New Car Suggestions?

Thanks for the comments guys.

The wife likes the Fiat 500 and Fiesta. The Fiat is about 6 years old now? I think she wants something that is a fresh model.

She had a NHS quote on a A1 1.6TDI Sport with satnav for £125pm no deposit 10k PA.
 
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there was a chance my A2 might have had to go a while back and I looked at the swift, it wasn't a festa or corsa so thought it would be a nice choice
though I would consider a clio now as it seems so much better in the current format compared to the others
I also look for a mito but can never find the right spec, I want all the toys, embossed leather seats, top grade stereo, diesel engine, climate and the sunroof and in the lovely blue colour, rare to say the least
 
The latest model Fiesta is by all accounts a superb car; handles and rides really well and the latest Ford engines are excellent. Plus it looks a bit like a mini-Aston Martin which is always cool.
 
It'd probably be the Fiesta or the new, much better looking Fabia (1.2tsi) for me...it'd probably be the Fabia as the Fiesta has a horrendous dash that looks like a cheap '90's home stereo...
 
ULP said:
That sounds like it's salary sacrifice so you'll need to add company car tax in - is the offer via Knowles Fleet?

Of the original list I'd be going for a 208 1.2VTi or Clio 0.9tce, both are fantastic little cars and it doesn't sound like she will get the benefit of diesel on a 10kpa deal, especially as she will likely be paying more for the diesel than a comparable petrol model and due to the 3% diesel 'penalty' on company car tax she'll likely get lower company car tax on a petrol too.

We currently have a French car, which was preceded by another French car, and both have been excellent and reliable.
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Yes! Knowles Fleet...

Do you know anything about them? I dont know all the details and my wife doesnt understand this scheme or how it all works.
 
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Thank you very much Mr ULP,
I will be back for more advice if thats ok?

I just dont want the wife to go ahead and order (like she does)
 
KekseKaempfer said:
Right o' just wondered as ours has had nothing done to it apart from a temp sender. That said the MOT is on Friday, and I've just ruined my chances of 10 years straight passes.

And if the strut tops do need changing, I'm getting a Spax PSX kit for it.

Chris
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Beetle passed, no advisories, 10 years straight. No Spax kit this year :(. I think there are just some good and some Friday 'siesta' builds TBH.

Chris
 
KekseKaempfer said:
Beetle passed, no advisories, 10 years straight. No Spax kit this year :(. I think there are just some good and some Friday 'siesta' builds TBH.

Chris
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Good news! My wife's last one only failed on a rear broken spring. Not sure if Beetles suffer from that, but two Beetles and two springs is very strange!
 
ULP said:
No problem at all, happy to help.
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Many thanks.

My wife has a few more quotes back and from she says the scheme is a 'deduction of earnings' scheme. In the small print it says that no private mileage will be paid if she goes though this scheme?

Does that mean she will not be paid mileage for driving between house visits and that all fuel will come out of her pocket? If she leases a car from a normal broker, would she be able to claim mileage on that as it would be a private personal lease?

One quote was for a new Audi A3 Sport 1.2TFSI Sportback with SD satnav £130pm salary deduction. £10 dearer than the A1 and imo the A3's interior is far better than the A1.
When i sat in a friends new A3 then sat back in my A1 it felt like i was getting into an old Rover!!!

Also, im not sure what engine she should go for as she will be driving between clients houses and hospitals and work quite a few times a day.

Would a diesel be suitable considering she will do 10k PA? Or a ECO small petrol?

Another quote was for a New Fiesta 1.0 Zetec Ecoboost (140ps?) with satnav £62pm.

Although i did say to her, that she has to make sure to choose the right car as it is for three years!

All quotes are for 10k PA, 6 business, 4 personal all over three years.
 
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10k miles isn't a lot Paul and I'm not sure if a diesel will be worth it in the long run?

The 1.2 TSI engine is a beauty we've got the old 1.4 version in our jetta and its a hoot to drive.

Secondly I don't know if the newer Audi diesels have issues with their DPF if you don't do the mileage. Someone with more knowledge may be able to provide input.
 
Hass said:
10k miles isn't a lot Paul and I'm not sure if a diesel will be worth it in the long run?

The 1.2 TSI engine is a beauty we've got the old 1.4 version in our jetta and its a hoot to drive.

