New job with good car allowance - what to do?

FrankGrimes

I’ve just gotten a new job that gives me a €14k car allowance as part of the package so I’m looking for ideas on what to go for. I by no means have to spend all the allowance on a new car each year, and as I’m not all that much of a car fanatic (though I do appreciate a car that’s nice to drive) I reckon what I’ll do is buy a car for around €15k this year, but might not upgrade it for another 2 years. That said, I’d be interested to hear if anyone has insight on how people in similar circumstances normally handle their car finance – do they buy or lease generally?

I’m 26 but have no problem going for a ‘boring’ car as long as it’s nice and comfy and has enough acceleration to overtake relatively easily cos I reckon those saloons favoured by business middle managers represent good value. I’d say 2.0 litre would be the max I’d go, though ideally it’d only be 1.6 or 1.8. I seem to be more interested in having a ‘decent’ car (e.g. avensis) with lots of trimmings (A/C, leather seats, electric everything, steering wheel radio controls) than having a ‘great’ car (e.g. a beamer) with just a basic kit-out. That said, I stopped by a dealership today and a couple of 02 3 series for around 23k did look pretty damn slick.

So any suggestions on what makes and models to include in my search would be sweet, particularly any pointers on a particular version of a certain model that has all the nice trimmings. So far I’ve thought of the Avensis (new shape only), the Mondeo, Audi A4 (a bit pricier), Given the situation am I likely to be better off going to dealers or going private?

Nice one

jhegarty

FrankGrimes wrote:

That said, I stopped by a dealership today and a couple of 02 3 series for around 23k did look pretty damn slick.

Seems a bit pricy to me , what was the model /millage ?

Sandwich

Remember you'll be taxed on the 14k as if it were part of your salary, so the net in your pocket to spend will be well below 14.

L-M

I would definitly reccomend a Passat. Can get a beautiful 1.9tdi 130bhp for cheap money, and with the amount of imported/clocked English cars in the country i would reccomend a dealer. Also u'll get a beloved warranty:D .

_Kaiser_

Seconding the Passat. I have a 02 1.9 TDI 130Bhp Automatic and it's great. Get a highline version and you'll have all the toys you want too.

(I suppose I'd be one of those "management" types too )

ryan85

perfect car

http://www.carzone.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=680941

crosstownk

I can't argue against the Passat. Some reliability issues but if you get a good one you'll be happy. If you're not overly fussy about what you drive and want something similar to a Passat then maybe consider a Ford Mondeo diesel. A good solid car that's quite reliable too.

Dilbert75

ryan85 wrote:

perfect car

http://www.carzone.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=680941

Would a hair stylist get a car allowance of €14k?

Octavia...

colm_mcm

Dilbert75 wrote:

Would a hair stylist get a car allowance of €14k?

Octavia...

or 18,500 if you'd like it on Irish plates.....

cavanmaniac

Have that VAG engine in an Audi A4, the 130bhp tdi. Brilliant engine, great performance and economy.

For image and more generous kit than the Passat, you'd be in with a shout of a 2002 model for circa €19,000.

Linford

Get a BMW 3 Series, but you should be able to pay less than 23k for an 02.

FrankGrimes

Thanks for the suggestions lads. Was talking to the lads in the boozer last night (they'd know a bit more about motors than me) and a few were recommending a turbo diesel mondeo, and the passat was mentioned aswell.

Hadn't thought of getting a diesel - what's the traditional downside that seems to put people off them? If it's just related to performance, I'd gladly get a diesel, especially if getting one with an injection meant it would still be grand for overtaking.

Those 3 series may actually have been 03s, can't remember. I know the owner of the dealership but he was out of office so I literally just glanced at them and don't know anymore about mileage engine size etc. Reckon I'd get a grand or 2 off from him.

An Audi A4 does sound tempting alright, though I want to get a clear picture of what I can get for around 15k in a Mondeo, Avensis or Passat first. What version of Mondeo should I be looking at for turbo diesel and all the extras?

Any thoughts on the Avensis? Likewise, should I be thinking about newish Hyundai Sonata's too? Not a fan of the Primera at all at all though.

