First Company Car - how do I choose?? | Motoring discussion | Back Room Forum

Sat 2 Jun 2012 15:19

First Company Car - how do I choose?? - scottyw

Hi, new to the forum and hope you can give me some pointers!

I'm about to order my first ever company car and I just can't decide. Any advice, guidance, help would be much appreciated.

Basically I will be doing a daily 100 mile round trip commute, plus additional business miles, being 6'4" I will need a comfortable car which I can get satnav, bluetooth, etc

I don't want to pay any extra personal contributions, so I can choose anything up to the size of Mondeo, Insignia, Passat etc or looking smaller Audi A3. BMW seems to require personal contribution, as would A4.

Do I go for the bigger Mondeo, Insignia size or drop down to the Focus, A3 level?

Got a Focus at home at the moment, fine car, but not sure it would provide enough comfort on my 500 miles a week?

I'm going round in circles a bit on the ordering website!!

Had almost decided on Mondeo but then been reading it is a very big car!!

Any help would be much appreciated.

Cheers.

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Sat 2 Jun 2012 17:03

First Company Car - how do I choose?? - bonzo dog

Hi Scotty, my view after 30 years of company cars & varying annual mileages between 15k & 80k is that the bigger the car the more comfortable the journey.

Also, if you have a personal car as well, it is a good idea to choose a company car with differing benefits - eg if you had a Mondeo estate at home you might want to choose a small co.car which you can use personally for economic reasons.

In your case you may want to choose a bigger saloon / hatchback or even an estate for when you want more space (eg bringing furniture from IKEA) or go for something like a 7 seater in case you need one occasionally.

Also try not to think about the badge (unless having a BMW / Audi / Merc sat on the drive is important to you, that is.

My choice for my next car will be between Mondeo / Superb / V70 estates as they are comfortable for big mileages & hugely practical when my wifes little hatchback is not versatile enough.

Basically, think personal use as well as company use & look away from the badge

Good luck choosing

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Sat 2 Jun 2012 17:38

First Company Car - how do I choose?? - Collos25

We have a limit of 130 gco2 on our company cars I think a lot of companies are starting to use this limit it still allows you to choose a Mercedes c class but most people have choosen to buy their own cars and those who chose thecompany car option have limited their BIK by picking the most eco cars on the list, I have choosen to purchase my own car and keep all the company allowance plus mileage bit of swings and roundabouts .

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Sat 2 Jun 2012 17:28

First Company Car - how do I choose?? - Avant

Welcome to the forum.

You need to think about your ideal size of car and then test drive cars in a short-list. With that mileage you need to get it right - it must be good to drive and also comfortable. Not all cars will be comfortable for someone of your height.

If you want something smnaller than a Mondeo and more comfortable than your Focus, try these:

Skoda Octavia hatch or estate - lots of room and cheaper and shorter than a Mondeo

Volvo S40 / V50 S60 - a pity the new V40 isn't yet on sale, but Volvos have some of the most comfortable seats in the business

VW Golf or Audi A3 - good seats: you'll get a more upmarket Golf for the same price as a less plush A3, but there's a new A3 just out which will be worth a look.

Above all, go for a decent test drive in anything you're interested in, and make you're comfortable in it.

Edited by Avant on 02/06/2012 at 17:28

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Sat 2 Jun 2012 20:16

First Company Car - how do I choose?? - a900ss

I don't mean to state the obvious but do work out the BIK for the cars you can get. It can sometimes be amazing that you can pay quite a bit more tax for what you could think are similar vehicles.

When I recently chose the cheapest to most expensive was well over an additional £100 a month to the taxman from me.

Good luck.

Edited by a900ss on 02/06/2012 at 20:17

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Sat 2 Jun 2012 21:45

First Company Car - how do I choose?? - unthrottled

The latest Insignias/Mondeos are a result of the world car platform being adopted by the manufacturers in order to save money. They are intended for the North American/Australian market and any that are sold in Eueope are a bonus. They are really too big to be convenient in UK roads and parking spaces. Yes, you can manage but unless you need to get 3 passengers across the back bench, is there anything to gain by the additional width? The new Focus/Golf sized cars are not small and will fit most drivers with plenty of comfort.

