New car time - it's harder than you think!
 

Due to various reasons which are too unimportant to go into we are cancelling all of our fleet vehicles through the early termination insurance and getting new ones. What to get??

It has to be loooooooow CO2 as I want to pay as little BIK tax as possible. I don't drive much for work anymore (my lease will only be for 10,000 miles a year) so I'm not too bothered if petrol or diesel (and there is a surcharge in BIK on diesels). Is there anything better than another BMW 320D efficient dynamics?

No, it's absolutely the best car ever in every way and there not only isn't but there never will be a reason to change it.

http://www.discussworldissues.com/fo...s/biggrin1.gif

OK, I wasn't clear. I meant on emissions :) There are loads of cars I'd rather have overall.

Prius ?

If I understand what you are saying correctly, you get charged more for CO2 emissions on a diesel? That's messed up considering that new "Clean Diesels" put out less CO2 emissions than their gasoline counterparts.

Personally though, ever since I started driving diesel, I'm biased towards it, so I say get a Diesel.

Please! They only took off in the states because they don't really have diesel cars on the market. Over here any decent diesel will get better MPG than a Prius.

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I've had a diesel for a few years now, need them with fuel prices over here. A US gallon (4 litres) of diesel is about $8. Unleaded is slightly cheaper.

The surcharge is not for CO2 emissions, but for driving a diesel. I think it's a 4% addition to the benefit in kind tax.

Currently I pay 40% tax on 13% (this number varies depending on emissions) of the value of the car per month. It's about £160 ($240) a month for a fully insured, option loaded car with tyres and servicing included. All I have to pay for is fuel (I can claim back business miles).

We can take a car allowance instead and get our own car but I find it easier to do it this way.

Can't recommend any specific vehicle, as what you look for would probably be quite different from me.
However, I would suggest you make some lists - what you want it to have/do, what it would be nice for it to have/do, what you don't want it to have/do and any other factors you can think of related to how you would use it.

For example - 2/3/4/5 door, manual/auto, fuel type, hybrid, ICE, looks, mileage, tax tradeoffs, perceived quality, etc?
If you rarely use one, could you trade it off with the company against taxis' and/or hire cars and not even get one? If parking and other expenses not directly related to using it are expensive, may be an option?

I like toys and gadgets in my car and I want a premium brand. The costs of running it to me aren't very much and I like having a nice car so I'm happy to lose the money in tax each month. When I say I don't drive for work much anymore I mean that we generally go on the train to London these days so I just use it for commuting.

what bout the new skoda rapide

I liked that until I saw this pic:

http://www.whatcar.com/Car/Skoda/Rapid/256121235270.jpg

It reminds me of a Proton from that angle.

Mini Cooper SD. I think it would suit you.

Passat CC?

Don't you roll in your mum's Honda Jazz or something?

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Bit bigger than I want. I drove a Mondeo recently as well, it was like piloting a village church. The only car I have ever actually felt the need for the parking sensors on.

Good looking car though.. not to much bigger than a 3 series... What about a merc like a C series or something like that.

what about the ct 200h from lexus?
not too big good brand and very fuel efficient

I do like the c-class. The one I'd go for is the C220 CDI AMG Sport 7+ G-tronic which is quite a bit more in CO2 than the 320D efficientDynamics.

--- Post Update ---

Having driven both the Mondeo feels enormous compared to the 3. It's 5-series size.

I was right, totally different tastes in cars http://www.discussworldissues.com/fo...ies/laugh1.gif
Except for that Skoda - boring! Perhaps lowered with big wheels and a bright paint job might be a bit more appealing to the buyer?

I love the look of that car, but it's a bit slow to 60. I'm used to getting there in about 8 seconds and sometimes that's a bit slow.

Any of the VW 2.0T D engines

- Golf TDi
- Passat TDi
- Audi A3/4 TDi

Although if you get an Audi, you automatically become a ******... which may or may not bother you.

Does that sound like the sort of thing that would bother me lol.

As stupid as it is, the Audi would be a better carpark statement. It's sad that stuff like that still makes a difference with clients, but it does. An Audi says the decision maker has arrived, a VW says his PA has come along.