I don't have time to deal with the hassle of importing from UK (though the natural bargain-hunter in me wishes I had), and I'm getting more wary of private car sales due to plenty of anecdotes with bad experiences.

Thanks for the food for thought though.

L-M

I'm going to stick with the Passat and advise you to stay away form the Sonata. As nice as they maybe, selling it on again wouldn't be worth much or easy to do!
As with the above mention Mini cooper the vrt still has to be paid on it. Looking at a Mondeo i would still prefer the Passat. The mondeo has a very, Ford feel to it, which runs throughout the range. The Passat would be a much nicer buy, and of which i had three, i've never seen a sad face when going into a dealer to trade it in. Twice i had to give the car up before i got the new one because the dealer had it sold. A big recommendation for the Passat is either the 1.6 petrol or the 1.9tdi 130bhp. Also don't get anything less than a Highline. Top of the range. The joys of buying second hand. Also make sure it wasn't imported or clocked.

The Bmw's give big trouble and it anything goes wrong it's into the dealer u go to get it fixed. And that's thousand or two gone down the drain!

FrankGrimes

thanks Limerick Man - reckon my search is going to focus on the Avensis and Passat - I've gone off the Mondeo cos like yourself I just don't like the shape of it.

What's the difference between the Passat comfortline and highline? Anybody know what the equivalent of the Highline is for the Avensis?

Wish autotrader and carzone.ie had a feature where you could specify the version (e.g. Highline) in your search criteria - would make life a lot easier.

I know what prices they are online, but realistically, what would you expect to pay for an 05 or 04 Passat Highline 1.9 Tdi?

L-M

There isn't a whole lot of difference between the Highline and comfortline. Alot of it is extra's, ie. wheel and a few other bits, Also it comes with a bit more chrome and body coloured bumper strips. The Strata (in the avensis) would be some what the same as the Higline. If u were to go for a 2005 Passat u would be coming up to the newer model, in which case i will recommend the Comfortline. BUt make sure to get the new model when buying '05. As i said anything from '04 down, buy a Highline, anything '05 up, buy a Comfortline or Sportline.(the sportline is lower b 15mm and has carbon interior finish rather than a mahogany in the comfortline.

TomMc

The Mazda 6 & Honda Accord would be worth considering as well.

FrankGrimes

Cheers Limerick-man - that's some great info - will be looking at passat's during the week - will post with how I get on.

Thanks TomMc - I actually saw a Mazda 6 the other day and it got me thinking as it's a nice looking car. What model/version would be the rough equivalent of the Passat Comfortline or Highline (i.e. with all the extras)?

I was passing by Liffey Valley Opel yesterday - they were closed but I popped in to look at the Vectra. Was pleasantly surprised to find I quite like the look of the new model Vectras - anyone know what year the new model came out in? And what is the Vectra actually like (for some reason I expected it to be much cheaper than a Passat but it wasn't really)?

I sat into an Avensis yesterday and it kinda put me off as it just felt like I'm too young for it. For some reason the Passat doesn't feel that way, and the Vectra actually looked to me like a sligthly sportier Mondeo.

So reckon I'm now down to Passat, Mazda 6, and Vectra.

DonJose

Why don't you lease a car?

FrankGrimes

Hey DonJose - I guess I just don't know much about how people usually finance their cars, so I guess the idea of paying for a car I'd never own led me towards just getting a loan and buying it. I'd be very interested to understand what's involved in leasing, pros and cons, and in what circumstances people usually opt to lease.

Was just passing by Merlin Motor City so I popped in for a look...have to say this Honda Accord was very close to tempting me out of the price range I'd planned on - looks great and I'm definitely a sucker for the extras the Executive version has.

But I've just been browsing Passats online and I do seriously like the look of the 03 or 04 Highlines and they are in or around what I wanted to spend.

This 1.8 petrol and this 1.9 TDI look to me like good candidates.

L-M

Love the choice of Passats. That 03 model looks the part and i'm guessin it won't stay in stock long. I'm sure u would be very impressed with the engine as well so i would advise a test drive and a quick buy!

