Omega Owners Forum
Chat Area => General Car Chat => Topic started by: Viral_Jim on 13 October 2015, 15:59:16
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So, I'm starting a new job in 2016 which will unfortunately mean that the omega will be retired from executive chauffeuring duties. I am planning to stave off the change for a few months but ultimately something new has to come along. My budget is pretty healthy as I'll be borrowing to fund it and would like to treat myself - I've never run a car that's less than about 10 years old before.
My Criteria:
1. Must be big (5-series ish big) - I'll be doing about 20k per year and I'm a fat barsteward big chap (6'1" and 20 stone).
2. Must be comfortable - see above
3. Must be 4-5 years old or less - I'm planning on doing the job 3yrs ish and the car scheme stipulates that a car must be less than 8yrs old, I'd consider a private plate to mask the age to push it for a while if I had to.
4. Must be a 4 seater - kids (2) are in the plan and SWMBO isn't going to give the green light to a sporty 2 seater number.
Where things get interesting is that the company operates HMRC's Advisory Fuel Rate Policy, meaning that the amount I get paid per mile varies according to the fuel I use and the cc of the car.
| CC | Petrol (p/mile) | Diesel (p/mile) |
| <1400 | 11 | 9 |
| 14-2000 | 14 | 11 |
| >2000 | 21 | 13 |
So, diesels actually fair really badly under this scheme, for example, a 520d auto doing 46mpg actually costs me 1.5p a mile in fuel, whereas a 535i doing 31 mpg on the same route pays 5.5p per mile. This example would translate to nearly £1,500 per year difference running the big Gas guzzler.
The point of all of this is I would like some left-field suggestions on cars I might not have considered as all my thinking up to today has been geared around looking at diesels.
So far I am struggling to think of anything much better than this. (http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201509237169507?postcode=tw89de&page=1&sort=atcustom&make=bmw&search-target=usedcars&onesearchad=used%2Cnearlynew%2Cnew&maximum-age=up_to_5_years_old&radius=1500&keywords=535i&logcode=p)
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Go 7 series/S class if you want to do the job properly...
S350 would be my preference for running costs/passenger comfort... if you need load space then an E class estate but you'll struggle to find a petrol one :-\
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Cue dozens of pointless answers. You know what you want/need/like.
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I'd prefer this with that kind of budget...
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201508146050178?fuel-type=diesel&postcode=tw89de&maximum-age=up_to_5_years_old&page=2&maximum-mileage=up_to_50000_miles&model=cls&make=mercedes-benz&onesearchad=used%2Cnearlynew%2Cnew&search-target=usedcars&radius=1500&sort=default&logcode=p (http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201508146050178?fuel-type=diesel&postcode=tw89de&maximum-age=up_to_5_years_old&page=2&maximum-mileage=up_to_50000_miles&model=cls&make=mercedes-benz&onesearchad=used%2Cnearlynew%2Cnew&search-target=usedcars&radius=1500&sort=default&logcode=p)
Or stretch the budget a tad to this...
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201507115117864?postcode=tw89de&page=1&model=xj&sort=default&maximum-mileage=up_to_50000_miles&fuel-type=diesel&make=jaguar&search-target=usedcars&onesearchad=used%2Cnearlynew%2Cnew&maximum-age=up_to_5_years_old&radius=1500&logcode=p (http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201507115117864?postcode=tw89de&page=1&model=xj&sort=default&maximum-mileage=up_to_50000_miles&fuel-type=diesel&make=jaguar&search-target=usedcars&onesearchad=used%2Cnearlynew%2Cnew&maximum-age=up_to_5_years_old&radius=1500&logcode=p)
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Cue dozens of pointless answers. You know what you want/need/like.
Very true, however, that doesn't mean I've thought of everything that's out there - a CLS for instance is worth a look and one I hadn't thought of.
Harris S or a 7 series is interesting, sadly I've been in too many German taxis to consider an E-class, just brings to mind cheesy 80's rock and staring at the back of a blonde mullet ;).
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Cue dozens of pointless answers. You know what you want/need/like.
Very true, however, that doesn't mean I've thought of everything that's out there - a CLS for instance is worth a look and one I hadn't thought of.
Harris S or a 7 series is interesting, sadly I've been in too many German taxis to consider an E-class, just brings to mind cheesy 80's rock and staring at the back of a blonde mullet ;).
I prefer the older shape to the latest ones, but the later ones come with 250 CDI.
They are very frugal and still have quite a rapid pace :y
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:o
Get a Micra. If they moan about you turning up at clients in that, tell them "well, about your fuel rate policy....".
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Thinking so left field that you could become a labour leader...
A fully optioned Tesla P85S Model S is just over a grand a month to buy with sod all deposit*, full running costs are £1695 pm including really expensive electricity, insurance, servicing (such as it is), tyres and of course the car. About £100 a month more than running an E220 Cdi Estate.
Assumes 60k per year.
Highlights include 100% offset in the first year, free charging for life at all Tesla Supercharger stations, 8 year unlimited mile warranty (car and battery) and not to mention the phenomenal value retention.
* Requires a £2,000 deposit to order it.
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60K is a big assumption.
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True enough Steve, but lower mileage then means lower running costs... Purchase and insurance costs won't reduce though as the car is being used commercially and vehicle cost is fixed.
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Just wondering how you'd charge (sorry) your employer for electrickery. :-\
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LPG! :y Get something that's already converted or buy something and get it converted, then claim the petrol allowance! ;) :y
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Just wondering how you'd charge (sorry) your employer for electrickery. :-\
Surely a foreword thinking organisation like HMRC will have pence-per-mile tables for electric cars.. No?
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Harris, you and I must be on very similar wavelength as I've devoted a considerable amount of time to man-maths'ing a Model S. However there are a few issues which I just can't overcome.
