After 10 continuous years of German car ownership, I’ve finally had enough of the tax man and decided to opt out of the company car world. At over £300 per month for BIC, it’s a ridiculous amount of money to be paying when I’m already sacrificing £500 for my allowance for cars that are not really all inspiring. I did have a tax dodging BMW 330e m-sport with 5k of extras, the over cost was equal to my current situation but I had lots of toys I was paying for but only £60 a month to the tax man. 

 

A change of job landed me with a 520d, not a car I got on with. Fat and lazy but ultimately competent at guzzling up the miles, just not a feel good car. I had a moan and reached in to the pool cars and found an Audi A5 with a good spec and decent TDI engine. Yes this is a decent car, it’s comfortable and nippy with enough tech to keep up but after receiving my new tax code, I’m just not paying anymore tax! Granted if this was a brand new car, I’d likely off set the cost but it’s 2 years old and the tax man is happy to continue rating the tax at the list price not the current. At over £300 a month I decided I could use this saving to make my own purchase. 

 

Anyway, tax man rant over. I started on the the search, being free from any CO2 ratings, engine size or fuel type, my options opened. 

 

I like my sporty hatchbacks, so an S3 or Golf R seemed to be the obvious choice. I did dabble with the S4 as the specification is huge - heat and massage super sport seats as standard! - but the wife reigned me back in as the maths showed the car costing more than the mortgage, I accepted defeat on this. 

 

Through some hardy research, the ŠKODA Octavia VRS 245 came in to vision via a lease deal which couldn’t be ignored. The car looks great inside and out, the seats are a nice touch. The engine may not be at the S3 or Golf R levels but a compromise needed to be made, if the reviews on handling are anything to go off, there will be smiles for miles and with the added bonus that when I look at my bank account each month, I’ll be smiling again. Win win. 

 

So the wife had a hard time understanding why I’m leaving the German stables for ŠKODA. She’s blaming my recent membership to the 40’s club and showing my age but I did get my own way and I didn’t tell her how much money I’ll save, this will be my secret stash ready for either another kit car or hot hatch track car... but a new kitchen is the likely option as nothing is sacred, especially money.

 

on order is an Octavia VRS 245 DSG in black, Canton speakers, DCC and spare wheel. I didn’t feel the need to go overboard with the options as it is very well equipped. Expected delivery in early 2018. Until then I’ll be despising the taxman and digesting all the reviews on this car. I guess this is going in the deep end with my first ŠKODA but truly looking forward to the day it arrives.

 

ive added a few pictures of my recent car history; in reverse order

 

- Audi A5 sportsback s-line

- BMW 520d m sport

- BMW 330e m sport - M performance +

- VW Golf GTI MK5 edition 30 - wife’s car

- BMW 125d m sport 

- Mitsubishi Evo 4 - track prep. 

- BMW M3 e46 - track prep. 

- Audi TT Mk1 225 in Kingfisher Blue 

- Audi A3 s line 

- Mazda MX-5 mk1 - 1998 classic edition

- GBS kit car - 2.1ltr pinto - self built

 

17 weeks to go 

 

Welcome along!  That’s quite a selection!  I can see where you’re coming from with the 245 which should be a good match for many on that list.