FrankGrimes

Just did a test drive on that 1.8 petrol 03 passat. Nice to drive but was a bit boy racer-ish with the tinted windows and BMW style rear wing yoke. Also, it's actually a fella selling it privately - when I rang Autobase they told me to ring him that they were just advertising it for him (he's mates with a guy that works there).

Brake pads need doing and there's some body damage and scrapes - he says he'd fix it all for the 16,950 asking price, but I just didn't get a warm feeling about it - 70k miles on the clock didnt help, as did no proper service history and just his word that he had the timing belt done last year. Oh, and the black paint had become quite dull, so I guess this one is off my list.

Disappointed that none of the 3 Passats I saw today had radio controls on the steering wheel, or cruise control. Had a look at the 04 Passat 1.9 tdi 130bhp in Kileen motors linked above - again its a guy advertising privately and also having them sell it. This time Kileen have it on site and say they've had loads of interest. It's in great nick and a nice car - didn't get to test drive it as got there too late due to traffic. The tdi engine did sound very loud though. So I'm not going to rush into either of these cars.

This 04 1.8 petrol Passat would be relatively decent value at €14k plus 3k trade in for my 99 Astra 1.4 club saloon (which needs plenty of body work). But I thought it was strange for a Highline not to have alloys, and wasn't made on the colour. I guess I just expected the Highline to have some wow factor internally, but it didn't and needed plenty of scrapes treated.

I test-drove this Honda Accord and found it very nice - much more wow factor and looks sleeker I thought. Though I'm not sure I need to be driving a 2.0 litre engine as I don't do all that much driving, but it was a lovely car. Anyone got thoughts on Passat vs Accord?

L-M

As the man says, i'm not biased, i just love the Passat:D

What i think u should do is open ur eyes to a wider variety of dealerships in the country for a nice passat. Might have to travel a bit but i'm sure it would be a worthwhile investment. As for the Accord, i always thought they were very "granda-ified" (i wish that was a word) but it's still all in ones opinion. If u do find a nice passat, and buying it privately, might be worth while to check it out on http://www.cartell.ie

I don't think the Accord would be as strong as a seller if u were to sell it on again in two years...

HashSlinging

FrankGrimes wrote:

I’ve just gotten a new job that gives me a €14k car allowance as part of the package so I’m looking for ideas on what to go for.

Just be careful what they mean as "car allowance", some companies give a car allowance in lieu of overnight expenses, fuel/mileage and in some cases overtime.

Without knowing the mileage or work conditions I'd recommend buying a small car or a van for 7 - 8k , keep the rest.

Something I know which might be of no interest to you - someone I know bought a Fiesta 1.4 TDCI Van, got the company logo on the side and they offered to pay his fuel on top of the allowance.

FrankGrimes

Hey Limerick-man - I thought you'd say both of those points, and you're probably right - looking far and wide for a good passat would probably be a smarter move than the Accord due to depreciation, though I'm not sure which way I'll go. Guess I'll just have to get time to widen the search.

Do you not find the 1.9 TDI Passat to be very loud?

Hi HashSlinging - the car allowance is really just part of my salary, I guess they still break it out separately as a hangover from the days when doing so had a tax advantage. I could actually cycle to work and keep it all if I wanted. But it's a senior manager position so I feel I do need a decent car for the company's image when I'm making (fairly infrequent) visits to partner sites. The total package is very generous so I can more than afford to buy a nice car, so some of it is for the job, some of it is cos I'd like to drive a nice car (well better than my 99 Astra anyway!).

L-M

I suppose they are loud enough but i don't think they are as loud when u are in the car driving it. If anything i'm slowly being drawn to the 1.8t myself. Depending on the amount of mileage u do. If u clock up enough miles go for the diesel, if not go for the petrol.
I searched all of Irelands Passat and these seems to be the best.
Passat 1.9tdi
1.9tdi
1.8t
1.9tdi
And another 1.9tdi

That seems to Irelands finest. The 1.8t seems to be the nicest but have a look at them all. The 1.8t has the leather the sunroof and a few other bits. See what u think:D

FrankGrimes

I think Motorvation are getting a call tomorrow about that 1.8! Thanks for the link - was too busy today to get a chance to search, but that looks like a great candidate.

