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Post by Deleted on Nov 13, 2018 11:33:01 GMT
Need a company car to replace the Alhambra, and it has to have the following brief.
1. Fit 3 kids in the back, and therefore needs 3 individual seats.
2. Not cost the earth on rentals so around £300 a month on contract hire once 50% of the VAT is reclaimed.
3. Have a large boot for said kids equipment.
4. Low personal tax as a company car.
I'm really struggling to come up with anything. I've even looked at VW T6 crew vans and their ilk, the advantages being a flat rate company car tax and the business can claim all the VAT back. Unfortunately what is defined as a van or not as the case may be does potentially leave me open to being taxed to death.
So far i'm looking at a VW Caddy Maxi Life. Yes, that's right. Or at a stretch, the smaller Touran.
Another option would be to get a sensible cheap car as a golf or even better a Octavia Estate which will have relatively cheap personal tax and very attractive rentals. I would then swap our private second car (Nissan Cumquat) for a people carrier to get the three seats at around the £4k mark. However, this seems more trouble that its worth just to save £35 a month on the company car tax compared to the Caddy and end up with a car we know little of the history. Again, though a well spec Octavia estate with the new 1.5tsi is coming in around a great £200 a month which would save a whopping £1000 a year on rentals compared to the Caddy. I have heard of even better deals. These hybrid cars don't seem to save much on the tax either.
Life was so much easier ten years ago when i'd just order a BMW. Help.
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Post by Blarno on Nov 13, 2018 11:57:48 GMT
Can you not get 3 individual seats in the back of an Octavia? Or have manufacturers now made it so you have to buy people carrier or posh-roader if you have more than 2 kids? We're lucky in the sense that only Lottie uses a seat now, so it makes no difference what cars we have.
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Post by Tim on Nov 13, 2018 11:57:55 GMT
No suggestions from me apart from noticing that you appear to only be focusing on VW Group cars.
Other makes are available......
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Post by Deleted on Nov 13, 2018 12:04:27 GMT
No suggestions from me apart from noticing that you appear to only be focusing on VW Group cars. Other makes are available...... And boy have I been looking. The new focus being one. |
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Post by Deleted on Nov 13, 2018 12:09:19 GMT
Can you not get 3 individual seats in the back of an Octavia? Or have manufacturers now made it so you have to buy people carrier or posh-roader if you have more than 2 kids? We're lucky in the sense that only Lottie uses a seat now, so it makes no difference what cars we have. Good point. We are now down to 2 full size boosters and one car seat. We tried getting all three in a Superb without success so presumed there was no chance with the Octavia, but ran out of time. I might pop down and have another go. The only thing is every time 3 car seats are put in a showroom car, 5kg of stale biscuits and sweets are also left in them. |
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Post by ChrisM on Nov 13, 2018 12:16:44 GMT
How much to buy your present Alhambra and make that your own car, selling the Cumquat, and chosing a "sensible" (?) Golf as your company car?
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Post by Deleted on Nov 13, 2018 12:48:07 GMT
How much to buy your present Alhambra and make that your own car, selling the Cumquat, and chosing a "sensible" (?) Golf as your company car? Not thought of that. Worth asking but we are trying not to tie cash up in cars. |
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Post by Big Blue on Nov 13, 2018 12:50:03 GMT
S-Max?
The Kuga is ALMOST three separate seats, as is the 2 Series Gran Tourer and active tourer: it's question of how wide your kids' arses are.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 13, 2018 12:59:36 GMT
S-Max? The Kuga is ALMOST three separate seats, as is the 2 Series Gran Tourer and active tourer: it's question of how wide your kids' arses are. S Max looks expensive on the lease. I'd actually looked at the 2 series gran tourer but a little too much on the lease and the tax. I've just checked the rules on car seats and is confused. However, I think our youngest who will be 33 months at change, may be able to come out of a forward facing baby seat into a high backed 5 point harness booster. 3 booster seats may just fit in a (large) normal car. |
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Post by racingteatray on Nov 13, 2018 13:21:22 GMT
Why do you need three individual seats in the back? I am one of three similarly-aged children and we coped just fine in the back (right through to adulthood) in the various Volvo estates and Range Rovers my parents had?
