Doing long miles every day

[Ken Dodd]

Lease!

Hey all. I'm doing a lot of mileage every week, 500 miles or so, which at the moment I can expense (< 2 years etc.). However, it's costing me a far whack as I have a 2.5L petrol car.

I'm looking at getting a diesel as most of the driving is constant motorway/A-roads. Thing is, I've no idea which car to get, except that I want something decent and it's got to be comfortable for long drives. I would say top spending limit is circa £30k.

I may in fact have to lease the car, so again if you can provide any tips on this it would be appreciated - especially if there's a tax efficient way of using my Ltd Co. for it.

So to summarise:-
1) Which car?
2) Is it worthwhile to lease through the Ltd?

Lease, but lease privately.

Secondly, as has been recommended, get an Audi.

I am on my third A6.

[geoff from contracta IOM]

Buy a really comfortable van !! use it only for business purposes and it will cost you next to nothing

[kermitt]

Did you buy an older model of the 540?

Yes mate E39 model, fantastic car for the money BMW through everything at its development marking the beginning of it being the class leader for executive saloons though can be had for a very little if you don't mind high mileage.

Like the newer ones too but prefer the sport, trouble is the majority of the 530d currently on the market are ex-lease or company cars with spaceship mileage but they still go for a premium because they are superb.

Plan to wait a couple more years and pick up a tidy 535d M Sport when prices are not so inflated.

I agree with the Van idea though, a VW caddy can be had for very little and can be expensed through Ltd Co because its a commercial vehicle. They are rapid with a remap too!!

[beaker]

So did we get to which new cars provide the best value on a lease? Or is a second hard luxury car still better value? I've recently sold my BMW 325i which loved a drink but boy was it nice to drive...

[kermitt]

Well if you saw topGear last night then perhaps that would help answer the question.

[Fred Bloggs]

Well if you saw topGear last night then perhaps that would help answer the question.

Snag is, the fuel consumtion of the 9 year old V12 Mercedes on Top Gear will ruin you if you do more than 20 miles a day travel.

[MikeNguyen]

Public transport no option?

I'm guessing you've already thought about commuting on the train, so why is this not an option?

I currently drive 45 mins to an hour to get to work but will be moving in a couple of weeks, the commute will then be up to 2 hours depending the QEII bridge and the M25!! So I'll be hopping on the train and joining the crowds at London Bridge!!

I did a 'trial week' and actually found the journey a great help in winding down after a particularly stressful day at the office!

I guess if your destination varies daily this will not be as easy but it may be worth a 'trial week'!!

If this is out of the question then maybe a Smart Car will be the answer to your prayers! Cheap to buy, cheap to run...they may not look amazing but they wont hurt your wallet like your 2.5l!

[PinkPoshRat]

Buy an ambulance.

They are tax exempt. You can have a snooze in the back. They will have been serviced well. They're cheap. People get out of your way. People give way to you. They have great blue lights and lots of different sounding horns.

[NorthWestPerm2Contr]

I'm guessing you've already thought about commuting on the train, so why is this not an option?

I currently drive 45 mins to an hour to get to work but will be moving in a couple of weeks, the commute will then be up to 2 hours depending the QEII bridge and the M25!! So I'll be hopping on the train and joining the crowds at London Bridge!!

I did a 'trial week' and actually found the journey a great help in winding down after a particularly stressful day at the office!

I guess if your destination varies daily this will not be as easy but it may be worth a 'trial week'!!

If this is out of the question then maybe a Smart Car will be the answer to your prayers! Cheap to buy, cheap to run...they may not look amazing but they wont hurt your wallet like your 2.5l!

You will soon be eating your words. I did a 2 hour commute (each way) to south Yorkshire from Stockport every day. At the start it was nice as I used the time to relax in FC, watch some movies on the ipad etc. But after 3 months I just wanted to get home and see family. Luckily now moved to a place 25 mins drive away which in relative terms feels like heaven.......

[northernladuk]

If this is out of the question then maybe a Smart Car will be the answer to your prayers! Cheap to buy, cheap to run...they may not look amazing but they wont hurt your wallet like your 2.5l!

Now there is an understatement! You forget they maybe cheap to buy and run but they are also bloody rubbish for doing 100's of miles a day in. THere has to be a balance on the actual work the car has to do. If not you might as well suggest we all get a Segway.