I dropped into Kingstown Motors in Stillorgan today cos my mate's uncle owns it. He has an 05 passat 1.6 coming in on Thursday. He said with the 2.5k trade-in for my 99 Astra 1.4 club saloon (which is fair enough given the body work required), I'd be looking at 16.5k for it, though I think it's just the baseline. I'm guessing a 1.6 passat is quite sluggish?

I test-drove a Volvo S40 he has - 05 25k minus my 2.5k trade-in - it was a great car and had all the extras, but I'd prefer to come in under rather than over budget and that 1.8 passat might let me achieve that.

L-M

I am currently driving a 1.6 06 passat comfortline. It isn't hugely sluggish it's jst if u wanted power i wouldn't go for it:D and as far a a baseline passat goes, as they say, step away from the vehicle. Like Bmw, Volkswagen offer nothing as standard. I think that 1.8T is a good candidate. See how that fairs out for u!

FrankGrimes

I reckon I'll test-drive the 05 1.6 just to see what it's like and what (if any) extras it might have.

I just noticed that 1.8 is Tiptronic so looked up on Wikipedia to find out what that means. Basically it seems to be a fancy automatic that gives driver some ability to override the gear shifting. Would Tiptronic be regarded as something that would help or hinder the ability to sell on the car in about 18 months time?

Also, Honest John says "Timing belt of 1.8 20v needs changing before 4 years or 60k miles a(whichever comes first) nd tensioner and timing belt driven waterpump at the same time. ". The 1.8 above is now 4 years old and has 50k miles, so if the timing belt hasn't been done it sounds like it needs it very soon, so I'd have to factor in that cost.

I wonder is it possible to replace the side bumpers on a Comfortline with chrome ones?

L-M

Well if anything, u should get a warranty with that Passat and also it says it's fully serviced. The triptronic is a lovely gear box. It's gives u a little freedom like a manual but it changes alot more smoothly for u. U can flick it to the side to let it hit higer revs, or ultimate use if for changing the gears, (and up a gear and down a gear option)...

Just thinkning, maybe start advertising ur own car because if u did manage to sell it privately for in and around 3,500 or 4, which ever, u would get a better reception from dealers and get some money off wit a straight deal. Plus u could open ur eye's to a private market as well.

It's only a suggestion, The Buy and Sell offer free text adds as with cbg. It's worth a go as it won't cost u anything!If u wanted u could pay a bit and get some pictures on as well. As with passing it around by word of mouth!! As a dealer myself, i much prefer seeing some1 come in with no trade-in, which is what is happening in most cases all over ireland.

FrankGrimes

Hi Limerick-man - I just went and had a look at that 1.8t at lunch. Didn't get to test-drive it as the traffic in the area was insane due to the fatal accident on the Kylemore Road.

It's a lovely car and the body work is in pretty much perfect nick, and the alloys are lovely so it looks great from outside.

Inside is full leather, heated seats and climatronic are nice and the tiptronic does look interesting.

The downside is I'm pretty sure it used to be a smoker's car as it stinks inside - that smell would drive me nuts. Is there any way to guarantee removal of the leftover smoke smell?

I'd also much prefer the full chrome pack for the bumpers, but could defo get over this. He said it'd be about €200 to put chrome side bumpers on, but I wonder would it look crap given that the front and rear bumpers would still be plastic.

Good news is that I asked him about the timing belt and he said they did it when they got it along with the water pump and tensioners (there's 55k miles on it). I asked if it was in the book and he said they'd add it if it wasn't.

So all in all, a very solid car, and if I could get rid of the smell and liked it when I test-drive it, I'd defo go for it.

cold_filter

Sorry for hijacking, Frank what way does your car allowance work. Do you get it added in monthly to your salary or do they just give you a lump sum?

L-M

FrankGrimes wrote:

The downside is I'm pretty sure it used to be a smoker's car as it stinks inside - that smell would drive me nuts. Is there any way to guarantee removal of the leftover smoke smell?

I'd also much prefer the full chrome pack for the bumpers, but could defo get over this. He said it'd be about €200 to put chrome side bumpers on, but I wonder would it look crap given that the front and rear bumpers would still be plastic..

