Company Car...

g0g

Looking for advice on company car selection and hoping someone might be able to give me an idea. We lease the cars for 4 years where I work and the current lease is just up. Currently have an 07 Audi A4 2.0 140 SE saloon. Think OMV in 2007 was about € 42K but don't know what lease cost is. Whatever that lease cost was is my rough budget for the new car. This time I'm looking to get an estate car. Must be diesel. Only thing I'm looking for is a good bit of space and a decent spec car without to high an original market price.

I was loving the look of the Skoda Superb 2.0 Elegane Combi 170TDi and it does have a lower market price (great for my BIK!) than the Audi, but I'm begining to suspect that it may depreciate too much more and hence the lease price could be beyond company budget. I know the base diesel 1.6 engine might be a lot cheaper, but it coulld be a dog to drive - I don't want a race car but equally I want some level of power in it!

Can anyone recommend me a decent alternative with a high spec but low enough price and that won't depreciate too fast to drive up the lease price!?

I've had a pretty good look around and am hoping maybe I forgot something!
Mondeo - had one before so would rather something new
Passat - too pricey for what you get
Insignia - seems like a possibility

Any suggestions much appreciated!:)

Tea 1000

How does the company judge what they can afford to lease? For example, the new Peugeot 508 - they don't know how it'll depreciate, it might not be bad, so how would they guage it?
You could also look at the new Subaru Legacy or Honda Accord. Both do actually hold their value quite well. Test drive the Accord first, the Sport spec in the Accord doesn't have a great seat, the Executive does but it's dear, and I've no idea what the base model is like.

g0g

The lease company quotes the lease price! Assume it's some model they have.

Yeah I lookedup Accord but think the price was over € 40K. Although the lease price is important to company (to be similar price to current car) it's the market price that matters to me!

R.O.R

What's you annual mileage for the lease? With that (and a few mins to spare) I can get a rough guess at what you are paying now, and what else you'll get for that price.

jimmycrackcorm

Basically the lease cost matches the original sales value (given the same interest rate ) i.e. your lease cost for 42k in 2007 is approximately the same as today (assuming no change in interest rate). So the difference to you now is that for 42k you can get a much higher spec car because prices have fallen since 2007. Only the lease company can cell you what's in your range given a fixed lease price.

g0g

R.O.R wrote: »

What's you annual mileage for the lease? With that (and a few mins to spare) I can get a rough guess at what you are paying now, and what else you'll get for that price.

Annual mileage is 24,000km over 4 years including service etc. I'd be assuming the same for this next car. Any help much appreciated!

R.O.R

jimmycrackcorm wrote: »

Basically the lease cost matches the original sales value (given the same interest rate ) i.e. your lease cost for 42k in 2007 is approximately the same as today (assuming no change in interest rate). So the difference to you now is that for 42k you can get a much higher spec car because prices have fallen since 2007. Only the lease company can cell you what's in your range given a fixed lease price.

If only..................

A lease is the difference between the cost price (retail less discount) and the finger in the air guess of what the car will be worth in 4 years time.

With an 07 A4 2.0Tdi SE, I can more or less guarantee that the forecasted resale value will be quite a bit in excess of what the car is worth now.

Even though the cost price of the cars has come down, the resale value has also decreased, so the difference between the 2 figures isn't that different.

You'll also have to factor in that the 07 Audi was a run out model and had quite a big discount available, whereas Audi this year had the great idea of getting rid of the additional fleet support and giving a 3rd year warranty instead :mad:

Tea 1000

Do you have to ask the lease company what they'll actually consider leasing to you is it?
If so then I would ask about the 508. Seems to be a peach of a car from all reports. Lovely looking too.
The Accord that's over 40k is the Executive. Try the base model, should be around 33k. Also look at the Subaru. If not, then the Superb is great value, and I'm not sure why it can be either the 170bhp or the 1.6 diesel... there's the 140 too, which would be grand.

g0g

Tea 1000 wrote: »

Do you have to ask the lease company what they'll actually consider leasing to you is it?
If so then I would ask about the 508. Seems to be a peach of a car from all reports. Lovely looking too.
The Accord that's over 40k is the Executive. Try the base model, should be around 33k. Also look at the Subaru. If not, then the Superb is great value, and I'm not sure why it can be either the 170bhp or the 1.6 diesel... there's the 140 too, which would be grand.