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Post by Tim on Nov 13, 2018 13:25:44 GMT
If you're prepared to look at a 2 Series Gran Tourer then will you also consider its identical older brother - a previous shape Zafira?  |
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Post by Blarno on Nov 13, 2018 13:29:10 GMT
Why do you need three individual seats in the back? I am one of three similarly-aged children and we coped just fine in the back (right through to adulthood) in the various Volvo estates and Range Rovers my parents had? Kids nowadays have to be in a seat until a certain height/age. Phoebe is nearly 11 and is tall for her age, so she can sit anywhere like an adult. Lottie is under the height threshold and must sit on a booster seat until she reaches it. Younger kids must be in full-backed boosters with harnesses. |
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Post by Bob Sacamano v2.0 on Nov 13, 2018 13:30:06 GMT
Why do you need three individual seats in the back? I am one of three similarly-aged children and we coped just fine in the back (right through to adulthood) in the various Volvo estates and Range Rovers my parents had? Three children will sit fine across most cars with 3 x 3 point seat belts on the back seat. The problems start if you need to put 3 child seats across the back and only get slightly easier as they move to just booster cushions. I'd just buy a 2 seater for the wife and I and let the Nanny follow on behind with the kids in a Meriva. |
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Post by Deleted on Nov 13, 2018 13:36:59 GMT
Why do you need three individual seats in the back? I am one of three similarly-aged children and we coped just fine in the back (right through to adulthood) in the various Volvo estates and Range Rovers my parents had? Basically, because 3 individual seats these days means the car (and seats) is designed to more easily accommodate a mixture of 3 car and booster seats which actually take up more room than an adult. Times change and the rules are you now have to be is booster seats until some daft age. And then you throw in the added safety of ISO-Fix. As I said, three booster seats may just fit though. |
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Post by Deleted on Nov 13, 2018 13:55:48 GMT
Might add a grand C4 Picasso to the list for a bit of French style. The issue here through is it also adds French quality trim. I turned the C4 down three years ago as I thought the interior trim would last 3 minutes with 3 toddlers. I think I made the right decision. The Alhambra really is rock solid. Almost.
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Post by johnc on Nov 13, 2018 14:22:39 GMT
A double cab Pick-Up qualifies as a van if it has a payload of at least a tonne. A few of my clients have purchased Ford Ranger Wildfires recently but be warned, they are huge.
HMRC aren't too keen on van benefits in kind applying on these vehicles for people who effectively use them as cars but that's the law. The only risk is that the law is changed over the next few years so that only those with a real need for such a vehicle will be taxed as if it is a van - eg builders, farmers, tradesmen etc. However with Brexit I think they have much too much on their plate to be bothered about this for some time.
My sister in law is looking for a replacement for her Kuga and is quite taken by the XTrail. Your already have some experience of how Nissan's perform.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 13, 2018 14:36:10 GMT
A double cab Pick-Up qualifies as a van if it has a payload of at least a tonne. A few of my clients have purchased Ford Ranger Wildfires recently but be warned, they are huge. HMRC aren't too keen on van benefits in kind applying on these vehicles for people who effectively use them as cars but that's the law. The only risk is that the law is changed over the next few years so that only those with a real need for such a vehicle will be taxed as if it is a van - eg builders, farmers, tradesmen etc. However with Brexit I think they have much too much on their plate to be bothered about this for some time. My sister in law is looking for a replacement for her Kuga and is quite taken by the XTrail. Your already have some experience of how Nissan's perform. I understand about the 1 tonne pay load but I thought HMRC were going after these double cab pick ups? Also wasn't there a case recently where HMRC took Coca-Cola to court and won who's employee was driving a VW T6 Kombi? They lost a case against a similar vehicle, the defining judgement seemed to be the VW did not have a baulkhead behind the second row of passengers and thus was deemed multi purpose. |
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Post by Alex on Nov 13, 2018 15:04:28 GMT
I’d look at second hand S Max to replace the Nissan then get a Golf (or perhaps Leon - much better spec for the price) as the company car.