Where there is a will there is way. There many ways u can get the smell out and i hope that this doesn't turn u off the car. As far as the chrome goes, u could find the bumper parts in a breakers yards rather than gettin them sprayed. I am sure u could swindle the chrome cheaper than that. How much did he offer u on ur own?

FrankGrimes

Hey Cold_filter - the car allowance is essentially just another part of my salary so I get it paid monthly, and again, I'm free to do with it whatever I please.

That's good to hear Limerick-man - is there anything I should be asking them to do to get rid of the smell as part of the deal (e.g. I dunno, maybe a full shampoo of all upholstery) so the smell is gone before I buy the car?

Not sure I follow you on the bumpers and to be honest doubt I'd know how to go about sourcing it - are you saying it'd be possible to get chrome bumpers from maybe Highlines in a breaker's yard? No harm me giving it a go if so I guess.

The guy I was dealing with was very junior so couldn't really talk much on price. He said they had it 2 weeks, so I'd guess longer so they might be willing to bring it down a bit - I'll shoot for 16k cash if I'm not trading in and see how it goes down.

FrankGrimes

I went down to my mate's uncle in Kingstown Motors there at lunch just to check out the 05 baseline passat. It's 1.6 (he said it's the higher bhp of the two 1.6 versions), silver (which I like cos I find it dirt doesn't show easily), and has 22,000 miles on it.

It has no chrome at all on the window trims or bumpers, though it does have (small) alloys. It's in immaculate condition outside and in and I took it for a good spin on the M50 and it definitely has enough poke for my needs.

It has a single CD player and does have climatronic climate control (which is great as A/C is pretty much my highest priority), electric heated mirrors, and electric front windows, but no extras so it's short on the wow factor but is a solid, clean car in great nick.

With my 99 Astra trade-in it would cost me €13,750, setting his asking price around €16,500. It's seeming like a good deal to me and he'll guarantee it and gladly take it as a trade-in in a year or two if I want.

So it's missing the snazzy looking chrome on the outside and though the basic alloys are fine, it looks quite boring. On the inside it doesn't have the leather, heated seats, 6CD changer, rear electric windows, and the sunroof.

So my choice is based on whether I want to spend an extra grand to get a car that looks better and has the extras but has 50k miles on it (and stinks for the moment), or do I want to go for the solid 05 which shouldn't give any hassle. Mmmm, that's gonna be a tough one, but I think at the moment I'm leaning slightly towards the 05 baseline....

rebel.ranter

The smell should come out. Even if you have to give the car to a proffessional car valet. Therefore I would not make the smell a deal breaker. The lower miles is attractive but if you're saying it's boring now what will yu be saying when you actually own it?
A friend of mine has a '99 Passat 1.9TDI with 206k miles on it and aside from it being messy inside (friend is not a car enthusiast by any stretch of the imagination, an A to B man) it seemed fine.

FrankGrimes

I went and took the 1.8T 03 Passat for a test-drive today and liked it so much I ended up buying it.

There's some amount of power in the 1.8 and when the turbo kicks in overtaking will be done very quickly and safely. I was wary of going automatic but guess I'll like it pretty soon, though I wonder if I'll end up using the tiptronic manual overrides much.

He gave me 3k for my 99D Astra (with dents) so I was happy with that and got the final price down to 13,250 plus the Astra - turned out the timing belt hasn't been done so he split the difference on my request to drop it to 13,000 to go towards timing belt, water pump and tensioners, all to be documented.

6 months full parts and labour warranty covers everything from bumper to bumper, electrics included - I pushed hard on details and am very happy with that warranty.

I also pushed hard about the smell and he said his lads would work hard on it, though he might just get a company that does the full valet (ceiling included) for €100 and guarantee a new car smell. Actually, I think I'll call him Monday and ask him to just get that company in and I'll split the cost with him so that its in tip-top shape when I get it.

Am glad I've gone for the more 'fun' car than the 05 baseline cos it's a pleasure to drive. Thanks for all the help (particularly Limerick-man) and I'll let you know how I get on.

