Car for business use. Need help deciding

Elika0215

I'm looking at moving jobs and need to buy a car as it's essential to the role.

Considerations;

1. The journeys I make will be short. I'd be covering a radius of about 10 miles and will be meeting patients at their homes. At first, I'll be driving about 30 miles per day. This is expected to increase to about 40 over the next 6 months.

2. The car needs to be safe, clean and reliable.

3. Brand/image doesn't matter to me. Neither does size or performance.

4. Low fuel consumption is highly desirable although I'm willing to sacrifice this if the car I buy is significantly cheaper to purchase. For example, a less desirable car that does 35 mpg for £2000 is better than a more fuel efficient car with a badge that does 40 mpg for £3000

Price wise, I can spend up to about £6k but this is where I'd like advice.

Do I max out my budget and buy a car that ticks all the boxes or go for something cheaper, that's still reliable but may need replacing in say, 5 years instead of longer?

I've tried to be as comprehensive as possible but please let me know if there are other factors I need to consider.

Finally, suggestions on make, models, age etc...would be appreciated, especially if you have/had similar needs for a vehicle.

Thank you so much.

foxy-stoat

So you need a small petrol engined car.

Corsa, Fiesta, Polo, Fabia, 107, 206, C1 or C2, Aygo, Yaris, i10 or i20....there will be others.

I cannot think of a new car that was produced in the UK that was unsafe....all cars need to be cleaned.
Research the small car you like the look of and in your budget to see if they have issues.

Spend £5,000, keep £1,000 back and spend on servicing and maintenance.

No diesels, try and find a 1 owner car from a private seller, low mileage and good service history.

AdrianC

Elika0215 wrote: »

1. The journeys I make will be short. I'd be covering a radius of about 10 miles and will be meeting patients at their homes. At first, I'll be driving about 30 miles per day. This is expected to increase to about 40 over the next 6 months.

Don't buy a diesel.
And make sure your insurance covers business use.

2. The car needs to be safe, clean and reliable.

That's up to how you maintain it.

Do I max out my budget and buy a car that ticks all the boxes or go for something cheaper, that's still reliable but may need replacing in say, 5 years instead of longer?

Five years is considerably longer than typical in the UK - the average car is scrapped at 13yrs, and has 4 owners in its life, so just over 3yrs average ownership.

Bigphil1474

OP, I average about 40 miles a day within a 20 mile radius from my office - including commute. I have a petrol fiesta which is 10 years old, had it for about 4 years, one previous owner, well maintained by them and me. Expect to keep it until it dies of old age. No issues. I bought it when it was 6 years old for £5k. Something similar should suit you. As others have said, petrol is better as you are doing lots of short journeys. Agree with foxy, keep £1k back for motoring emergencies.
Consider what your employer pays in motoring expenses as well. I get a lump sum (£80 a month) and 41p a mile. That easily covers all my normal motoring costs, although there's the initial outlay. Then consider your actual job/life - do you need a decent size boot for example. I have a bit of kit to carry round but it fits in a fiesta boot okay. If you have a big bit of kit you might need bigger boot.
You need to think about your view on your item 4. For petrol, 30 mpg will cost roughly 18p/mile, 40 mpg will be 14p a mile (roughly based on £1.25 a litre). At 40 miles a day that's £1.60 a day difference, £8 a week - over a typical working year that's about £350 a year. If the car costs you an extra £1k, but saves you £350 a year, after 3 years you are better off with the more expensive car - all other things being equal. My old fiesta does a real-life 45mpg for urban, and I can eek it up to 60mpg on long motorway journeys.

Elika0215

foxy-stoat wrote: »

So you need a small petrol engined car...

AdrianC wrote: »

...

Bigphil1474 wrote: »

..

Fantastic advice. Thank you so much. I was going to make notes but in case it helps someone else, will bullet point all useful information.

-Petrol
-Keep some of the budget (£1k in my case) for emergency maintenance and repairs
-Look for 1 owner, service history, low mileage
-Private sale is cheaper
-Business car insurance
-Check employer mileage contribution (think it's 40p pm)
-Practical fit for purpose (boot size, passenger comfort as may be giving lifts to people who have limited mobility)
-If fuel consumption difference between vehicles > 5 mpgs, then worth considering paying more if the more efficient vehicle is more expensive.

Awesome. This will really help me with my decision on what to go for

AdrianC

Elika0215 wrote: »

-Keep some of the budget (£1k in my case) for emergency maintenance and repairs

Not "emergency maintenance". If something breaks, then your maintenance was lacking, because it should have picked up on it first.

Owain_Moneysaver

Elika0215 wrote: »

passenger comfort as may be giving lifts to people who have limited mobility)

Check how wide the doors open. If they don't open wide enough (taking into account storage pockets etc) it can be harder to get in/out using a walking frame or wheelchair.

And if you are carrying passengers as part of your work that needs to be specially agreed with your insurers.

vansboy

You mention patients, so is there a scheme that your employer might have links to get you a NEW car, on an attractive lease deal?


An outreach carer I know has £175 deducted each month for her car - choice of various small models - and all costs are covered.


Otherwise, a good used choice, might be worth looking at Kia Picanto, with 7 years warranty from new, you will still have some peace of mind left, if you buy from a main dealer. and keep it serviced by them.



https://www.victorwood.co.uk/used-cars/9611476-kia-picanto-1.25-2/



And don't frget to allow for breakdown cover. The popular choice, instead of AA/RAC has recently increased in price, but still very good value, £60 each year.

https://autoaidbreakdown.co.uk/


Although some makes (Ford do) offer cover, included with the price of a service. You may all ready have it with your bank account, too.


VB

mobileron

Check out Hyundi I10 also Skoda Fabia both very reliable and low cost.

System

Elika0215 wrote: »

-If fuel consumption difference between vehicles > 5 mpgs, then worth considering paying more if the more efficient vehicle is more expensive.

About that. With the mileage you do it isn't going to be the issue you think, I'd certainly be only worried if the MPG difference is at least 10MPG.

The difference in MPG between my Mondeo that does around 55MPG and my MX5 which does around 37MPG over the 17,000 miles a year I do it costs me £880 more if I do it all in the lMX5 compared to doing the whole 17,000 miles in the Mondeo. Over the 10,000 miles a year you're going to be doing you're looking at maybe £500 if there was a difference of 17MPG like there is with my two cars.

gord115

Suzuki Celerio. Mega economy,very reliable.