Gone are the days when smaller cars made lousy cruisers with their tiny engines screaming away at even modest motorway speeds.

The fabia VRS I borrowed was as good a motorway cruiser as anything else, tall geared, quiet and stable. Probably quieter than a 5 series because it didn't have run flat tyres.

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Sun 3 Jun 2012 10:04

First Company Car - how do I choose?? - craig-pd130

All good advice above. My personal criteria for the last 4 company cars has been to start with a target BIK value, then work out which models & variants hit that value, then choose the car I like the most from those.

There are loads of company car tax calculators online to help you work this out. Then just run through your own personal likes & dislikes from those models to make a shortlist. Then try and get a 24 hour test drive in those cars.

Don't forget to work out how having the company pay for your fuel will impact you. You can choose to pay your own fuel and reclaim business mileage, which can work out cheaper.

Improvements in emissions have balanced the current BIK tax regime somewhat, there's no longer the big adavntage in favour of diesels. For example, the BIK for a Audi A4 saloon with the 1.8TFSI petrol (180bhp) is £1960 / year, for the 177bhp diesel it's about £2100. So it comes down to the engine characteristics you prefer.

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Wed 20 Jun 2012 23:19

First Company Car - how do I choose?? - Northernburt

hello all, tbis is my first post on here.

im currently going for a job that will have company car, been told i would gef a choice of a passat insignia or mondeo but i havent been told what specs they will be. im just looki.g for a heads up on which would be best in terms of spec against tax so if they ask in my second interview for a suggestion i can answer with a it if knowledge

cheers

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Wed 20 Jun 2012 23:23

First Company Car - how do I choose?? - daveyjp

I had a Mondeoo as a hire car for a couple of weeks. It is a large car, but more importantly is wasn't the most refined of motors. Ford skimp on sound roofing on diesels and it shows.

Back to back test drives of the cars you are offered is the best way to find these things out.

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Wed 27 Jun 2012 19:35

First Company Car - how do I choose?? - Northernburt

hello all

just thouvht id update. the company has now confirmed fhe car is going to be seat exeo se tech 143ps.

has ayone had/got one?what rs the like?

cheers

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Wed 27 Jun 2012 20:23

First Company Car - how do I choose?? - Shabba0070

Seat Exeo = Audi A4

Good choice

Chris

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Thu 28 Jun 2012 11:14

First Company Car - how do I choose?? - Ed V

Interesting - barely a mention of Toyota, Nissan, Honda to name but three. Not to mention Mazda, Mitsubishi and, further north, Kia. Nearer home - Citroen, Peugeot, Fiat.

Seems to me that my earlier post about 'perceived quality' still resonates. We all love the smart German brands. How did they manage to brainwash us so successfully? They must have the best advertising agents in brand building I think.

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Thu 28 Jun 2012 12:41

First Company Car - how do I choose?? - Bobbin Threadbare

It's all that Vorsprung durch Technik.....

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Mon 23 Jul 2012 09:49

First Company Car - how do I choose?? - Northernburt

morning all,

in just over a week i should be getting a new seat exeo 143tdi se tech. i cant wait. however i have read that the ipod dock aint great, has anyone used it? is it as bad as people make out?

cheers

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Tue 24 Jul 2012 17:46

First Company Car - how do I choose?? - concrete

Do the sums, then ditch the company car and get your own and claim the mileage and any allowance on offer. You will pay no BIK to our glorious treasury. Your personal tax code will remain intact and you will have more choice as well as more money. If the Mondeo types are too big then a Skoda Octavia will fill the bill. Plenty of room inside and a boot the size of Kent!

Too late for Northernburt, Seat Exeo will be very nice but you will pay the BIK and if for some reason you don't like it, you have to lump it.

