Depressed Woman - Help Needed

[shao_khan]

OK, the Wife has got her Company car list through, she can basically have any car upto circa £35k, but it depends on a few criteria, and she can 'pay' to upgrade, but she is majorly depressed - No Porsche on the list, no range rover - these were her first choices, but arent on her list - she is senior management, they dont arrive until board level.

So what do people recommend, as she cant have prefered options, she'd rather not have to contribute, so really £30 - £35k max limit.

Most of my suggestions arent on the list which is quite suprising, the following are considered exec cars:

VW R32

Audi S3

BMW 130 Msport

Mitsu Evo (any)

Audi A4 (no Quattro models - only FWD, so no S4 / RS4)

But she can have

Golf Gti

Subaru Impreza (any)

SO the list is pretty random, its fully expensed so servicing, tyres, fuel etc arent important.

Any got any suggestions that might make her smile? (car related)

[Mollox]

Impreza Type 25 Spec C

Tell them to stick that in their pipe and smoke it

[steffiraf]

Gotta go for the impreza

[Snail]

Will a 335i/335d coupe come in her budget? What about an Elise? or an Atom? Or something mad an American?

[Riz]

Subaru Impreza RB320 Limited Edition!!!

VW Golf GTi 30th

BMW 130i

Audi S3?

Audi TT?

Riz

[shao_khan]

The BMW Oilburners are available, but she isnt keen and with a spec costs her (I think I have worked it out right), she has suggested the Impreza might be a goer - she isnt keen on the looks, but figured if someone else is picking up the bills it could be fun for a couple of years.

Doesnt really want the Golf GTI, she wouldnt have minded another R32. She did fancy TT 3.2Q, but thats not on the list, she doesnt want fwd TT.

[lottiefox]

SK, tell her to go have a drive of the 2.0T new TT - OK, ideally you'd choose quattro but its still an awesome car, fast, handles well, fun, looks sexy and stylish and is that bit different.

[Wallachie]

S3

[theduisbergkid]

Alfa Brera ?

[D1MAC]

Does she do plenty miles? Can she opt out? Is the list wide? etc etc.

Not knowing the specifics but assuming Mrs SK wants something vaguely interesting one way or t'other, my take might be to have something dull(ish) but bearable like a 318d/320d and then use the rest of the cash to get something more interesting privately. Either that or opt out completely, buy a decent runaround for extended journeys ( lightly used Focus TDCI or the like) and do the same thing with the rest of the cash.

If no opt out then I would go for 330i or better (in whatever is most desired body).

It really does depend on the list, the opt-out situation, sensitivity to tax, what she wants and various other factors.

[JamesB]

How about something small and chuckable like a Clio Renaultsport and still have some money in the bank?

Otherwise, I'd go for the Impreza.

[shao_khan]

We have discussed the Clio - but unsure how livable it would be for a couple of years.

We can opt out, but her scheme is ran so that she has no tax liability, so opting out doesnt really benefit us as we lose maintenance, tyres, insurance, etc.

RB Impreza sold out so not an option.

The list is fairly extensive, but I get the impression it is driven by residual values, so big losers arent on the list - for example you can have a A4 SLine SE Avant which lists at something like £27k, but not an S3 which is about £1k less?? No M-sport BMW models, all SE specs, but you can have a Vectra VXR and the Monaro was on the list until recently

Focus ST not on List, but can have Astra VXR, Megane R26, Golf GTi ed30, so I am baffled at criteria for inclusion.

For us the good bit about the scheme is that its a new car that doesnt cost us anything, but would rather not have dull if you get my drift.

[JamesB]

I'd be tempted by the Megane there. I've not driven one myself but understand they aren't bad at all and, if it is a car scheme, the worries I would otherwise have about depreciation and reliability would be somewhat assuaged.

[Alastair_A3]

BMW 5 Series?

[shao_khan]

We have driven the 5 series like the car a lot (same as you have on order in fact), but We cant have an Msport - they are even available, and she likes the sporty styling of the sport versions.

[Riz]

Mmmmmmm Golf GTi Edition 30 would be my option..... its German and limited.

Just spec it up to the 35k limit, individual paint option and interior etc.

Riz

[Alastair_A3]

[ QUOTE ]

We have driven the 5 series like the car a lot (same as you have on order in fact), but We cant have an Msport - they are even available, and she likes the sporty styling of the sport versions.

[/ QUOTE ]

Ahh yes im not to keen on the 5 series in SE guise either, M Sport is so much better looking IMO

[330dcoupe]

Guys - lets be serious here - she's senior management level - it hardly looks professional when someone at that level pulls up outside of a clients building or indeed her own office in a flippin Impreza Type xcbdjdgjdd -

I for one wouldn't want my companies car allowances to be spent on rally bred cars - or indeed hot chavved up hot hatches.

[JamesB]

Just answering in the same vein as the original post...

[shao_khan]

Well she has not stopped sulking and decided a new job is the way forward.

She had said she wouldnt mind something like a A4 Cab 3l tdi, but not on the list, in fact having been through the list its pretty poor considering the grade.

As per comment above, she did read and agree, but likewise she also thought that having a 118d SE doesnt create much of an impression either so she is kinda stuck.

Her current favourite is Mini Cab JCW - she figures people will forgive here this because its a girls car

[Adam]

[ QUOTE ]

but her scheme is ran so that she has no tax liability,

[/ QUOTE ]

how on earth does that work? a great perk!

[Booster]

I guess they bump up her salary to by the amount she pays in CC tax. I have suggested it many times at my place but for some reason it falls on deaf ears!

[v6tas]

[ QUOTE ]

Well she has not stopped sulking and decided a new job is the way forward.

She had said she wouldnt mind something like a A4 Cab 3l tdi, but not on the list, in fact having been through the list its pretty poor considering the grade.

As per comment above, she did read and agree, but likewise she also thought that having a 118d SE doesnt create much of an impression either so she is kinda stuck.

Her current favourite is Mini Cab JCW - she figures people will forgive here this because its a girls car

[/ QUOTE ]

My wife is also senior management and drives a Mini Cooper S (JCW). She loves it so my two penneth would be the JCW on that basis. But the MK5 R32 is certainly not chavvy in any way shape or form like the Impreza so that would be my second choice (but then i am a bit biased !!)

[OldSkoO1]

I dont want you to take offense at this but i think it is a tad selfish to be upset and to even think about quitting her job because they wont give her a Porsche or Landrover. There are many great cars on that list many of which a lot of people would love to own. They are completely free too.

I'm senior management too, even though i get very well paid i dont have a company car.

[ACA_Chap]

IMHO if a porka is your thing, take the cash and run it privatley, then recharge your mileage at 40p.

Even if the company is paying the tax liability with a higher salary, it doesn't make sense. If they are prepared to pay £xxx co BIK tax for you, then couldn't you just take that money and run two porkas privatley?