[Mattyk]

work has just introduced a cap on emissions for various grades.

This resurrects the two versus one car debate for me, although I can stretch the current car for another 3.5 years ( screws my plan to look at chopping in during December though)

So first question, what would be the best car right now <130g/km. cost circa 550 / month, 0-1k deposit, 22k miles pa. must have 4 doors, I was quite taken with a 435d gc I saw recently. Must be quick. Needs to do a real world 35-40mpg. Needs to be auto, 22k miles pa are too many for a stick.

Second question

What's the cheapest saloon that you can get and best second car option. This opens up possibilities for the second car, mileage will be low as its a weekend car, but needs four good seats etc. petrol comes into play and it should be fun.

Theoretical right now as I am two years from a vt.

Thoughts?

[dopper99]

Originally Posted by Mattyk

So first question, what would be the best car right now <130g/km. cost circa 550 / month, 0-1k deposit, 22k miles pa. must have 4 doors, I was quite taken with a 435d gc I saw recently. Must be quick. Needs to do a real world 35-40mpg. Needs to be auto, 22k miles pa are too many for a stick.

Well a 435d GC is over on your emssions at 146g/km.

How about a 330d sdrive - then later put a PPK on it.

Is just under at 129g/km. Ticks all your boxes.

Or a 330e ... but heavier and slower than the 330d.

[Mattyk]

Originally Posted by dopper99

Well a 435d GC is over on your emssions at 146g/km.

How about a 330d sdrive - then later put a PPK on it.

Is just under at 129g/km. Ticks all your boxes.

Or a 330e ... but heavier and slower than the 330d.

I did think about that

[davyk31]

Does the second option have to be a saloon as there are plenty of nice options like a Focus ST Tdi or Golf GTD for lowish monthly lease costs. Leaves a budget then for the weekend toy if you want one.

Either of those options will vastly exceed your mpg targets therefore freeing up more money per month for the toy.

[Chris Peacock]

Lucky you, we have a 125g/km top level.

[Tengocity]

Originally Posted by Chris Peacock

Lucky you, we have a 125g/km top level.

+1 Ours is even worse - 120g/km

Quick question - is this an actual company car or an opt out that still has to comply with company policy?

If it's the former then a 2 car strategy using a 330e is my chosen option, as I can save roughly £250 per month comparing a 330e v 320d (over £300 per month if I was able to get a 330d on the policy), because of the high differential in BIK tax. When my 330e is delivered then we will keep the 335d for the wife and family use, and swap the wife's mini for something weekend fun appropriate.

If it's the latter then it's not such a big difference. I'd be tempted to wait till the new 6 pot diesel from the 7 series makes it to the rest of the range as in the smaller cars it will fit under your threshold.

[Mattyk]

My first car could be a golf diesel (ironic a vw will qualify when a 335d won't...), if I go cheap company car, then it should a min size would be a golf say for mway driving etc. the 335 is such a great balance for me, I do 22k a year, it's a shame re the cap.

Second car would still have to be a Bigger saloon size car though to get the family in. I'm off to see what an m6 or rs7 would be at 4 years old...

[Mattyk]

Rs7 - ad price 52k. http://www.autotrader.co.uk/used-car...5901?logcode=p

WBAC - 32.5k

Nice work if you can get it, I wonder if they will take 33...

[goodbyalfa]

I'd stay with a 330d, but sadly you have to keep the 18" wheels (129 co2) as the 19" take you over the co2 to 131... At least you'd have to keep them on the order form, nothing to say you couldn't upgrade them after taking delivery

[Mark1966]

What bloody ridiculous rules most companies have now when it comes to cars. It would annoy the fuck out of me

[....,,,,..,,..]

I wonder how the new emissions tests will impact fleet buyers?

Could see a lot more hybrid and small engined cars around.

[AndyTo]

Originally Posted by Mark1966

What bloody ridiculous rules most companies have now when it comes to cars. It would annoy the fuck out of me

EU rules, had a tax solicitor friend explain it, didn't really understand the detail but basically companies get tax breaks for having their car fleet with low CO2.

Our company cars are the same, thankfully they also offer a cash alternative.

[JustChris]

330e?

[MarkG_M5Comp]

Originally Posted by AndyTo

EU rules, had a tax solicitor friend explain it, didn't really understand the detail but basically companies get tax breaks for having their car fleet with low CO2.

Our company cars are the same, thankfully they also offer a cash alternative.

Large companies with lots of logistics also need to show a reduction in carbon footprint; not so much you can do about airfreighting from Japan so, once again, motorists are always targets.

