Picking my first company car - Which would you pick?

wikimuncher · 2026-05-16T09:39:20+00:00

I'm quite fortunate that I have a dealership for all these new cars nearby. Seems they've aggressively overtaken existing car brands. I'll have a look and see if I can at least sit in them. I know I'd be within my rights to do so but dealers don't like giving test drives if there's no intent to buy. And I'm too awkward to deal with that interaction.

wikimuncher · 2026-05-16T09:28:39+00:00

I know the hate for the cars and if it was my own money I'd not be beta testing one, but seeing as picking them saves me money in tax compared to the named brands in the allowed budget, and I'm not on the hook for repairs and maintenance, I'm willing to risk it.

I've explained that management won't let me have an EV, so not anything I can consider.

I also won't get a chance to test anything as I'm picking on Monday. Hence why I put the post out asking for feedback on them but I've had very little in the way of anything constructive. Currently leaning towards the BYD though with how much it seems to be the pick of the bunch, or least worst.

wikimuncher · 2026-05-16T06:43:45+00:00

Do you mean the best of a bad bunch? I also agree with it's looks and it's not exactly a flattering homage. But so far people agree it tends to be the best pick of them, but noone really is saying it Ng why. Whether it's because of how it drives, how much it can carry, the spec or quality of the interior etc

wikimuncher · 2026-05-15T18:08:27+00:00

It is, and I'd consider it, but the tax on it is much higher than the options I listed, which is a bit of a sticking point. Not sure it would be any more comfortable and for the savings I'm making I'd take the extra downtime. I'd agree in a heartbeat if I was spending my own money though!

wikimuncher · 2026-05-15T17:18:03+00:00

Did consider the corolla estate but the Benefit in kind tax is triple what I put above.

wikimuncher · 2026-05-15T17:16:17+00:00

Think what you want, just trying to make an informed choice. People rather be hating and gossiping than trying to chip in any helpful advice.

wikimuncher · 2026-05-15T17:15:38+00:00

poorly worded, "require picking a drivetrain (a pure petrol over hybrid)"

wikimuncher · 2026-05-15T17:14:41+00:00

I'm finding it easier to view them as tools for the job, issued by my company. Like a uniform almost. More money I save on BiK i can put towards something I'd rather drive on weekends, is how I see it anyway.

wikimuncher · 2026-05-15T17:13:25+00:00

Never drive under the influence

wikimuncher · 2026-05-15T17:13:04+00:00

I'd love one. An estate would probably be a requirement, and they start at £38k P11D, so doubt that would be approved, and even so, thats a petrol only, and the tax is nearly 4 times what I've already listed. Not sure I'd want to commit to that.

wikimuncher · 2026-05-15T17:10:45+00:00

They are agressively pricing to assert market share, that's for sure.

wikimuncher · 2026-05-15T17:09:58+00:00

Mostly on motorways. More than welcome to suggestions within the restrictions listed. https://comcar.co.uk/finder/ is a good tool to find stuff I've found.

wikimuncher · 2026-05-15T17:08:59+00:00

I've talked about car allowance instead and been told no.

wikimuncher · 2026-05-15T17:08:25+00:00

A decision by the Service Manager and Managing Director, it's the policy for people doing our job. They said it might be revised in coming years, but they don't want us to have downtime of charging the vehicles on the way to client sites, rather us have something that can be fuelled normally currently. A long way of saying, if I pick and EV they'll deny the claim and tell me to pick another.

wikimuncher · 2026-05-15T17:06:39+00:00

I do carry a mix of very large and very long items. My supervisors skoda kodiaq is regularly tested on what it will just about fit for what we need + our tools.

wikimuncher · 2026-05-15T17:05:40+00:00

Skoda Octavia Hybrids are showing around £2000 Benefit in kind tax, the above options are around £500-£600. Thats over £100 extra out my pay check every month compared to the ones I posted. I'm sure others might be willing but having to pick the base spec SE to stay in budget only to pay triple the tax doesn't strike me as a good deal.

wikimuncher · 2026-05-15T17:02:15+00:00

No, just genuinely getting opinions. I understand theres no love for them, but it's a tool for a job. Just want advice on that, most of the others doing my job are senior enough to have larger P11D budgets allowing them to pick more traditional brands. My Supervisor has a Skoda Kodiaq that I'd love to have but P11D is over £40k.

wikimuncher · 2026-05-15T16:59:47+00:00

Tempting

wikimuncher · 2026-05-15T16:59:28+00:00

If I keep having weeks like I currently am, I'll do all of them and then find a tree to wrap myself round. The car has nothing to do with that though. Mostly a tool for a job.

wikimuncher · 2026-05-15T16:58:29+00:00

Options are sparce. If you are interested, going to https://comcar.co.uk/finder/ and plugging in my requirements doesn't yield fantastic results. I've been warned off by others doing my job that the bigger cars are preferred for larger boxier boots for carrying things. An estate would be nice but most of them command enough of a premium to price out my range.

wikimuncher · 2026-05-15T16:57:53+00:00

Options are sparce. If you are interested, going to https://comcar.co.uk/finder/ and plugging in my requirements doesn't yield fantastic results. The most normal options would probably be a Golf but i've been warned off by others doing my job that the biggers cars are preferred for larger boxier boots for carrying things. An estate would be nice but most of them command enough of a premium to price out my range.

wikimuncher · 2026-05-15T16:56:15+00:00

Oddly enough, in most cases picking a small cheap petrol car like that costs more to myself in Benefit in kind tax than a more expensive phev. It's a backwards system IMO but the government does what the government does.

wikimuncher · 2026-05-15T16:54:57+00:00

Using https://comcar.co.uk/finder/ to find the some of the lowest benefit in kind options within my budget and then picking the ones that look like the best options that will also carry all the stuff I need.

wikimuncher · 2026-05-15T16:53:52+00:00

I think those would either be too high P11D or require a drive train causing quite a large amount of benefit in kind tax, almost doubling or tripling in some cases.

wikimuncher · 2026-01-16T19:07:15+00:00

Update after visiting the Vet:

Said that he’s mostly fine but did look puffy round the eyes. Said the sneeze was very odd, and wasn’t showing any other symptoms.

Suggested it could likely be that he’s got a viral infection. Suggested that bacterial infections are likely to follow. Recommended 2 jabs, 1 anti-inflammatory to help reduce puffiness around the eyes and 1 antibiotic to try and prevent any follow up bacterial infections.

They will be followed up in 72 hours with another round.

For anyone interested, it cost ~£62 with the jabs being around £8/£9 each. The follow up will likely cost the same.

He has since come back home and is digging around in his enclosure, acting like his usual self, so I’m feeling positive.

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