Mrs Mad Rapper (to be) has just been offered a new job with company car. She was given a choice of the following manufacturers: Audi, Mercedes, Saab, Toyota or Vauxhall. Use will be fairly frequent drives from Buckinghamshire to Northumberland, and then during the week just 10 miles to the train station and back. We want an estate, so have narrowed it down to the following: Audi A6 Avant 3.0 TDI Quattro S Line Mercedes C350 CDI Sport Estate Opinions on which of these please? Additionally, neither of us have had a company car before, so should we use up to the £450 a month they'll pay to take one of the above, or £5500 in cash she's been offered and put that towards something else?
Mercedes C350 CDI Sport Estate. As for the costs its down to you. Personally, I'd rather keep the cash.
How does that work? We know she'll get taxed on it as a benefit in kind, so we understand the Income Tax implications, but have no idea what else we would need to pay.
My dad looked at those 2 for his next company car - although it was the C220 CDI or A6 2.0 170 Le Mans he narrowed it down to. The A6 won in the end - better spec, better interior, better looking
I've already looked at that - both cars are less than £300 per month. I was asking if there were any additional costs or taxes? They pay for the servicing, breakdown cover and insurance according to the paperwork we've been sent. Seems almost too good to be true...
This. Fabulous cars and this is arguably one of the best engines in the range. Easily take this over the rather dull A6. Although that spec would suggest a 335d M Sport is on the list, which is better again.
I do not see this as a good deal personally as you only seem to be renting a car at a good price. I assume your o/h can claim expenses should she use her own car for wear and tear?
Unfortunately BMW isn't on the list. I don't understand why, but she's restricted to 5 marques and BMW isn't one of them sadly She has to choose from Audi, Mercedes, Saab, Toyota or Vauxhall. The A4 offers no more rear legroom than our A3, the E Class is too big for my Mrs, so I think those models will probably suit us best.
I'm guessing for the others you'd be looking at Avensis, Signum and 9-5? Presumably at a lower cost? Not sure any of those are particularly worth consideration
The rental is costing us nothing though because it's covered by her allowance. If we took the cash it would be far more expensive to buy either model outright and with the company car scheme, we get a new car in 3 years assuming she's still working for the company then. If she took the allowance in cash that covers wear and tear on our car, she could claim fuel expenses for any business trip. That said, our car is 8 years old, has almost 100K on the clock and we were going to buy a new Passat/3 series BMW this year, so this has come at a good time.
Was more curious what they think Toyota and Vauxhall can offer that is comparable to an A6 or C class
Assuming it's tagged as a company car and not a pool car it will cost, for the C class 350 CDI, according the internet: Code: Vehicle benefit tax Tax year to 5th April 2009/10 2010/11 2011/12 P11D value £33,525 £33,525 £33,524 Percentage charge 30% 31% 32% Benefit in kind £10,057 £10,393 £10,728 Tax payable at 20% £2,011 £2,079 £2,146 Tax payable at 40% £4,023 £4,157 £4,291 If the company pays for private use of fuel, the following applies in addition: Fuel benefit tax Tax Year to 5th April 2009/10 2010/11 P11D value £16,900 £16,900 Percentage charge 30% 31% Benefit in kind - Fuel £5,070 £5,239 Tax payable at 20% £1,014 £1,048 Tax payable at 40% £2,028 £2,096 The payable at is what the costs will be, the above is without any other extras.
I would go for the C class out of those two I was surprised how well a C180 Sport drove, the engine was poor but the handling superb. You need to check how much tax you will be paying plenty of web pages that work it out for you, it will be around 4k a year for those cars. (assuming your wife is in the 40% tax bracket) EDIT bet to it !
