I will be starting a new job in 4-5 weeks that will require travelling around 35K a year just commuting with weekend on top! The job comes with a £6K a year car allowance rather than a company car scheme.
This is a new situation to me so would appreciate peoples opinions and reccomendations. I currently drive a 2003 Audi A4 diesel that has done 118,000 miles.
I would like either:
a new(ish) car that is out of the ordinary (Alfa GT possibly?) to use all of the time
or
something for the weekly slog and then a nice car for the weekend (softtop of some kind)
Budget is 10K plus what I can get for my Audi (or do I keep that!)
Any help appreciated
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Keep the Audi. 6k for you (put a little aside for repairs/servicing/towards next car in future). Well that's what I'd do, but I appreciate the lure of a new car.
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35k in an alfa GT? no no no no you will do your head in.
I assume that to do 35k a year its mostly motorway work, but even so thats 583 hours in the car, thats 48 12 hour days.
The car you get needs to be comfortable, relaxing and quiet.
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TourVanMan TM < Ex RF >
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I would have thought you'd be best getting something like a 2003 Audi A4 TDI..
Oh wait!
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Keep the audi, pocket the money, buy another car when (if) the Audi breaks.
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I suggest you:
- keep the Audi for weekends until it starts getting expensive, then chop it in for whatever age of MX-5 you can get
- buy something Japanese, or a Skoda, for your weekly commute - you'll need a diesel, and something with comfortable seats.
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Don't forget to take the tax and NI out of your £6,000 allowance before you work out your budget. Otherwise, I'd agree with the others - assuming you like the Audi, keep that running for another year or two and pocket the difference to help fund its eventual replacement.
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If you're happy with the Audi, I'd suggest you keep it.
Bung your car allowance after tax into a savings account. Then when the Audi collapses, you'll have cash in the bank to fund a replacement/running repairs. Being ahead of the game financially is a nice place to be and is normally worth the effort, IMHO.
V
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your £6,000 allowance sadly won't go very far will it........depending on your salary.......it will be taxed at either 22% or 40%...............22% will be a loss of £1320..............44% a loss of £2400........then there's NI contributions.
insurance on something else?... min £400
two services a year for 35k mileage?....min £400
set of front tyres?...£150-£200
minor but essential general repair/ odds and ends.....£200
the worst case figure out of that lot leaves £200 per month for some finance/lease which isn't a lot is it for something new and reliable
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At 110k on a 2003 plate the Audi has already done the lion's share of its depreciation (did you have it from new?), and yet you know most/all of its history. Keep it for two years, which will take it to >180k, and then sell it (your scheme/allowance may require you to have a car <5 years old?). The depreciation over the next two years will be far less than that experienced to date, and yet you will still be driving a fairly current model.
By the time you sell it you'll have about £6k in the bank from the allowance after deductions, and I'd guess you have to get around £2.5-3k when you sell.
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Thanks for everyones advice and help so far.
I think sensibly keeping the Audi will be the best option. It was my Dads car before I got it so know the history and wanted for nothing as it was company kept. I expect it to last a few more miles yet. Does another 70K seem reasonable without costing too much though? Its going in for a cambelt and full service next week which will be the biggest bill I have had to pay on general maintenace on a car!
I think that may have been my answer if someone else was asking the question, however the lure of a new car is always tempting. I think the problem maybe here is that I wont really get anything any better than I have already got.
That considered and I keep it for the daily motorway hack to either Newcastle or Leeds office (live in Darlington(ish)) then I may consider something for the weekends that doesnt depreciate too much or too costly to buy. Something sporty and fast that I can maybe throw round a track once or twice a year!
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Sensible decision making. Is the expensive cambelt/service main dealer? I'd suggest that if you stick with your plan of keeping it independent servicing would now be the way to go. Then I'd probably treat it to a good weekend's cleaning (or a valet for the easy option) to get that new car feel!
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The service and cambelt is at an independant VAG specialist. Its working out around £550 plus VAT for the belt, tensioners, long life service and the injectors to be flushed and cleaned. (dealer wasnt far short of £1000 all in which is quite extortionate IMO). I also need two new tyres for the front thats going to cost another £180 plus whatever else they may find at the time. Only known problem is the gearstick moves under accelleration, especially noticeable in 6th, however this hasnt got any worse for quite a number of miles.
I think the valet idea may be the way to go - probably take it in somewhere so when I pick it back up it will at least feel new.
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