sparky370z Posted February 20, 2011 Share Posted February 20, 2011 basically my firm are about to give me a company car. i already have a van but now im more technical i dont need a big vehicle any more. i will be offered 275-300 a month for this car and everything will be paid for by the firm. eg, tyres, servicing, tax ect..... i can pay extra on top if i like and get what ever car i want, as long as its fit for purpose and not a gas guzzler (zed out of the window). i already pay 320 a month for my zed so could have a fair amount to spend. plus i wont have to tax it and insure it ect. my dilemma is... a) do i keep the zed and buy a car for sub 9 grand over 3 years sell the zed and combine the money. and get a better all round car. like a audi a4 s-line or a BMW ect.. i really dont want to sell the zed but if needs must then hey.. any other advice on company cars would be great as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
martinmac Posted February 20, 2011 Share Posted February 20, 2011 I think you have answered your own question. I would get something practical for during the week which would make the weekends even better. Works for me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spursmaddave Posted February 20, 2011 Share Posted February 20, 2011 If you can afford it maybe go for an older rep mobile with high mileage and keep the Zed... Kind of a nice decision but a hard decision Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sparky370z Posted February 20, 2011 Author Share Posted February 20, 2011 but i could combine the costs and get a 330 m sport BMW. i really have to think hard about this. as the mrs is chewing my ear about getting something more practical and saving money at the same time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DoogyRev Posted February 20, 2011 Share Posted February 20, 2011 I would keep the Zed and find the best car for that money, if its all paid for then no worries After all it's a "work" car...... just think about a blast in the Zed when your not working. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
martinmac Posted February 20, 2011 Share Posted February 20, 2011 Government is skint, benefit in kind = soft target. I would not be surprised if they started to rake on some more cash from larger company car allowances. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChrisS Posted February 20, 2011 Share Posted February 20, 2011 What mileage do you do for the company ? What do you have to carry for the company ? What type of 'practical' car is the mrs thinking of ? Think these three through for the 'company' car and then the zed is for yours and the mrs pleasure. If you can afford the zed now and they are giving you money for the additional car. Nothing has changed , apart from the additional parking required. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JetSet Posted February 20, 2011 Share Posted February 20, 2011 Caroline used to have a really nice MR2 Turbo...then she was offered a company car, she chose an Audi TT and sold the MR2. 18 months down the line, she'd spent the money she got for her MR2 and was made redundant...no car, no money had to start again with a Daewoo Lanos Pete Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sparky370z Posted February 20, 2011 Author Share Posted February 20, 2011 well to be honest. i dont think i have much worry about being made redundant. but yeah i know what you mean. over the 3 years i have owned my van i have done 35k. but i expect to do a little more than that. i really only have to carry a very small amount of gear. perhaps large box that would fit in the boot. practical, ie 4/5 seats and not too juicy. i would get a company fuel card so that would make the car (probably) a diesel. i am thinking that the zed costs circ 400 quid a month for me to keep, (that doesnt include fuel) so i could in theory have around 600 to spend on a car. and not have to worry about if it goes wrong. plus the car is mine at the end of the 3 years and my company have paid for it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gurdeep Posted March 24, 2011 Share Posted March 24, 2011 If you get a fuel card you will be laughing. And if you do ask yr company abt "a fuel optimiser card" - will save you the benefit in kind on the tax if yr company offers it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gersen Posted March 25, 2011 Share Posted March 25, 2011 Make the decision with your head and you'll end up with the beemer and lets face it for the next few years cutting back isn't the worst plan. I'll still wave hello (from the window of my Z as I'm sleeping in it outside the dole office) even when the small children and animals shun you and noone has let you out of a junction for a week. You will, of course, still be dead on the inside. Advantages and disadvantages My honest opinion? For me three years is a long haul in a car I don't love and the car I drive is a huge part of what makes me happy. I'd rather be happy than right - sadly I'm usually neither. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rabbitstew Posted March 25, 2011 Share Posted March 25, 2011 Tough decision really. £300 isnt much for a company car allowance. Last one I had was £600 a month and had the choice for either them to get the car for me, or me just have the allowance and do with it what i wanted. I tried it both ways. Firstly had a brand new lease car for 12 months which the allowance basically paid for. Then, I decided to buy an older golf tdi instead, use that for my business use and pocket the £600 a month. The car cost me about £5k at the time, so was paid for with just 8 or 9 months allowance, which meant the rest of the cash was just "profit" really. For me it was a toss up between how badly I wanted a "new" car, and how badly id prefer to just have the cash and run my own car. Really what you could do is get the cash and use that to pay for your ZED. If you find the zed is costing you too much, you can always then sell it and get something more "practical". Dont forget the company will be paying for your fuel, so you wont have to worry too much about that, it will be the other zed running costs like the road tax and tyres etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
choptop Posted March 25, 2011 Share Posted March 25, 2011 £330 a month to run a car............................. They could do a lot better, even with paying for fuel etc. REally needs to be over £500 a month to be worth while. If it was me I would keep the van and have your Zed for the weekends. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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