I am speaking from nearly 40 years of company cars from the humble 1100 Ford Escort, no carpets or radio, through Ford et al, Vauxhalls, Peugeot, Honda, Renault, Nissan, VW and Toyota. Now I have a wonderful Skoda Superb. I got out of the company scheme as soon as it became an option and never regretted it.

Good luck to all who have to choose, but think carefully. Cheers Concrete

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Fri 20 Dec 2013 13:16

First Company Car - how do I choose?? - wrangler_rover

"Do the sums then ditch the company car and get your own and claim the the mileage and any allowance on offer."

If only.

I have worked for a number of companies, all provided me with a company car, Ditching the company car, claiming mileage and any allowance has never been an option. You had to have a car provided by the company.

From a purely financial point of view, the Prius Plug In, 5% BIK is very financially attractive.

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Fri 17 Aug 2012 22:43

First Company Car - how do I choose?? - sheddragger23

Not sure if this will help you but if you need to decide between a company car or having a car allowance I found the comparison tool on www.mysaleshelp.com

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Fri 20 Dec 2013 07:00

First Company Car - how do I choose?? - Lukasas75

I also had the same problem as you choosing a car,

I am traveling a lot, because I work as a sales agent, so I had to choose car which is not only fuel efficient, but also comfortable.

Now I have my new car for about year, and I am absolutely satisfied.

My car is- https://www.pigiausiosdalys.lt/lt/automobiliai/cm-ACURA/ , just look how cheap it is!

Or maybe you already have bought your car?

Waiting for your answer.

Edited by Lukasas75 on 20/12/2013 at 07:01

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Fri 20 Dec 2013 13:39

First Company Car - how do I choose?? - Ethan Edwards

Plug In Prius

Edited by Ethan Edwards on 20/12/2013 at 13:40

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Sat 21 Dec 2013 00:43

First Company Car - how do I choose?? - Avant

The link above is so staggeringly unhelpful (even translated out of Lithuanian) that I'll leave it, even if it's an attempt at advertising. To my knowledge none of the Honda models quoted are any longer available in the UK.

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Mon 19 May 2014 17:04

First Company Car - how do I choose?? - TCarter

I think an Audi A3 is a good choice. It's a smooth run, easy to maintain and doesn't cost much to run. And it's very comfortable, I used to get backpains after a long drive in my old Focus, but not anymore.

Although I'm not sure what it would be like on insurance for you. And if you're getting it on a lease-purchase basis then it could be difficult to find a company willing to insure you as some companies refuse to insure a leased car.

Edited by Avant on 19/05/2014 at 20:04

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Mon 19 May 2014 17:29

First Company Car - how do I choose?? - daveyK_UK

a work collegue has recently selected a 1.5 diesel mid range Dacia Logan MCV (estate) as his company car.

His BIK is so low, the accountant had to make contact with the tax man to confirm the rates where correct!

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Mon 19 May 2014 22:39

First Company Car - how do I choose?? - oldtoffee

Wonder what the OP chose and how they are getting on with it 2 years later.

I'm not a fan of BMWs but you can't argue with their fuel efficiency compared to rivals and low BIK which offsets much of the higher price.

Why would someone take a Dacia without aircon as a company car even if the BIK is so low? Better off running it yourself at 45p a mile and 25p after 10k mles. Would pay for it in mileage allowances!

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Fri 23 May 2014 16:23

First Company Car - how do I choose?? - concrete

Wonder what the OP chose and how they are getting on with it 2 years later.

I'm not a fan of BMWs but you can't argue with their fuel efficiency compared to rivals and low BIK which offsets much of the higher price.

Why would someone take a Dacia without aircon as a company car even if the BIK is so low? Better off running it yourself at 45p a mile and 25p after 10k mles. Would pay for it in mileage allowances!

Could not agree more. I refer you to my comments of 24/07/2012.

Cheers Concrete

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