Car Allowance?? Best Way to Use it?

WestonDave

Does your husband have a car that you can use for the time being with him using the "heap" for ferrying the kids around? If he's not going to be working then if he has a car which is better then maybe that could be used for the time being until you've built up enough of the car allowance to negotiate a good cash deal on something respectable - plus by then you'd know whether the work was going to be OK.

One thing I will say - I often have reps etc coming into work and inevitably I see them getting out of the car in the car park. The ones driving flash cars automaticallly get a harder time on the basis that if there's that much profit they can afford to cut back a bit on their prices! Other than that, provided they don't turn up in something sounding like a tractor with parts hanging off, it really doesn't bother me what they drive. (but then I drive a 8 year old Citroen so maybe I'm just not a car snob!)

JQ.

EllieA wrote: »

atm i have a 12 year old citroen, it's a heap of junk but it's all i've been able to afford.

Inactive wrote: »

A clean, and cared for Saxo, or any other car, is " presentable " as far as I am concerned.

Anything else is snobbery.

If you're off to an important business pitch do you wear a suit and tie or an old pair of ripped jeans, sandals and a t-shirt?

The employer is paying for the car, they therefore would like it to be reflective of their business. They are not giving the OP £375pcm just so she can pocket the cash and drive an old banger. It's totally common practice in business these days.

JQ.

OP - the job sounds like a fantastic oportunity. I really don't think the car issue is something to worry about. If you're woried about being tied down then possibly steer cleer of leases or car finance. Just get a small personal loan and get a cheap 4 year old runabout. As demonstrated earlier in this thread if it does all go horribly wrong, then you have an asset you can sell, enabling you to repay your debt and walk away debt free. If you end up buying a £3,500-£4,000 car I would imagine you'd make a reasonable profit from from the allowance.

Cars to consider :
Honda Jazz
Toyota Yaris
Fiat Panda
Seat Ibiza
Skoda Fabia
Suzuki Swift
Nissan Micra

If you do buy a car make sure it's got at least 6 months (preferably 12 months) tax and MOT and is not due a service for at least 6 months and has good tyres. That way you avoid any big bills during the probationary period.

As a point of reference, my last company car was costing me £260pcm in tax. I now take the allowance and run a 12 year old car, which whilst old is totally reliable and is considered presentable by the company, so you may be surprised by what they consider presentable. My car is considered presentable because it's a design that has not really aged and is in immaculate condition, so people think it's alot newer than it actually is. Many of the cars listed above probably fall into that catagory - you could get a 7 year old one and so long as it's been well maintained people think it's newer than it actually is. You can pick up a 7 year old Honda Jazz for £2,500 which is unlikely to raise an eyebrows as it will look exactly the same as a 4 year old one. to the untrained eye.

getmore4less

Just keep running the car you have for this first asignment and look for something better.
Get it valeted if it needs a clean.

If it breaks down get a taxi the job is close enough.

If any one says anything you are actively looking.
my mate xxx who nows about cars is helping or whatever

Don't rush into buying something.

For jobs further away you will probably want something better anyway.