Secondly I don't know if the newer Audi diesels have issues with their DPF if you don't do the mileage. Someone with more knowledge may be able to provide input.
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Thanks Hass.
Yes, the new Audi tdi's are a nightmare for short local runs (i had a 1.6 and 2.0) with constant DPF regens.

I just thought with her driving about locally with a warm engine would be better than my drive 2 miles then cold engine.

Looks like a 1.2tfsi would be a better choice or the 1.4tfsi cod engine?
 
The cod engine is brilliant. My mate has it in his Audi A3 and he travels up and down the UK. Not a bad word against the engine. I think VAG are moving it to other parts of the business, I think it was in the VW Golf first but will also be coming to Seat and Skoda.
 
ULP said:
it is the salary sacrafice option then - just be clear on what it means for her pension as of the 1st April 2015, as this will impact on this.

The figures quoted take account of her mileage payments for doing 6kpa business miles, to get a fair comparison she needs to zero this down, this will also help if she goes over 10kpa as they remove business miles from the overall mileage and so long as she hasn't gone over on 'private mileage' then they won't charge her extra (ie if she signs up to 30k private miles and does 45k of which 15k are business she won't be charged a fee when the car is returned).

the comment at the beginning about private mileage is just confirming she is not being paid for her own personal use (which would be an additional taxable benefit), this is what you'd need it to say, so that's ok.

All fuel does come out of her pocket but she can claim the mileage - this goes back to the key point in both of my posts though, her quotes already take this into account hence the low lease figures you are being quoted which look really attractive - net down the business miles to zero for a fair comparison. The £125pcm takes account of her 500 business miles a month, which is why it looks attractive. If she got a private lease/PCP/ 20 year old Fiesta then she can claim mileage.

If she's doing 10kpa and lots of stop start a diesel makes no sense at all - more expensive to rent and tax, cheaper to fuel (slightly) but it's worth checking her employers mileage rates - for example, she may get 30p per mile for a 1.2 but a 1.6 diesel would get 40p per mile; this is true of a lease car through Knowles or anything else.

It's easy, but it is not good value - my management accountant set it up at our place and she's just replaced her old car with...a privately bought one. 'Nuff said...

many moons ago I had a Punto 1.9JTD; I got 45p per mile even though it did 55mpg and I did 8kpa for my employer - it made me loads of cash, I suspect your wife could choose a used car and be no worse off. 6kpa with an essential user allowance even at 25p per mile is £1,500 in mileage and £600-ish after tax; £170 per month over three years with your part ex can buy a decent car and leave you with something that has a value in three years time...or you could pay £1,500 a year over her mileage etc. for an A1 then just wave it goodbye after 3 years!
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Very confusing these company schemes ive had lease cars, pcps, company vehicles before but this seems to be very different from getting my company fuel card out and filling her up!

In your opinion, what would you say is the best option to go for?

The wife says they will pay 50p per mile as far as she remembers...

So as far as i can work out...

Private lease = 50p per work mile will be paid
Work Lease = No mileage paid
Second hand car = 50p per work mile will be paid

So, if she picked up a cheap private business use lease deal just say a £65pm VW UP! The company would pay her 50p per work related mile and she could actually be in profit if the up only costs 20p per mile? And that extra 30p per mile could be profit and be out towards her private lease monthly payment?
 
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Thanks for the info.

Sorry, i meant private business lease as in finding a lease outside of the NHS herself on a business lease as she is entitled to business mileage she is entitled to a business deal lease. So, a business lease not associated with the NHS.
 
ULP said:
She can't access a business lease - this doesn't have anything to do with her being paid business miles, a business lease is only open to a company, and if they are VAT registered this is recoverable.

she can use a private 'lease' but VAT is payable.
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As far as i found out...

If she sends a letter to the lease broker from her employer stating she 'will be paid business milage' then she will be valid to order a lease that is only for businesses. Vat will have to be paid on the lease though.
 
Birchall said:
and they now do a 5 door Smart car too!
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Went to look at one today. Very impressive. Fully loaded comes out at £14.5k. No boot space to talk of and very cramped in the back.

A couple of little nods to Audi A2, the front (plastic) bonnet comes off in one piece to allow access to service points and the all glass sunroof, albeit not openable.

I'm sorely tempted.
 
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