of low, Although I’m Rural we have 4other cars between my work and family I can use for runs to the shop for milk etc. If I’m driving 30k+ a year next year then I’m earning enough to pay off the car totally and keep it soonish lol.

Director of New Business Development can also be called 'the lone sales man' haha. But I have many other roles too which keep me either at home or in the office - which is pleasant 4mile drive down the B4325 (bikers love it and so do I).

Regards,

James

Get an Insignia and be one of the 1st ppl to own one and send a message to the Jones' at the same time.

Get an Insignia and be one of the 1st ppl to own one and send a message to the Jones' at the same time.

Not exactly a car for a director

One of these

oh, and a contract hire site worth checking out

Edited 21 January, 200917 yr by Makefish

Not exactly a car for a director

Time to A6 it then

Nice sugestions fellas.

Saw an Insignia today, I’m not sure.. it’s different. I think it looks like the offspring of a new Jag and a Lexus. Which maybe can’t be a bad thing.

So I did the dealers today, told them they had to go all in on the discount etc to match an online Contract Hire Company, Some played ball but it was clear cheaper cars just aren’t worth it, for a small amount of money from my pocket a month more you can get quiet a significantly more substantial car. i.e., 207 1.4Hdi Vs. Skoda Octavia vRS 2.0tdi 170bhp with 18" in the deal. Residual Value is the Bingo Ticket.

It is hard going for new car shopping, with the P11D scales, Insurance costs, Running Costs, % Depresiation over 3yeas and estimated mileage which is hard to tell on a growing company. I’m not going to refuse business in say Newcastle, but I don’t want that to be a monthly commute if I sign on 20k miles p/a.

Because I’m still a 20% tax earner the company car costs aren’t massive which is good I guess.

I’m going to put forward to my boss the Octavia vRS Diesel, I like it, Cheapish on the P11D, 45+ mpg, 170bhp and for me actually not bad insurance for business use. I'd like to keep in the forum family also. He has a Superb and a Octavia II 4X4 already and a Octavia vRS before that. And obviously my current Fabia vRS makes it a Briskoda Mini meet everyday :-) and the Skoda idea isn't going to be an issue.

A Skoda vRS I find has been a frequent ice breaker with clients even in my little Fabia. It helps sometimes honestly.

Octavia vRS tdi owners past and present any comment welcome, I’m hoping it’s going to be a bit more fun to drive than my now standard Fabia vRS, and I’m sure it will be. *If this goes ahead. Fingers Crossed eh.

James.

Hi James,

My suggestion is once you have decided the car you want, say Vrs TDi, have a trawl on Skoda used cars and Autotrader and find an ex-demo with a few thousand miles on it and miss out on some of the initial depreciation. Having 2 owners on a 3 year old car wih 60k + miles isn't likely to affect the residual price, but means less whole life cost!

Cheers,

John.

One of these

oh, and a contract hire site worth checking out

I like these but the residules aren't strong.