New company car - alternatives

Leprechaun77

The company car is up for renewal shortly, however I have only been given two choices by our office. I get the impression that they probably just asked for two choices, but I don't really fancy either. Hopefully, assuming the cost to the company is similar, I can order a different car.

The two choices were a Mondeo Zetec 1.6 diesel - RRP €30,200, and a Passat comfortline, 1.6tdi - RRP €32,200. (3 year lease sub 30k kms per annum). The Passat would be my choice however I am wondering if there are many alternatives that would be in and around the same lease cost.

I have looked at a Mercedes CLA, but based on RRP I might only get a base diesel or an Urban petrol. Are petrols a no-go for lease value? I got some advice three years ago from a couple of lads in the lease trade on Boards, so hoping they might be able to shed some light on these alternatives.

bazz26

Don't think a petrol is much appealing to a company as they cannot claim the VAT back on petrol fill ups.

Leprechaun77

bazz26 wrote: »

Don't think a petrol is much appealing to a company as they cannot claim the VAT back on petrol fill ups.

Not too concerned about my company being able to claim back VAT as they are not a VAT registered business. I had petrol cars for several years and it wasn't an issue. I was more concerned that the lease cost of a petrol may be higher compared to a similarly priced diesel, due to potential lower residuals?

bazz26

I'd imagine so as the resale value will be lower.

Duke O Smiley

Would you really want to be driving around in a base model CLA?

Leprechaun77

Duke O Smiley wrote: »

Would you really want to be driving around in a base model CLA?

No, probably not....but an Urban might be a runner if petrol adds up

9935452

Leprechaun77 wrote: »

The company car is up for renewal shortly, however I have only been given two choices by our office. I get the impression that they probably just asked for two choices, but I don't really fancy either. Hopefully, assuming the cost to the company is similar, I can order a different car.

The two choices were a Mondeo Zetec 1.6 diesel - RRP €30,200, and a Passat comfortline, 1.6tdi - RRP €32,200. (3 year lease sub 30k kms per annum). The Passat would be my choice however I am wondering if there are many alternatives that would be in and around the same lease cost.

I have looked at a Mercedes CLA, but based on RRP I might only get a base diesel or an Urban petrol. Are petrols a no-go for lease value? I got some advice three years ago from a couple of lads in the lease trade on Boards, so hoping they might be able to shed some light on these alternatives.

I know its a company car but advice would be stay away from 1.6 mondeo. Ford 1.6 give a lot of bother , turbo and injector wise,
Other advice is stay away from 1.6diesels. Dead as a doorknob. underpowered , annoying to drive. no excitement

R.O.R

There's a lot more to lease costs than just the retail price of the car.

It's essentially, the difference between what the car can be bought for, less what we think it can be sold for, plus interest, divided by the term (36 months), then the running costs if maintenance is included.

Quick look at the figures on the Mondeo & Passat, and they are in / around the same monthly cost. CLA Urban 180cdi (don't have Petrol models listed to quote on) is around €150 ex. VAT per month over the Passat/Mondeo costs. Petrol model isn't going to be vastly different to that, as the difference between cost and resale will be about the same.

"Volume" manufacturers give a much larger discount on new cars than "Premium" manufacturers in general, so I'd say BMW/Mercedes/Audi would be out of scope for you if the benchmark vehicles are Mondeo or Passat. At least they are mid range models and not base versions.

Around the same monthly cost, there's the 140ps Insignia SE 5dr, Superb Ambition 140ps with Chess Pack. Avensis Luna (quite a bit cheaper, but an Avensis), and that's about it for stuff that size with at least a 2.0 engine. Even the base model Mazda6 is about €30 a month over the Passat cost.

All figures run over 36 months / 90,000km with maintenance, and ex. VAT.

Feel free to drop me a PM if you want me to look at figures on anything else, but nowt else springs to mind.

And BTW - the Mondeo 1.6 isn't that bad - drove a Zetec Estate with that engine at launch, and kept up with the 2.0 in front for the most part. Fantastic handling car, and better than expected performance from the engine, but I'd still prefer the 2.0 if available. 1.6 in the Mondeo will be discontinued at some point fairly soon and replaced by the 1.5Tdci, as the 1.6 doesn't meet EU6 emissions.