Self employed? Get a new car for much less.......

Live-on-Less

This only works if you are self employed, sorry. Did you know the revenue allow you to claim 100% first year capital allowance on new low CO2 emission cars? That is those under 121g/km. So you can offset the total cost of the car against profits for that tax year, subject to the usual % deduction for private use .

Now this mostly limits you to very small petrol cars, and diesel superminis such as Fiesta, Citroen C2 and C3, Yaris, and a few others. Surprising, the diesel Corsa, Grande Punto, and Suzuki Swift are all over 120g/km, and don’t qualify. However one car from the next class up does, and that’s the Renault Megane 1.5 dCi 85bhp hatchback (3 or 5 doors). It just scrapes in at 120g/km, and also qualifies for the new £50pa VED.

I’ve run one of these for almost 2 years now, and if you can live with the wacky looks, lack of boot space – the derriere may be a turn-on to a Frenchman, but doesn’t do much for me – and slightly iffy build quality, it’s basically a good car, and much quicker on the road than the figures would suggest. The other big plus is you get 50-60 mpg, well I have got less, but only with a load up and at high speeds. You can even pimp it up at reasonable prices with 17” factory alloys, and cruse control which has a very useful speed limiter function.

So if you are thinking of a new car, check it out, not least because the dealers give big big discounts, and will match internet prices, especially at the end of a quarter like now – just in time for the end of the tax year too. PS: I’m not a Renault dealer! :beer:

MikeLB

I am Self Employed in my spare time, and have the 1.9 Dci Megane. Although it doesnt qualify for anything above, I have to say that it has to be the most reliable car I have ever had and can thoroughly recommend one. I get 50mpg and it gets driven 1000 miles a week. It has yet to let me down and has covered some of the most unhospitable terrain we have in the Far North this winter.

A few wee bits have broken off but the dealers have been nothing but helpful and I have never been without a car for more than a few hours!

I see you baby, shakin' that !!!!!! ..... wigglw wiggle!