L-M

As i said, i lost my internet for the last few days, only got time to report back now, and as i was readin throught the missed bits of the forum i got very worried when u said u liked the 05 baseline. Glady i read on to find out that u bought the 1.8T. Glad i could find something for u that u would like. Best of luck with the car. It'll be a beauty. But do keep posted with pics of the car and the like...
Regards

FrankGrimes

Just an update - I collected the car yesterday and am very happy with the job they did to get rid of the smell.

They added the timing belt, water pump to the log book and typexed "55,000" on the engine, which he said is acknowledged as denoting a timing belt change at that mileage. A mechanic friend will be throwing his eye over it anyway to confirm.

Am delighted with the purchase cos it's a smashing looking sky blue colour and is a joy to drive - thanks again for the advice.

I'm posting in a separate thread about a problem I have with the oil change indicator coming on, but hopefully that's just a blip that gets sorted in no time!

L-M

Great fun... Do post pics!

rebel.ranter

Glad you looked beyond the smell & picked up what looks like a nice car with a few good extras that will keep that bit more interested & comfortable.
Best of luck with it now.
Oh don't forget your warranty when thinking about that oil change light/warning issue. They probably never reset the Service Interval when they did the service.
Just one tiny bit of advice, make sure you dip the oil once a week for the first few weeks, just to determine if it uses oil. I do that with any car I buy.

FrankGrimes

Thanks lads - will dig out the camera and take a few pics so! My poor old trusty Astra might get jealous if it hears about it though!

Will defo be following that advice on the oil level - given the fright I got when I came across horror stories caused by oil sludge when trying to find info on why the light was coming on, I'll be doing everything I can to look after it properly and avoid anything like that happening.

L-M

Any look on those pictures??? haha

FrankGrimes

I was just renewing the tax on my Passat the other day and I realised I have it a year now and then I realised I never got back on this thread to post photos as I said I would and Limerick-man had been in touch in the meantime asking for them.....and I owe that at least for picking out what has been a lovely car to drive. So, better late than never I guess - here's some pics.

All has gone generally quite well with the car since an initial breather valve problem was sorted, though I've had a few problems with it the past few months.

The low oil pressure warning light came on and it looked like the oil pump might have gone but my mate who is a mechanic looked at it and guessed that it was a blocked oil switch - he changed that and the oil filter and that one went away for a lot less cash than an oil pump would've cost.

Then I put it through the NCT but it failed due to CV joint problems that was causing a knocking sound. My mate priced VW parts and spurious parts and there was a good bit in the difference, so I went with the spurious parts as it sounded like they would do the job perfectly, so he and a colleague did the job as a nixer. There was a bit of a problem with the ABS kicking in at the end of braking, which he said was due to the spurious parts meaning the ABS sensor is slightly out of perfect alignment. He changed the alignment and it was much better, only happening very occassional and seems more of an annoyance than an issue, though I've been laid up due to surgery since shortly after he changed it so can't be sure how it's working. I'd appreciate any comments as to whether this should be addressed right now or if I can leave it go.

There also seems to be a minor radiator leak probably caused when the timing belt was changed - I'm going to get radiator leak prevention fluid and run it through it to see if that solves the problem...just hope the 10 months of trouble-free driving aren't going to followed by a load of issues coming up one after another.

The car itself has been a joy to drive and the tiptronic gearbox is just fantastic, I don't think I'll ever want to drive anything else again. I drive it in automatic mode in heavy traffic but drive it in the manual mode where I flick the stick up and down to select gears on open road as I get the best of both worlds in that I have full control of gears without the hassle of gearing down when stopping or having to use a clutch. That has actually helped a lower left back problem I have and so have the heated seats. I actually find it drives a little too agressively for my liking when in normal automatic mode as the turbo seems to kick in which isn't good in residential areas.

A joy of a car to drive overall, thanks again for all the advice and suggestions. I reckon I'll go for a VW or Audi when I change it in a year or 2. It does eat the petrol so I'd consider going for something like an A3 if I could get that with all the same comforts (tiptronic, climate control, leather heated seats being the main ones) and would consider importing from the UK as a mate got a great deal on an 07 A4 import.