Which company car?

[[TW]Fox]

As blueboy correctly points out the list is out of date.

 

[johnny6]

I'm guessing its not a brand new car, but actually cars the company already have on lease and are currently in the pool unallocated?

 

[[TW]Fox]

Thats a lot of unallocated cars.

 

[johnny6]

Some might be new others might not, and the company ALC works for could employ 1000s of people.

 

[[TW]Fox]

Or it could just be an old list.

 

[johnny6]

Yes possibly, but until ALC confirms that he wants advice on the cars he's listed.

As much as I like VW get the Mondeo

 

[A[L]C]

Or it could just be an old list.

Its the current list unfortunately.

Im thinking towards the 407 at the moment

 

[Scrutinize]

I'm sorry, but in no way does Passat, 3 Series or A4 represent any higher status than a Mondeo - they're all equally dull repmobile euroboxes no matter how you look at it

3 Series and A4 certainly do, but the Passat doesn't. VW is a Ford level brand regardless of what owners try and tell everyone they are.

A Passat definitely equals a higher status than a mondeo. When you guys get to the right level / right company you will learn to appreciate that.

The same way the prestige is removed from prestigious cars (Mercs, BMWs etc) when the new shape is out and or they are over 2-3 years old. Equally they aren’t so fussed about spec, more than age and badge.

Take your BMW Fox (sorry to use you as an example), it may be a nice car, but to the above group of people it may as well be a ford. It either says to them, “I had success once but can’t afford to get a new car as my business has gone down the pan” or “I am a wannabe exec”. To you it’s a nice car, to most it’s a nice car, but where badge snobbery and exec newness kicks in it falls flat.

VW is not a Ford level brand, it’s fallen in some wonderfully sublime middle class position where badge snobbery kicks in.

When you have a company car, that car and you becomes the face of the company if you are out winning new business. If your clients expect exec or more than a ford, you have to deliver it.

 

[A[L]C]

Some might be new others might not, and the company ALC works for could employ 1000s of people.

Around 1600

 

[Fr0dders]

Its the current list unfortunately.

Im thinking towards the 407 at the moment

did they come up with an explanation as to why there are cars on that list no longer under production ?

are you getting a used car or something ?

 

[Demon]

our company car lists where similarly out of date, when we had to get a new pool car, we got them to check the list and expected to see the new Mondeo on there, but apparantly they had months worth of stock to work through.... one of the great side effects of using a large fleet 'broker'..

 

[[TW]Fox]

A Passat definitely equals a higher status than a mondeo. When you guys get to the right level / right company you will learn to appreciate that.

<Snip pretentious crap>.

Oh dear

Perhaps at some companies, thats true. It's not the same for everyone though. I worked with people on 6 figure salaries last year. The most impressive car owned by any of them was a 52 plate Audi A4 TDI. Lots of people just don't see cars in the way others do. I'm sure in certain industries everyone is obsessed over the number on the numberplate but.. who cares? Leave them to it.

The same way the prestige is removed from prestigious cars (Mercs, BMWs etc) when the new shape is out and or they are over 2-3 years old.

I see, so a 2002 SL55 doesnt cut it but a Passat diesel does?

Note: Direct translation of Volkswagen = Peoples Car. You dont get more everyman than that.

 

[Scrutinize]

I see, so a 2002 SL55 doesnt cut it but a Passat diesel does?

Didn't say that re a Passat, but it has a greater standing than a ford.

 

[[TW]Fox]

Didn't say that re a Passat, but it has a greater standing than a ford.

Surely anyone driving around in a 2002 SL55 AMG, I mean come on, its 6 years old, is a wannabe rich boy? A failed exec? Business going down the pan? After all thats what a 2002 5 Series says?

I'm not disputing the existence of image in the corporate environment, of course it exists and many companies have limits on car allowances in terms of age etc for this very reason. But so suggest the difference exists between Passat and Mondeo in anything like the volumes you suggest is really the sort of thing dreamed up by VW owners to justify their choices to themselves. It's a huge problem for Ford, becuase no matter how good they make their products people will think you like.

This is a shame - VW do not deserve much of their reputation, IMHO.

 

[A[L]C]

lol

YES,


xxx

Group Fleet Project Manager





Paul Harman/xxx
16/04/2008 13:51
To
xxx
cc

Subject
Re: Company cars




Sorry xxx,

One more thing. I notice that some of the cars on the list are no longer in production. Is the list up to date?

Thanks
Paul Harman

IT Servicedesk

 

[[TW]Fox]

How are they going to get you a 307, I don't understand! Very bizarre.

You need clarification on which Mondeo it is. If they've found a Mk3, which stopped being produced over a year ago, it may change your decision.

 

[A[L]C]

How are they going to get you a 307, I don't understand! Very bizarre.

You need clarification on which Mondeo it is. If they've found a Mk3, which stopped being produced over a year ago, it may change your decision.

What are the likely options? Mk3 or mk4?

 

[[TW]Fox]

130 would suggest it's a Mk3 but I'd be very, very suprised if they can stil find Mk3's. I think your fleet manager is wrong, personally. Know anyone who has recently ordered?

 

[Emlyn_Dewar]

I think the new model Passats look nicer than Mondeos however, I imagine they are just as dull as each other to live with.
I certainly wouldn't look at someone driving a Passat and think "they've made it past the mondeo level in life, kudos".

 

[Scrutinize]

But so suggest the difference exists between Passat and Mondeo in anything like the volumes you suggest is really the sort of thing dreamed up by VW owners to justify their choices to themselves. It's a huge problem for Ford, becuase no matter how good they make their products people will think you like.

This is a shame - VW do not deserve much of their reputation, IMHO.

The thing is there are enough VW owners in the right jobs / positions for their opinions to matter and hence the badge snobbery comes into play. If it were a mere handful then none would bother.

As I have said, it’s all a matter of perception, to a lot of people the age doesn’t matter and a nice car is a nice car, but to some it does. It really is dependant on what you do, where you are etc etc.

But the image of the Passat (VW) vs Mondeo (Ford) exists because there are enough people who care to make it exist so not much can be done about that.