Company Cars

[ZaO]

Audi A5 no question! If it was the 80's I would say BMW for sure

[kalniel]

Drop a hint about a skoda superb..

[Smudger]

A3s, Golfs, Seat Leons and Skoda Octavias all share the same platform, so one of those should give you the same 'feel' as the Audi, without the big cost/risk of thrashing...

[ehhhhhhh]

+1 for the 135i

You won't regret it

[dave87]

If the list is negotiable then the 320d is a lot of car for the BIK band...

[Spud1]

Any one series ?

135i M Sport then

I was about to post almost exactly this ) Make sure its the 5dr version though - the 2011 1er (F20) is a vast improvement over the previous EXX series - higher builder quality many many many more toys as standard, and vastly improved looks..I bought on a few months ago, although sadly only a 116i..the M135 will have to wait another 20 months >

It will set you back £30-£35k though depending on options, but amazingly fun cars..if you can't get the 135i then tbh even the 116i or 120d (both of which have a lower BIK value) - and you can get them in sport trim (minimum spec for a comfortable car) with some options for around £21-23k.

Most fun I have had in a small hatch due to them being RWD. I used to hate roundabouts, now I love the east lancs road (roundabouts every 2 minutes)..so much fun!

Of your other choices..

Audi A3 to lower A5 - Good build quality but boring as hell in the A3..A5 is nice though but not at bottom spec.
Any BMW 1-series but not 3-series - As above, great fun and practical car if you get a 5DR.
Merc C-Class - Are you over 40? Then this is an option. If under 40..move on..
VW Passat Golf - Nice cars but not prestige or as nice as any of the Audi/BMW/Merc
Various Volvos, Fords etc. - as above but even worse....


Don't suppose the new A-Class is also an option? Personally I hate the front of it but they are nice inside and from the side/rear.

F20 1er is probably your best bet though

[Phage]

Thanks !
I can certainly get the 120d M, I am indeed (well) over 40, but the C-Class doesn't get good reviews and looks dull.
I must admit that I'm not sure that this company car deal we're getting is a great deal though. The cars are a lot of dosh for what we're getting. That 120d M is near the top of my allowance for a diesel hatch ?

[Spud1]

Thanks !
I can certainly get the 120d M, I am indeed (well) over 40, but the C-Class doesn't get good reviews and looks dull.
I must admit that I'm not sure that this company car deal we're getting is a great deal though. The cars are a lot of dosh for what we're getting. That 120d M is near the top of my allowance for a diesel hatch ?

The 120D is a great engine - I don't do the miles the justify one but it's efficient + quick enough. I wouldn't bother with the M-sport kit to be honest - its really just a bodykit with climate control..not worth it imo.

Sport is a better choice with:
Comfort pack
Visibility Pack (Xenons)
6NK enhanced bluetooth (for full iPod integration)
Driver Comfort Pack (For cruise control + parking sensors)
Leather + heated seats if you like them

Take a look at www.babybmw.net if you are interested in an F20 - some great advice + friendly people there.

[Phage]

Cheers muchly !

[Guy]

Try and stay clear of the options list on any of them. They will massively push up your BIK on it.

Depends how much you're going to be in the car, and if you are literally using it to get from a-b and want more salary, or if you're willing to sacrifice a little bit more for a nicer car.

Also do you get a fuel card, and I'm assuming private use is allowed? If so then something like a nicely spec'd V50 would be good, as they're quite good for tip runs, and Ikea etc...

Otherwise you can't go wrong with the new 1 series. I've had a few as loan cars and they're nice enough. Not too shabby to drive either.

*Edit*
Are you able to opt out and get an allowance instead?

[Phage]

Well...
I'd rather have a nicer car for this much cash, and there's no fuel card. But private mileage is allowed.

[Guy]

In that case, definitely stick to a BMW diesel. No other manufacturer has caught up yet on performance - MPG scale yet.
The new generation are VERY good. Having sampled the new 116, 118d and in recent weeks spending a couple of days in a 320d I was highly impressed. Still going to take a lot to shift me out of a 330d though!