Mind you, for many of our drivers we are considering taking them out of Vito vans and putting them into 5 series tourers or E-Class estates - can't see them complaining about that!

[xPETEZx]

If you are 2 years from a VT, I expect you are then 3 years from end of agreement? (Or is it 4? VT @ 50% payments?)

In anycase, sounds like you are in the good situation of currently having a 335d and being able to keep it for 3+years of new rules. So having a car that nobody else can now select.

I would hold on to the 335d for the full 3 years unless there is a car that fits the 130g limit and is as good or better than 335d.

330d / 330e both seem like a step down.

[davyk31]

Originally Posted by MarkG335

Large companies with lots of logistics also need to show a reduction in carbon footprint; not so much you can do about airfreighting from Japan so, once again, motorists are always targets.

Mind you, for many of our drivers we are considering taking them out of Vito vans and putting them into 5 series tourers or E-Class estates - can't see them complaining about that!

If your drivers have personal use of the vehicle they may not be happy about the much higher tax they will need to pay on the car rather than the van. Granted however they would have a nice car to drive around in.

[MarkG_M5Comp]

Originally Posted by davyk31

If your drivers have personal use of the vehicle they may not be happy about the much higher tax they will need to pay on the car rather than the van. Granted however they would have a nice car to drive around in.

It's a win win for them, they get a whopping pay increase to counter that!

[Mattyk]

Originally Posted by xPETEZx

If you are 2 years from a VT, I expect you are then 3 years from end of agreement? (Or is it 4? VT @ 50% payments?)

In anycase, sounds like you are in the good situation of currently having a 335d and being able to keep it for 3+years of new rules. So having a car that nobody else can now select.

I would hold on to the 335d for the full 3 years unless there is a car that fits the 130g limit and is as good or better than 335d.

330d / 330e both seem like a step down.

I can keep for 2.5 more, buy at 12k, run for a year gaining cash allowance and bik tax avoidance then sell on. Providing it doesn't blow up!

[Mattyk]

Originally Posted by AndyTo

EU rules, had a tax solicitor friend explain it, didn't really understand the detail but basically companies get tax breaks for having their car fleet with low CO2.

Our company cars are the same, thankfully they also offer a cash alternative.

This is the cash allowance :/

[isleaiw]

Originally Posted by MarkG335

Mind you, for many of our drivers we are considering taking them out of Vito vans and putting them into 5 series tourers or E-Class estates - can't see them complaining about that!

From my experience many will want the large payrise and to keep the van - and probably a bigger payrise as they will assume car costs more than van. funny lots these van drivers!

[JNW1]

Originally Posted by Mattyk

This is the cash allowance :/

So you can take a cash allowance but even though you're then using that to buy your own car it still has to meet the company car policy criteria? I could perhaps understand them insisting on the car needing to be suitable for the job (so if, say, you're expected to entertain customers then 4 doors may be appropriate) but presumably they just pay a rate per mile for business use and that being the case surely it's up to an owner to determine how economical or green they want their car to be? Giving someone a car allowance and then giving them strict rules on how they can spend it has never seemed entirely reasonable to me but unfortunately it seems some companies want to retain a significant influence over what people drive even though they no longer want to give them a company car! Still, I suppose people have to view car policy and allowances as part of an overall remuneration package and hence it may be worth putting-up with some annoying rules around car choice if the rest of the deal is an attractive one!

[Tengocity]

Originally Posted by JNW1

So you can take a cash allowance but even though you're then using that to buy your own car it still has to meet the company car policy criteria? I could perhaps understand them insisting on the car needing to be suitable for the job (so if, say, you're expected to entertain customers then 4 doors may be appropriate) but presumably they just pay a rate per mile for business use and that being the case surely it's up to an owner to determine how economical or green they want their car to be? Giving someone a car allowance and then giving them strict rules on how they can spend it has never seemed entirely reasonable to me but unfortunately it seems some companies want to retain a significant influence over what people drive even though they no longer want to give them a company car! Still, I suppose people have to view car policy and allowances as part of an overall remuneration package and hence it may be worth putting-up with some annoying rules around car choice if the rest of the deal is an attractive one!

My company could be seen to be like this but I think they're actually pretty fair. If you've got a business need for a car then you an get a company car, but you can choose to opt out, but it has to fit same criteria either way.
If you don't need a car for business, but get a car allowance as part of your package then it's completely up to you what you do with it.
So when I was a marketing manager I got the 335d, but then moved across to a sales manager role where I'd never have been allowed to get this car in the first place!