I've been a company car driver for the past 10 years, but this time (March 2007) I plan on opting out and taking the cash alternative for various reasons. I currently drive a Toyota Avensis T3-x D-4D Hatch which has served well (even if it is slow!).
My budget is £13k and I want something that is less than a year old. At the moment the choice has been narrowed down to :-
Zafira Design (150BHP) CDTI - which I test drove for 3 days this month
Astra Design/SRI Estate (150BHP) CDTI
Focus C-MAX GHIA TDCI (unsure of what engine size to go for)
Focus Ghia Estate TDCI (unsure of what engine size to go for)
I enjoyed the Zafira, along with the 'roominess' of the cabin. Although there is only three of us (2 adults, 1 child), there will be regular occasions when I will need to carry 5 and thought at least the Zafira allows this to happen in comfort.
I stopped by the local ford dealer to look at the C-MAX and he offered a 'FordDirect' 2006 (06) GHIA 2.0 TDCI with leather, parking sensors, bluetooth phone kit and 7k miles on the clock for £13,500 (that was his opening offer) which to me sounded good.
The Zafira sounds appealing as it also has 20k mile servicing (and this is what I will cover over the year).
I am concerned that with the new C-MAX comming out later this year, the value of existing C-MAXs will plumet..
I plan on keeping whatever I buy for 2-3 years.
Any advice appreciated.
Cheers,
John
|
At 20,000 miles a year over three years, the lower fuel comsumption of the Astra or Focus is worth taking into account - especially as there's only three of you.
How often will you carry 5 and how far will they be travelling? Also bear in mind that if those five passengers bring baggage, they'll end up in the front two rows of the Zafira anyway as the rear seats will need to be stowed - there's no boot space to speak of with seven seats in place.
Also, the TDCI engine has its share of critics in the Backroom, but not having run a diesel Ford or Vauxhaul/Opel I can't comment on the relative merits of the TDCI vs. CDTI.
|
|
|
Okay, I'll set the ball rolling. For 15k you could get a brand new Kia Carens 2.0 CRDi in 5 or 7 seat mode. Beats buying someone else's problems, plus it'd be in warranty all the time you intend to keep it.
--
Terry
|
But you are spending £15k on a Kia. No thanks.
S-Max for me.
|
Each to his own - it'd be boring if we all went for the same thing. Frankly on build quality, reliability and vfm I'd have the Kia - and I've had both in my time!
--
Terry
|
|
|
|
>>> I currently drive a Toyota Avensis T3-x D-4D Hatch which has served well (even ifit is slow!).
If the Avensis is a good car why not buy your Company Car?
If it is 3 yr old you will get it for less than 50% of your budget - bank the other £6.5K and run it. If it has been good and reliable you know more about it than a 2nd hand car from a garage. Even after another 60K mls it will be worth something - say £2.5K and the depreciation over 3 years = £1300 / yr - you might not keep it another 3 years but you cannot drop much on depreciation as it has already dropped a bundle.
Re Tax - remember to tell the HM R&C that you do not have a Co car and also remember to claim back tax on your mileage rate.- you are allowed 45p for the first 10,000 and then 25p after that. If the Company pays less than these rates you get the tax back on the difference.
I ran a brand new car for 3 yrs as a work car, lost a bundle in that time. However over the last 3 yrs I have made a profit - low depreciation ( already taken the hit in the 1st 3 yrs and repairs have been modest (ex Servicing, tyres, brakes etc) only £150.
|
Kia = good value for £$£$ when new, but aome have a differnt opinion, once into the used market, so ???? future values.
C Max - will be pretty popular selling on
Zafira - healthy discounts & my second choice
Forget the estate cars - guess you'll appreciate the extra space, once you start using it
But you've forgotten the best option... Mazda 5
Whichever you choose, do take heed of the TRUE costs/benefits as mentioned above, you've possibly been imune to these for the last 10 years!!
Get a Personal Contrat Plan, with maintainence included & you'll budget a lot easier!!
VB
|
|
|
|
Its actually 40ppm for the 1st 10k miles (unless the rules have changed recently) :-)
|
|
|
|
John - if I were you I'd arrange a test run in the C-max to see if you prefer it to the Zafira - both should be lively if you go for the big engine. Mazda 5 is a good suggestion, although there won't be very many year-ols examples to choose from.
Any of these would hold their value better than a Focus or Astra estate - perfectly good cars with the same engines available as with the MPVs, but there are too many of them around and they both have that slight connotation of the man who's come to mend the photocopier.
Now I'll be in trouble as maybe quite a few of the Backroom are photocopier engineers....)
|
Many thanks for those who responded.....
