New work car recommendations

[edwardbear]

Hola

I’m looking for some advice on a new to me car. Any help or advice greatly received.

I’ll be travelling between 200-300 miles per week so ideally very economical and bullet proof engine.

Needs to be less than 10 years old

Also needs to be available for allotment duties, so can’t be too precious about the boot.

I’m thinking of some kind of estate or even a pick-up/suv. But conflicted about fuel economy.

I can throw £300-£350 per month at hp but that’s about the max

[ballbagbagins]

How big does it need to be? Kids, dogs, allotment stuff?

[jamesd1972]

Need to go anywhere with a ULEZ ? This is the biggest swing on what will work out ?
James

[ChasR]

Apr 24, 2023 9:26:01 GMT jamesd1972 said:

Need to go anywhere with a ULEZ ? This is the biggest swing on what will work out ?
James

It would limit his age to 7 year old diesels, with Petrols being allowed in beyond the 10 year limit.

Nothing will be truly bulletproof, but you can get things which will last well with good maintenance.

If it were me, I'd be looking at a 2016 onwards Mk7 Golf TDi 2.0. Focus could also be considered, but again, in 2.0 TDCi form.

I'm very tempted to say go for a BMW 320d touring, but the VAG and PSA engines are hardier IMHO.

[welshpug]

vag are only hardy when you stick to 1.9 pd, 2.0 are ok, the newer you go on the CR the worse they get.

[edwardbear]

Dog, no children, allotment duties means carting horse manure from place to place.

The one issues that’s bearing vexing me is that my employed wants to move to completely green vehicles including the ones we get through our jobs. So I could HAVE to get an electric car anyway. However I’ve no idea how they could enforce that.

Part of me is thinking pick up but concerned about fuel economy. Or estate.

[ChasR]

May 5, 2023 6:50:10 GMT welshpug said:

vag are only hardy when you stick to 1.9 pd, 2.0 are ok, the newer you go on the CR the worse they get.

Agreed. If he needs something LEZ compliant however, it will rule out all PDs.

The other problem with PD cars is

-They're old ; On B5.5 Passats, more and more stuff is becoming NLA, and rust is setting into them in pricey places (sills etc.)
-They're normally quite leggy on the mileage, which isn't always a bad thing

[edwardbear]

London will be a regular trip I make. So yes ULEZ would be preferable.

[duggers]

If it's going to be utilitarian consider an MPV. There are the car derived van type from the likes of FIAT/Peugeot/Citroen/VW/Ford etc. Or one of the standard ones that are post 2015 diesel or petrol that meet ULEZ.

Also you could point out to your employer that electric vehicles with a decent (that's a lie as well) range produce more CO2 in production that an ICE vehicle of the same size due to the battery production and the elctricity to recharge mostly comes from carbon powered sources so not really greener after all.

[edwardbear]

I doubt they’d listen.

[stealthstylz]

May 7, 2023 10:21:48 GMT duggers said:

If it's going to be utilitarian consider an MPV. There are the car derived van type from the likes of FIAT/Peugeot/Citroen/VW/Ford etc. Or one of the standard ones that are post 2015 diesel or petrol that meet ULEZ.

Also you could point out to your employer that electric vehicles with a decent (that's a lie as well) range produce more CO2 in production that an ICE vehicle of the same size due to the battery production and the elctricity to recharge mostly comes from carbon powered sources so not really greener after all.

Aye because oil magically appears from the ground and gets converted to lovely lovely petrol without using any energy whatsoever.

Something with the Euro 5 version of the Peugeot DW10 would be my choice, so PSA 2.0 HDi and Ford 2.0 TDCi. Euro 6 version is terrible though.

[joem83]

You can get a 2017 Honda Jazz 1.3 petrol for under £8k, that would give you 4 years of motoring before you have to change to a newer car.

Great on fuel, it's a Honda so it will work, no turbo & not too many emissions things on them that will go wrong.

[jamesd1972]

I’d get a copy of the company car policy for cars used for business use in writing.
Sounds suspiciously like they might want to pay lower businesses miles rates for electric cars which don’t currently cover the cost of buying/running one.
If they pay less than 45p/ mile I think you can claim back on your taxes but as with all things tax this will be a pain.
The compromise might be a hybrid but not cheap in current market. Toyota hybrids are pretty bombproof but not as economical as a diesel out of town.
James

[edwardbear]

I think there’s some truth in this. We’ve recently had a review of the pence per mile rebate and the electric is pitiful. Even the petrol and diesel is only up to 5000 miles I believe, which I’d imagine I’d surpass easily.