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Post by Big Blue on Nov 13, 2018 16:52:48 GMT
Yeah the car seat rules mean that most cars are utterly useless for families of five until they're older - not like one lying in the footwell; one in the hatchback and four across the rear bench win the days of old. Our child seats have their own headsets and inflatable cushioning - no way our kids would sit on the transmission tunnel!
T4 is 7 years old and will comply with the height and weight rules to get rid of a seat altogether by about May next year. According to W2.0 T5 is taller at the same age than T4 but much skinnier.
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Post by Martin on Nov 13, 2018 17:04:14 GMT
I’d look at second hand S Max to replace the Nissan then get a Golf (or perhaps Leon - much better spec for the price) as the company car. Agreed. I wouldn’t get a large family vehicle as a company car unless it was a 530e (or similar). |
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Post by PetrolEd on Nov 13, 2018 17:53:38 GMT
Is the new Scenic big enough, its a fine looking car and by far the nicest in class.
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Post by cbeaks1 on Nov 13, 2018 19:01:32 GMT
I’ve sold 2 friends S-Max this year. Both have 3 kids all in seats and they love them.
A Custom SportVan LWB double cab in van 170 ps auto is ace in Magnetic grey or orange. Stripes and all, and only £110 a month tax.
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Post by cbeaks1 on Nov 13, 2018 19:05:25 GMT
Are Mercedes still knocking out GLE’s on the cheap ?
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Post by Deleted on Nov 13, 2018 19:37:24 GMT
I’ve sold 2 friends S-Max this year. Both have 3 kids all in seats and they love them. A Custom SportVan LWB double cab in van 170 ps auto is ace in Magnetic grey or orange. Stripes and all, and only £110 a month tax. The SportVan are a little too `A Team' for me. I think a Ltd 130ps was coming in at around £340 a month. |
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Post by Boxer6 on Nov 13, 2018 21:08:33 GMT
Can you not get 3 individual seats in the back of an Octavia? Or have manufacturers now made it so you have to buy people carrier or posh-roader if you have more than 2 kids? We're lucky in the sense that only Lottie uses a seat now, so it makes no difference what cars we have. Good point. We are now down to 2 full size boosters and one car seat. We tried getting all three in a Superb without success so presumed there was no chance with the Octavia, but ran out of time. I might pop down and have another go. The only thing is every time 3 car seats are put in a showroom car, 5kg of stale biscuits and sweets are also left in them. No suggestions from me I'm afraid, but the Octavia (mine) is noticeably narrower than Herself's Superb and the rear legroom space in her estate is massive compared to the Octavia estate. |
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Post by Stuntman on Nov 13, 2018 21:33:08 GMT
Does a Passat estate allow you to put 3 car seats in the back? One of my colleagues has one on lease for just over £200 a month and it's a cracking-looking car in my opinion.
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Post by Roadrunner on Nov 13, 2018 22:33:28 GMT
Superbs are very narrow, so it doesn't surprise me that three seats don't fit across the back. A Mondeo is much wider.
For cheap BIK you need to be looking at a plug in hybrid or a double cab pickup. Hybrids are hard to come by at the moment, but maybe worth looking at the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV. The current Nissan Navara is surprisingly good for a pickup.
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Post by LandieMark on Nov 13, 2018 22:49:00 GMT
There are some cracking deals on the latest Navara. My neighbour paid about 20k plus VAT for the top spec.
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Post by cbeaks1 on Nov 13, 2018 22:56:41 GMT
The rear cabins of the trucks isn’t big at all considering they are nearly 6 metres long though.
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Post by johnc on Nov 14, 2018 7:13:16 GMT
I understand about the 1 tonne pay load but I thought HMRC were going after these double cab pick ups? Also wasn't there a case recently where HMRC took Coca-Cola to court and won who's employee was driving a VW T6 Kombi? They lost a case against a similar vehicle, the defining judgement seemed to be the VW did not have a baulkhead behind the second row of passengers and thus was deemed multi purpose. The bulkhead is the issue. A double cab pickup has a bulkhead behind the second row of seats whereas the van based Kombi didn't. The Discovery Commercial has a bulkhead fitted behind the front two seats which is what allows it to be deemed a commercial vehicle with a van BIK (and you can get the VAT back on its purchase) |
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