Gromit - Probably, there will be 5 people in the car once or twice a month. Minimal baggage as well. The main reason for thinking about a Zafira is my elderly parents. They are soon to stop driving (due to the nutters on the road) so it will be down to me to ferry them about as and when needed. Also, I need to do a few boot sales following a clearout !!! I have also heard criticisim about the TDCI, but also merits as well.
Terryb - £13 is my top end and I don't fancy owning a Kia (especially as my ex-wife has one!!) New cars have their own problems also....
MichaelR - Where can I get an S-Max for £13 ???
Falkirk Bairn - When ever I've tried to buy them before, the price has not been very good. Also I fancy a change and something with some 'getup and go' under the bonnet. I fully intend notifying the Inland Revenue of my change in circumstances - if only to get a normal tax code again.
Vansboy - No looked at Mazda 5 and also thought about Toyota Corolla Verso, so I will investigate. Costs - I've just discovered how much Car Insurance is!!! PCP was a thought, but that also looks expensive and there's still insurance to buy (unless to can recommend), plus the possibility of overstepping the mileage agreement. I've kinda made up my mind to buy a car and try to use the 'cash allowance' .
Avant - C-Max test drive is on the agenda. In fact I've just recieved some mail (spam) from Ford Talkback as I was a registered member. They used to offer a 3 day test drive, so I'll call them later today. I know what you mean regarding the estate vehicles - did I mention my occupation ;-)
|
If your parents have difficulty getting in and out of cars, bring them with you on the test drive. Not all MPVs are more comfortable than estates (and vice versa).
SWMBO's grandfather bought a Toyota Corolla Verso because the seat was just the right height to slide into rather than having to climb up or sit down into the car. However, her uncle, who has very restricted mobility and uses a walking frame, can get in or out of a Focus estate OK, but has much more difficulty with our Scenic.
|
|
If you need something slightly 'roomier' than the Toyota, but aren't 100% certain a true MPV is what is required I'd recommend you look at the Seat Altea which has slightly higher seating than a normal car, but isn't as 'van' like as an MPV. A 2.0TDi should be in your price range. If you need more boot space and can stand the looks also consider the new Toledo.
|
I've got a C-Max 1.8 TDCi Zetec, and I really love it.
Got lots of room inside, drives very well, lots of torque, reasonably good economy on motorways, less so around town.
I particually like the sliding rear seats - gives you lots of leg and elbow room if you only need to carry 4 people, at a trade-off of less boot space.
A much more lively drive than a Zafira - has virtually no body roll, and really holds the road. The best engine to get is the 2.0 TDCi.
|
|
I've just been to look at the Toyota and am very impressed... Quite fancy the 2.2 diesel T3 version... Only downside I thinks is the price.... Quick scour of the internet shows Cargiant have a 2006 06 verions of the car with 11k miles for £14k
|
|
I didn't mention the Verso before as I know how annoying it can be when you have a shortlist of A,B,C,and D and someone comes up with E... But I had a good long test run in one and it was indeed impressive: the 2.2 is very lively, and you can fold all 5 rear seats down to make a flat, if rather high, floor. Unlike some MPVs, this one was good fun to drive.
|
I had a Focus C-Max 2.0 TDCI Zetec for 6 hours yesterday. I found it very comfortable, unlike my wife! Nice driving position and good turn of speed. I wasn't overly impressed with the space in the back (after dropping the seats) and only just managed to get the bookcase in that we got from Ikea.
I've got another chance next weekend in the Zafira (this time a 150bhp model).
|
|
Is there anew C-Max coming out??? Facelift?
|
|
Facelift coming out middle of this year so the salesman told me....
|
Re the comments on the TDCi engines, don't forget that the 1.6 TDCi and 2.0 TDCi engines in the mk2 Focus and C-MAX are basically rebadged Peugeot/Citroen HDi engines and have nothing in common with the "Ford's own" 2.0/2.2 TDCi units from the Mondeo which seem to be the ones coming in for most of the criticism on this board..
The 1.8 TDCi is also "Ford's own" engine, but is again different to the Mondeo unit. The 1.8 is a (thorough) development of the old Endura-DE unit as used in the mk1 Mondeo and Escort TD's.
I am not implying one is any better than the other, but just making the point that the criticism on this board of TDCi's seem to be focused on the Mondeo 2.0/2.2 units, and therefore will not be relevant to any of the TDCi units in the C-MAX as they completely different engines.
Cheers
DP
|
|
I'd get a fabulous, roomy, comfortable Renault Vel Satis - one on Autotrader for £12999, 2005, 2.2DCi, 13,200 miles. And yours will be the only one you see on the road yet it's a standard major-manufacturer model, with decently priced servicing and normal engines and parts.
|
|