[Zak33]

Rightyo people.... here goes

A Company Car is a TOOL FOR A JOB.. it is NOT a plaything. It needs to get the driver from A to B everyday, all year round, in crap conditions, sunny conditions, and the person is likely to be working hard, tired, stressed and needing cosseting. Blutooth phone calls, Monday morning 9am starts that are 200 miles from home and finish at 7pm that day. with another 4 hours to drive home.... I did that for 5 years.

At weekends it's for shopping, holidays, trips out.. and only occasionally, maybe once per week, someone will enjoy their car for the dynamic's designed into it. Occassionally you're in the mood... and it's rare, cos the laptop's sliding around in the foot well ;-)

The Company Car driver is taxed and taxed heavily... dependent upon the VALUE OF THE CAR, and the CO2 emitted by the car. It's in a ratio... the higher the price, including all options, and the higher the CO2 the more taxation the driver loses from their salary.. and it's A LOT of money if you get it wrong.. and you get stuck with it for a long time.

Also, if you have PRIVATE FUEL paid by the business then you are taxed a SET AMOUNT of money, according to the ENGINE SIZE.. NOT the CO2.. so we have a modern set of rules for the cars list price and CO2 and a very old rule for the fuel benefit.

The object for monetry use.. is to get a LOW LIST PRICE CAR with a VERY LOW CO2 rating.. and often it's CHEAPER to pay for your own private fuel.. as you use less of your own money that choosing to have company paid private fuel.

People are confused by tax, even in 2012... so lets start there.

A typical dude can earn £8015 per year without paying tax on their income. After that it's 20% for the next £34,370.... then 40%

Now.. having a Company Car means you have your tax code reduced... so you pay tax earlier.

In the PRICE GUIDE of most Car manufacturers you'll find a taxable amount related to the CO2 band.

this year for a car creating less than 120g/km, a petrol driver pays tx on 15% of the car's list price every year.. and a diesel driver pays tax on 18% of a cars list price

So.. choose a really low CO2 car 119gm/km, likely a DIESEL as it's easier to get CO2 that low on a diesel, with a list price of £19000:

£19000 x 18% = £3420 taxable benefit

So the dudes' personal tax goes down from £8015 to £4595,, ie he pay tax on the £3420. For a 20% payer it's really cheap.. for a 40% payer .. it's higher.

Sounds affordable huh?

Now try to find a CAR YOU LIKE with LOW CO2 .......

then use this
http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/calcs/cars.htm and use link in small print at bottom of page...

.. and make sure you add on ALL OPTIONS>.. metallic, Sat Nav.. etc etc at full list price.

the price the company pays is irrelevent.. and having a used car makes no difference.. you are taxed on it's NEW PRICE and CO2... so be careful.

added: DON'T FORGET... so far, historically, the CO2 bands have moed every year.. so if you have the car for 3 years, expect it to move 3 bands and you will pay more per year as it gets older.

[Phage]

So, a max tax rate payer would be saving 22% ?

[kalniel]

lots of useful info

Right, hence Skoda Superb (greenline)

[Tumble]

A Company Car is a TOOL FOR A JOB.. it is NOT a plaything. It needs to get the driver from A to B everyday, all year round, in crap conditions, sunny conditions, and the person is likely to be working hard, tired, stressed and needing cosseting. Blutooth phone calls, Monday morning 9am starts that are 200 miles from home and finish at 7pm that day. with another 4 hours to drive home.... I did that for 5 years.

I'm just starting out on this route. The car I've got at the moment is a dreadful vehicle for the job. NO blooteeth and NO cruise control. 2 things that would make the frenchness bearable. It's a proper slog beating it to go up & down the M6 all day, and i've got to wear a stupid bloody thing in my ear all the time. Nightmare. Also, with it being french, the wipers are on the wrong way round (seriously - it's a menace) and the steering wheel is ever so slightly inboard of the drivers seat, which means after about an hour and a half, I have a sore left arm, or a sore right arm if I adjust the wheel so it's comfortable for the left one. NIGHTMARE.