Car allowance... what to get?

champ222

champ222

champ222

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19 Aug 2005
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Beds, UK
Hi all

I'm getting a car allowance from work. The requirements from work (and wife) is that is must be smart and reliable, 4 doors (or 5).

I'd like to go new, haven't decided on lease or purchase, but i'd likely not keep it after the term ends.

allowance from work is £500, less NI, tax, and pension increase leaves me with about £310 a month.

My current car isnt worth very much (alfa mito diesel with 123,000 miles) but its cheap to keep, and we could do with a second car, so i wont be chopping it in.

i could probably get about £1000 deposit together, maybe more, but i'd have to borrow it from somewhere..

Mileage is around 10,000 a year.

I dont want a diesel.

i quite fancy an auto, but its not a deal breaker.

I used to have a BMW 330CI (E46) which i loved, but at that time i had an 80 mile commute, so when i crashed it, i got the mito since it was super eco, and still quite good to drive.

ive just discovered that ive just finished paying off my student loan (at last), so i'm now £130 a month better off, so i can add to the above £310 to get something more interesting.

so, so far, ive looked at:

BMW 330 msport
Audi A3 & S3
Golf GTi and R
Jag XF and XE (250 bhp petrols)
Focus ST and RS

And my current favourite: (bear in mind i havent got to the test drive stage yet)

Alfa Giulia Veloce.

Now, the focus ST is nicely in budget, and i like the car, but everything else is quite expensive, but possibly do-able if i tweak the options a bit.

Anything else i should consider?

thanks
 
lexus is300h

hybrid so should be good on fuel not diesel and smart.
reliable, well its a lexus
cheap insurance and tax

Possibly a little boring compared to the msport and focus st but it does tick all the boxes
 
i actually quite like the look of the lexus is300h, but the hybrid part put me off... i'll have a look at it though, thanks
 
Can't see how an is300h is comparable to what seems to be reasonably powerful cars above tbh - the is300h is economy focused. Gs450h would get you the performance but is yet another class of car

Sounds like the best thing you could do initially is go and look at all the above then see if it narrows things down a little.

Initial thoughts are that you might be pretty disappointed with the interior of the Focus (or tbh golf to a lesser extent) compared with some of the others. There's nothing really wrong with it but it definitely looks cheaper than the germans

Really, really like my ST but it's the newer/cheaper sliggt compromise car choice of them all for me.
 
i agree, the interior is a bit average in the focus, but it looks good on the outside, and is a good car by all accounts
 
BIK rules here. If it's a purely work car and you get mileage, get a hybrid. What are your work journeys like? if they're mostly short, does work have an electric charge point? A Nissan leaf or similar could effectively make you money!
 
work mileage is fairly low, but it could be anywhere in the country, so electric wont work. Its my car though, so i'm not viewing it as a tool. I will get paid for the business mileage i do.
 
champ222 said:
work mileage is fairly low, but it could be anywhere in the country, so electric wont work. Its my car though, so i'm not viewing it as a tool. I will get paid for the business mileage i do.
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Is there a limit on the allowance though? Most companies have a fixed allowance, potentially depending on engine size and fuel type. Buy something thirsty and you could end up paying to travel work effectively.
 
rodenal said:
Can't see how an is300h is comparable to what seems to be reasonably powerful cars above tbh - the is300h is economy focused. Gs450h would get you the performance but is yet another class of car
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Top end maybe not but 0-60 on the msport is 6sec and 8 sec on the is300h I agree its not performance focused but for 10k a year id take and extra 10mpg over a 2sec slower 60 time.

I did say it might be a little boring though

EDIT: If your only doing the 3 year lease and dropping it after any hybrid glitches would be covered in warrenty anyway

I guess youve got to ask yourself whats important comforty and easy millage eating or something a bit perkier but perhaps not as good on fuel and possibly a bit firmer
 
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MissChief said:
Is there a limit on the allowance though? Most companies have a fixed allowance, potentially depending on engine size and fuel type. Buy something thirsty and you could end up paying to travel work effectively.
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the company gives so much allowance, its added to salary, then they pay so much per mile, 45p i think it is for the first 10,000 miles, the rest is up to me. if i want to add more to the monthly cost, thats fine.
 
champ222 said:
the company gives so much allowance, its added to salary, then they pay so much per mile, 45p i think it is for the first 10,000 miles, the rest is up to me. if i want to add more to the monthly cost, thats fine.
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With an allowance normally much much lower. 9-13p typically as it's just to cover fuel; allowance should cover other costs.
 
just to conclude this.

I drove the following:

Giulia Veloce
BMW 330i Msport
Focus RS
Golf GTI

Ordered the Alfa... it drove better than the BMW, the focus isnt available with an auto, the VW Golf was ok, but it should be cheaper than the alfa, but it isnt.

Very excited now.
 
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