Ok will check out 508 thanks and the Accord too, although I'd rather not sacrifice on gadgets in it! As for the Superb, yes there's the 140 2.0TDI but that's only about 600 quid less new than the 170 version, so I doubt it'd make that much difference.

g0g

R.O.R wrote: »

If only..................

A lease is the difference between the cost price (retail less discount) and the finger in the air guess of what the car will be worth in 4 years time.

With an 07 A4 2.0Tdi SE, I can more or less guarantee that the forecasted resale value will be quite a bit in excess of what the car is worth now.

Even though the cost price of the cars has come down, the resale value has also decreased, so the difference between the 2 figures isn't that different.

You'll also have to factor in that the 07 Audi was a run out model and had quite a big discount available, whereas Audi this year had the great idea of getting rid of the additional fleet support and giving a 3rd year warranty instead :mad:

Thanks, yes a valid point. I guess in that case the historic price we've paid for this car is irrelevant. Give that this is the spec of car given previously, hopefully it'd be the level of option available again and i could compare the current A4 price versus current Superb price on a new lease.

R.O.R

g0g wrote: »

Annual mileage is 24,000km over 4 years including service etc. I'd be assuming the same for this next car. Any help much appreciated!

Looking at what we would have charged for an A4 2.0Tdi SE in 07, and comparing what a Superb Combi 170 Elegance would be now, the Superb is well inside the costs from 2007.

Personally, I wouldn't even bother looking at anything else if the Skoda badge doesn't put you off. The only other vehicle in that class that would sway my thinking would be the V60 D3 SE LUX (which is also inside the cost), but it's too expensive from a retail point of view to make sense for someone in the 30% BIK Category - it's nearly €9,500 more than the Superb retail :eek:

Feel free to PM me for my contact details to pass on to your fleet manager

knipex

From your list.

IMHO The Passat is hugely over rated and overpriced.
Mondeo has a terrible interior unless you go way up on spec. (unless it has improved hugely)
Insignia is nice, decent spec can be got without spending a fortune and the interior is way ahead. (although I am biased as I have one)
If you can get the Accord its worth a look (have a test drive).

Also dont rule out the C5. Whiel nto the best drivers car it is seriously comfortable and not a bad looking car.

g0g

R.O.R wrote: »

Looking at what we would have charged for an A4 2.0Tdi SE in 07, and comparing what a Superb Combi 170 Elegance would be now, the Superb is well inside the costs from 2007.

Personally, I wouldn't even bother looking at anything else if the Skoda badge doesn't put you off. The only other vehicle in that class that would sway my thinking would be the V60 D3 SE LUX (which is also inside the cost), but it's too expensive from a retail point of view to make sense for someone in the 30% BIK Category - it's nearly €9,500 more than the Superb retail :eek:

Feel free to PM me for my contact details to pass on to your fleet manager

Thanks again! Unfortunately I think we're tied into a group provider but will keep you in mind if they're getting multiple quotes! Fingers crossed now the Superb turns out to be an option! Am I right in guessing there might be a waiting list for them if they're so good? Car's not being renewed until June I think, so hopefully I could have one by then!

Big Nasty

If it was me in that position while I would be happy out with another Audi, if this is no longer feasible my choice would be the Superb.

R.O.R

g0g wrote: »

Thanks again! Unfortunately I think we're tied into a group provider but will keep you in mind if they're getting multiple quotes! Fingers crossed now the Superb turns out to be an option! Am I right in guessing there might be a waiting list for them if they're so good? Car's not being renewed until June I think, so hopefully I could have one by then!

Deliveries on Superb's aren't too bad at the moment. Taking around 10 weeks I think so I wouldn't hang around for too long before getting an order in.