Car help again please

[TW]Fox;17078625 said:
The Passat is hardly a well put together car either though?
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It was a vast improvement on everything else I sat in last night (I haven't driven it yet though). The Avensis wasn't all that far away, though felt much more 'plasticky'. The Skodas were a million miles away.

The Passat might not be an Audi or BM, but its leagues ahead of both Octavia and Superb inside.
 
First time I've ever heard anyone describe the Passat is 'leagues ahead' of the Superb, a car which is actually pretty well built. You sure it was a current shape model?

The Passat is just blergh. At least the Superb is interesting in that its a genuinely decent take on the concept of an affordable luxury car.
 
Gilly said:
The Passat might not be an Audi or BM, but its leagues ahead of both Octavia and Superb inside.
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I'm pretty sure this is your preconceptions of the brandname "skoda" skewing your judgement. The Superb is a genuinely nice place to sit, made with the same materials as found in the passat, and with the styling and cues of a car that should cost a lot more than it does (hence why the original superb had umbrellas in the rear doors).

There is no way on this planet that someone could say that a Passat is leagues ahead of a Superb.

As for your SEAT comment, have you looked at the EXEO ST? It's an Audi A4 with a SEAT badge. There is nothing to dislike about the styling!
 
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vs

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Hmm.
 
No, not even heard of the EXEO! They're not on the available list for me to choose from so it's probably a non-starter.

My preconception of Skoda, specifically the Octavia, was 'It's a VAG car, a Golf with a different badge' but unfortunately it really isn't.

I don't know if it was a current Superb or not, I don't know the difference between the two. It was inside the showroom though, so I would imagine so.
 
I actually think the Passat is ok as cars like this go. The DSG box is fairly good once you get used to it, very quick changes indeed. Jolty when you are not used to driving one. I'd have the Passat with a DSG box and whatever the best diesel engine available is, personally.

Superb is better, but as an estate its offensively ugly, and screw optionally paying extra to "upgrade" when we are talking cars like these.
 
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If you had blanked out the steering wheels it would have been a better game to play, I think the Superb is punching above their weight. Very nice interior for that class of car.

The Passat's interior looks very shiny in places.
 
Well, whatever, that point is not worth arguing.

Point is that the Passat is ok, and he would have to pay extra to get a superb. Not much point imho.

My next question is why Gilly is opting into a car scheme at all, they only usually make sense if the company are offering no cash alternative. Best to check all available options before locking himself into one of these (rather poor) cars.
 
Having weighed up options in terms of tax, benefit and so on, I feel the car was the best approach. Suits me best outside work too.
 
Is your car allowance a very very low figure? Mine is average at best, yet it still makes a mockery of taking a car.

As long as you are sure :) I have seen several friends fall into this trap.
 
Gilly said:
The allowance is quite a bit less than the amount I can spend on the lease.
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Add the net allowance to the net tax savings, and any other benefits you will be losing by taking the car. Also include the increase in PA (and thus tax savings) you will receive due to tax releif on your mileage rate. For example my tax coding now sits at nearly 900.

For me this combined monthly net position figure was getting on for 4 figures dispite my car allowance being signficantly less than this. 4 figures per month runs me anything on the market virtually. I am in the position whereby my company simply stipulate that the car must be "presentable", though.
 
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paradigm said:
But, do you have any restrictive rulings on what you can drive should you provide your own vehicle?
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In terms of age and condition of vehicle, yes.

[edit]It's only a buciness needs car, not a benefit car, so although tax will be affected I don't lose anything else taking the car as opposed to the allowance. It's also more difficult for them to take back off me :)
 
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The Exeo will make a ridiculously good purchase in a few years' time.
Will probably cost less than an equivalent, older, A4 too..

Anyway, as for your choices, it's really a case of six of one, half a dozen of the other.
Choose whichever has the best specification and/or the most power.
 
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