i found out yesterday afternoon that my application for a team leader job has been sucessful and they offered me the job.

there are all sorts of benifits to it over my current support role 1 being the option of a company car.

i have a copy of the sort of car list i'll be given and have looked at the Skodas listed first (naturally) but there isnt anything on the list from the decent end of the range in my price range.

Ford (i know i know) offer the company a really good discount and i have the option of a tdci mondeo. now after looking at the list and a brouchure i think i'm going to be able to stretch to a TDCI ST or a TDCI Titanium X... both in the 2.2 150bhp variant.

so, what do you lot reckon? i want something that is going to give the same sort of practicality the octy gives now but i want a TD for the extra range per tank it will give to negate the sort of extra mileage i'll be doing. i also wanted something that offered a decent drive but wouldnt be a chore on long distance runs i.e. sporty'ish but comfortable and fairly highly spec'd in the gadgets front.

TDCI ST has a more sporty feel (recaro's IIRC) but the titanium is a more "luxury" spec with sunroof etc. IIRC.

A bit like the difference between a remapped Octavia Elegance and a VRS - same engine, different "feel" and trim level.

If it were me I'd base my decision on the company car tax you'd be paying.

its on an ECO scheme so the car is registered to me, basically i lease the car from them but the company give me an allowance that i'm taxed on (thats the way i think it works anyway). we then add a benifit in kind to that and then have the option of chipping some in ourselves to give you the option to get a better car than the standard allowance gives.

i know what you mean though in the trim levels... the titanium x seems to be a ghia x but cooler... no wood etc.

i think the preference is going to be ST first then titanium x if my budget cant stretch to the ST...

the full on recaros are a £1500 option in either full leather or half leather / alcantara. the standard seats are similar to the vRS seats but have deeper bolsters and are half leather / cloth.

One thing worth considering is that if you source the car through a dealer rather than a lease company, you may be able to persuade them to add the extras on a second invoice, thus reducing the vehicle's value for tax purposes.

Some will only do this for dealer fit options, others will be a little creative! My Dad once had leather and cruise on a second invoice as assesories on a Vauxhall.

i will get the cnahce to test drive 3 cars before ordering one as well so an ST and titanium x will deffo be 2 of the tests i have... maybe then something more random. the megane f1 is on the list as well. this isnt going to be big enough for my needs but would be a fun 2 day test drive !

Both are nice cars. The Titanium X is on my list as a possible replacement.

One thing worth considering is that if you source the car through a dealer rather than a lease company' date=' you may be able to persuade them to add the extras on a second invoice, thus reducing the vehicle's value for tax purposes.

Some will only do this for dealer fit options, others will be a little creative! My Dad once had leather and cruise on a second invoice as assesories on a Vauxhall.[/quote']

it is deffinitely going through a lease company so any options have to be detailed up front when i order the car.

worst case is a cant stretch to a 2.2TDCI and have to go for the 2.0TDCI with a bunch of options.

Surely if you're given a car allowance you can source it from where ever you want and thus, giving yourself more choices.

If your company gives you an allowance and then you have to go with a particular lease company then, they mights as well just leased them themselves...as per normal.

I thought that's why most companies give you a choice of cars that they can lease or a car allowance?

Personally I'd take the money and keep the Octy....unless you're really up for a change.

Surely if you're given a car allowance you can source it from where ever you want and thus' date=' giving yourself more choices.

.[/quote']

I have one friend who would dearly love a passat but his company gets incredible deals on Fords.Think his fully specced TDCi Mondeo estate would have been about

Panasonic typically will only give employees Toyotas...and then there's restrictions on the type of vehicle you can get...i.e. no coupes, MPVs etc.

You can of course take the money and get what ever you want.

Motorola used to give an allowance or you could lease more or less anything on a list they had....I remember QA manager got a Celica.

My mate took the allowance and got a Grand Cherokee.

I guess if you do a lot of company miles then it makes sense.

Surely if you're given a car allowance you can source it from where ever you want and thus' date=' giving yourself more choices.

If your company gives you an allowance and then you have to go with a particular lease company then, they mights as well just leased them themselves...as per normal.

[/quote']

I think it works out cheaper for the employee tax wise to take an allowance, but the company still probably want the right 'image' hence the list.

You could in theory if there was no list take a 23k over 3 year allowance, buy a B Reg Toyota Hilux pocket the rest and turn up at customers premises looking like a farmer!

the company use a lease company which i think are called ECO or thats the name of the scheme at least.

there is a set list depending on your grade in the company and you have to choose something from that list.

the allowance the company give works out to something like £265 for my new role, add to that something like £100 benifit in kind and you have a £365 or there about total. i can then add into that maxing at 25% of the total. this works out to something like £450.

now on the list there are things like Skoda's and Audi's as well as VW's but they are all at the top end of my total budget or over it. the lease company have worked out massive discounts with ford hence the ability to get an ST or titanium x for alot less than a normal lease would cost.

basically i'd be able to get a 22K car for £425 a month over 3 years.

after having a think about it over the weekend i think the titanium x might be a better option. purely as the luxury options etc it has. still like i said before i can test drive 3 cars before i have to make a decision so i'll make sure the ST and titanium x are 2 of the drives i have.

i do love the octavia and will be sad to see it go when the time comes but at the end of the day with this new car on the lease plan i wont have to pay for any of the servicing, insurance or maintainence so i'll be quids in. at the moment i dont get any money from the company for the car as i'm site based and its my own car.

The Mondeo is actually a very good car, practical and yet still fun to drive with a decent spec. Probably the only thing against it is the badge/image, although we are/were all Skoda drivers here so not an issue !

I think it's worth driving a 2.2 TDCI and a 2.0 TDCI to see how you think they compare. I've read mixed reports about the 2.2, including one from a certain Mr Clarkson, who said the 2.0 TDCI was a much better car to drive.

Not sure whether I'd opt for the ST or the Titanium X - I notice the ST doesn't have the option for climate controlled seats so I guess it would have to be the Titanium X

Chris

I think it's worth driving a 2.2 TDCI and a 2.0 TDCI to see how you think they compare. I've read mixed reports about the 2.2' date=' including one from a certain Mr Clarkson, who said the 2.0 TDCI was a much better car to drive.

Not sure whether I'd opt for the ST or the Titanium X - I notice the ST doesn't have the option for climate controlled seats so I guess it would have to be the Titanium X

Chris[/quote']

its a very good point and the 2.0tdci isnt going to cost me anywhere near as much as the 2.2tdci is per month.

maybe i ought to have a look at the ST compared to the titanium x and decide which model i prefer then if the titanium x is the one test drive both engine sizes.