I can’t really afford a car through their car scheme. But when you weigh up the pros and cons of electric through work and getting my own hybrid it seems fairly even. Except I’d have an asset paid for by work at the end of getting my own.

[dodgerover]

May 6, 2023 9:01:08 GMT edwardbear said:

Dog, no children, allotment duties means carting horse manure from place to place.

The one issues that’s bearing vexing me is that my employed wants to move to completely green vehicles including the ones we get through our jobs. So I could HAVE to get an electric car anyway. However I’ve no idea how they could enforce that.

Part of me is thinking pick up but concerned about fuel economy. Or estate.

Suggest they read up about the benefits of LPG rather than getting rid of perfectly good vehicles and creating more pollution building another that really isn't needed?

[ChasR]

May 10, 2023 22:34:17 GMT dodgerover said:

May 6, 2023 9:01:08 GMT edwardbear said:

Dog, no children, allotment duties means carting horse manure from place to place.

The one issues that’s bearing vexing me is that my employed wants to move to completely green vehicles including the ones we get through our jobs. So I could HAVE to get an electric car anyway. However I’ve no idea how they could enforce that.

Part of me is thinking pick up but concerned about fuel economy. Or estate.

Suggest they read up about the benefits of LPG rather than getting rid of perfectly good vehicles and creating more pollution building another that really isn't needed?

They produce more CO under certain conditions (medium throttle), so even that isn't as clear cut.

By the same token, diesels are cleaner in some areas, over a petrol, but dirtier in others (NOx being the big one, along with particulate matter). Motorbikes are cleaner in most areas, bar NOx, where they can be much worse, but then, bikes aren't idling forever in town, especially if folks let them filter, there is less debris from tyres and brake pads etc., as well as less damage inflicted on the roads, which again, all helps in reducing traffic and 'pollution'.

In short, there is more than 1 way to skin a cat.

There's no denying that newer Euro based cars are alot cleaner than cars from the pre-Euro days.

Most companies and councils for taxis will have rules in around what is acceptable and what not. Even 8 years ago, when I was in the driving game, the rules were as follows:

10 years ago:

-Cars need to be less than 5 years old when first used.

8 years ago:
-Cars need to be less than 5 years old when first used.
-Cars need to be removed off the driver at 8 years old, unless the car is in exceptional condition.

Granted, those rules were there so folks couldn't put any old curse word on, but again, I suppose it's setup nicely for LEZs hitting places inadvertently .

Alot of employers are now chasing 'greener' targets. That's not just having cleaner cars, but making things more cleanly. Even my E91 has more 'recycled' components in the making of the dashboard. Most OEMs now have vinyl which has more recycled material, which looks alot like a Leatherette.

On new cars, and the production of them, Euro 7 now includes things like brake pad dust etc in the mix, just to see the goals folks have to chase.

Paintshops have a very hard role to play for OEMs and manufacturers, as VOCs being emitted come part and parcel of this. Any little thing done to improve this is seen as a win

[akku]

You're not going to win a green argument because everyone has already taken sides and won't listen to the other. You may as well try tell them who to vote for or whether there is a God or not (and indeed which one)

Check the company car policy, and see how best that works out for you. I had to run a "less than 5 year old executive or business class car - unless age is hidden by use of a private registration" at a previous place of work so I got a 6 or 7 year old Chrysler 300C and stuck a private plate on it. In many respects not one of my greater decissions, but hey. They hated it, and I pointed out it met the rules, and I liked it, mostly.

My current company requires me to "provide a vehicle suitable for business use" and I currently "work drive" a 1969 Mercury Marquis

"suitable" has also included a 1960 Rover P4 and a 1992 Lincoln Towncar

The thing is if you are funding it yourself, even with employer contribution, you have to *like* it. I made the mistake of buying a car once for work which was all about the advice of other people, the ticking particular boxes, the best deal on paper and I ended up hating the thing.

Get a decent liner for the boot and the bags of manure shouldn't be such an issue?

How do you feel about pickups? ULEZ is not something I properly understand so this may mess with that idea. Theres some neat JDM stuff available on that.