Company Car help

[Aky208]

Some advice needed please

I will be starting a new job in the not too distant future which involves a move to the midlands. As part of the role I will be getting a company car. I have never had a company car before, just the use of a pool car in various places. The company has given me some criteria on the type of car I can have (listed below) and have asked me to get some quotes. After having a bit of a search I'm getting a bit lost in the jargon and choices.

Criteria:

up to 2.2ltr
Diesel / Petrol or hybrid (no fully e)
25000 Mpa (minimum)
£450 x 36 months (needs to include maintenance plan)
Estate - mandatory
is available for private use but I pay private fuel costs.
No specials i.e. sports/4x4/prestige

My questions are:
- Does anyone have any good recommendations of cars I should look at and companies I should go to for decent quotes / agreements?
- A lot of the deals I have looked at involve an initial starting cost as a % of the overall vehicle cost. Should I have been given a limit from the company as to what this could be?

any advice is much appreciated.

[Alan1986]

The company I work for just give us a big list of cars we can pick from,
I don't envy having to sort it all out yourself!
I would get stressed before I started the bloody job

Enjoy whichever car you choose anyways
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Cbt Done, Currently wobbling around on a Cbf125 and love it
DAS some time soon

[stinkwheel]

You could try a car dealer. One that does multiple brands. Sit them down and see what they'll offer you? Or ask your new employer if there's a company they like to deal with?

Letting the employee choose the car they want within a certain criterion is a good practice.

If they get the brand, colour and general type of car they want, they are much more likely to look after it properly.

Just ask the mondeo I had as my first company car. You can fuck a car you don't like within a few months without really trying. Funny noise? Turn up the radio. Down on power? Change down and give it more revs. That thing didn't get taken to the garage until it physically wouldn't move.
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“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

[chris-red]

[J4mes]

Skoda VRs Estate in that price range if it won't stretch to an E class, A6 or 5 Series.

Why is the estate compulsory? If it's for load carrying then I don't think the A4, C Class or 3 series have very big boots really.

[J4mes]

[Poseidon]

Having had a brief look at something similar, I'd be tempted by an A4 Avant s-line. 36 months at around £410 with service/maintenance/tyres package. Sub 10-sec 0-60, auto mode for when you're plodding, tiptronic for when the urge kicks in and 65mpg (claimed ).

That said, as much as I enjoyed driving the audi, a friend of mine just swapped his in for a bmw 3 series touring (might be a 5 series now I think of it) as his missus didn't get on with the audi.

If that's a bit too "prestige" for your criteria, then perhaps a volvo. V60s aren't a bad price, so they'll be at or around the figures for the audi, and having owned a volvo before, they're solid cars to drive, if not a bit uninspired.
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1977 Honda CG125
2002 Ducati Monster S4 (currently restoring)

[Nobby the Bastard]

Be aware that any company car is a taxable benefit so you'll have to pay tax each month on top of PAYE.
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trevor saxe-coburg-gotha:"Remember this simple rule - scooters are for men who like to feel the breeze on their huge, flapping cunt lips."
Triumph Sprint ST 1050

[Aky208]

[J4mes]

[Aky208]

[Aky208]

[dodsi]

I have just ordered myself a Skoda Superb, went in looking for the octavia VRs but it is SO much more car for similar money - i just couldnt ignore it.

If you get the estate version you will never worry about carrying anything again and you can ferry 4x large adults in comfort with cases if needed.

available in 150hp and 190hp 2.0 tdi options.

[Pjay]

https://www.nationwidevehiclecontracts.co.uk

[stevo as b4]

Not at all into new or company cars, but the suggestion of a Skoda octavia VRS either petrol or diesel sounds a fair and reasonable one.

Supposed to be good value with many toys as std.

[Pjay]

At that budget I'd be looking at the Audi A6 Avant.

[hellkat]

Just tell them you want a Tesla and then when they look at you like you are barking, just shrug and agree to whatever they want.
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Not nearly as interesting in real life.

[stevo as b4]

[M.C]

[Pjay]

[stinkwheel]

[MCN]

[stevo as b4]

Ok VAG are a big firm, have alot of r&d and high technology and market leading features granted.

Have you spent much time in an Audi dealership workshop though?

They really do have empty work shops with hardly any recall issues or expensive major warranty work going on all the time on these simple easy to look after massively reliable vehicles that are extremely sensibly priced.

[Pjay]

[Alpineandy]

Aky208, If you're not into cars and just consider it a tool for work/travel then IMO you're probably wise to investigate Japanese manufacturers which are usually a bit cheaper than the German ones and therefor a bit cheaper on tax.
I'm not sure what they're selling now that fits your criteria but I'd check Toyota, Honda, Mazda, Nissan and Suzuki.
Car salesmen don't want you leaving their showroom without buying, but you'll really need to check them all and go back for the one that fits your requirements best.

If you're going to look at other makes then don't forget Ford.
They may not have the cache of others but they do make very decent cars.
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The above comment isn't necessarily the truth and anyone that says it is, is only correct if it's the truth or they're bigger than me.