-Per the tesla site, the P85d is £1039pcm over 4yrs but requires £19,074 down payment 8) (bottom of the grey "finance" box - where did you see the no deposit bit?
-a number of my trips are outside of the Tesla's range (Carlisle for example) so supercharging, although free could become a pain.
-STEMO tougher on this, no way to charge mileage to my employer - HMRC doesn't recognise electricity as a "fuel" in the context of AFR, although if I could convince the company t charge the car for me (highly unlikely) there would be no BIK charge for this.
I had contemplated waiting until 2017 for the model 3 though! Buying a crapper in the meantime.
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Octavia vRS, petrol, newish?
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Just wondering how you'd charge (sorry) your employer for electrickery. :-\
Surely a foreword thinking organisation like HMRC will have pence-per-mile tables for electric cars.. No?
By foreword do you mean forward or foreskin? ;D
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http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Audi-A6-Saloon-2-8-V6-FSI-Multitronic-2011MY-S-Line-/151793408520?hash=item2357979a08
Add a couple of grand for fitting a decent LPG system and job jobbed. :y
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http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Audi-A6-Saloon-2-8-V6-FSI-Multitronic-2011MY-S-Line-/151793408520?hash=item2357979a08
Add a couple of grand for fitting a decent LPG system and job jobbed. :y
You'd have to have indicators fitted as well.
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http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Audi-A6-Saloon-2-8-V6-FSI-Multitronic-2011MY-S-Line-/151793408520?hash=item2357979a08
Add a couple of grand for fitting a decent LPG system and job jobbed. :y
You'd have to have indicators fitted as well.
No need, he'd soon get used to driving without them! ;) ;D
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http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Audi-A6-Saloon-2-8-V6-FSI-Multitronic-2011MY-S-Line-/151793408520?hash=item2357979a08
Add a couple of grand for fitting a decent LPG system and job jobbed. :y
You'd have to have indicators fitted as well.
No need, he'd soon get used to driving without them! ;) ;D
Of course, silly me.
He'd still have to have a personality transplant though. :P
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http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Audi-A6-Saloon-2-8-V6-FSI-Multitronic-2011MY-S-Line-/151793408520?hash=item2357979a08
Add a couple of grand for fitting a decent LPG system and job jobbed. :y
If you're going down that road, you could go with a coughsplutterburpretchcough Superb... Trouble is the only decent petrol one is the 3.6 and that sounds like a diesel ::)
Petrol Jag Xf should be worthy of consideration too :y
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Jag xf petrol or vxr8. Both large cars, comfortable, and the jag can be had in sport estate :y
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Jag xf petrol or vxr8. Both large cars, comfortable, and the jag can be had in sport estate :y
Estate is diesel only ;)
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Jag xf petrol or vxr8. Both large cars, comfortable, and the jag can be had in sport estate :y
Estate is diesel only ;)
Or in XFR guise. A boy can dream! 8)
Another great shout on the XF lpg, seems 3.0v6's can be had cheaply! Would need to research on lpg, the x-type v6 (which I'm guessing is the same engine, or closely related at least) was notorious for Valve seat recession.
VXR8 is also very much of interest :D
Top ideas chaps :). I think a VAG group car would have to be pretty special to turn my head, I just don't find the interiors "special" enough for the premium they command over, say a Ford. Jag and BMW interiors are much more up my alley.
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What modern petrols like LPG? Ie not needing flashlube
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Very true. But some tinternet reports indicate VSR with flash lube in place. Not sure if this is lpg scaremongering or bad set ups.
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Gm v8 takes lpg well :y
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Gm v8 takes lpg well :y
I think can be factory fit too.
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Must admit having done the Diesel thing and played with LPG for the last 8 years, my views would be a half decent car with LPG .
On the GM V8 LPG thing, your probably find they will return a better MPG than any V6 Omega running gas.
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What modern petrols like LPG? Ie not needing flashlube
Why is flashlube such a concern? Fitted and calibrated correctly it is no major concern, just another fluid to check when doing the fluid checks ;)
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Must admit having done the Diesel thing and played with LPG for the last 8 years, my views would be a half decent car with LPG .
On the GM V8 LPG thing, your probably find they will return a better MPG than any V6 Omega running gas.
See, it's funny... I've done diesel and had LPG cars for approaching 10 years now and I'm not sure I would go to the trouble of LPG on the next one :-\
I value the boot space and a tank, even in the wheel well, reduces that (if you want to have a spare) so I will probably go back to diesel when the time comes... Assuming I can find a car I actually like! Still not found a decent alternative to the Omega yet ::)
Although I'm likely to go back to a 4x4 so Rangie is likely.
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Must admit having done the Diesel thing and played with LPG for the last 8 years, my views would be a half decent car with LPG .
On the GM V8 LPG thing, your probably find they will return a better MPG than any V6 Omega running gas.
See, it's funny... I've done diesel and had LPG cars for approaching 10 years now and I'm not sure I would go to the trouble of LPG on the next one :-\
I value the boot space and a tank, even in the wheel well, reduces that (if you want to have a spare) so I will probably go back to diesel when the time comes... Assuming I can find a car I actually like! Still not found a decent alternative to the Omega yet ::)
Although I'm likely to go back to a 4x4 so Rangie is likely.
Think its horses for course LD, and what the cars being used for, bombing around the Country on your own as a Sales Rep with an empty boot vs Engineer with an Estate full of tools and shite on board. :-\
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Think its horses for course LD, and what the cars being used for, bombing around the Country on your own as a Sales Rep with an empty boot vs Engineer with an Estate full of tools and shite on board.
This is very true, for me boot space is not really a concern, we'll retain the Omega estate for carrying big stuff and if we do want to take the car on family holidays at some point in the future, I'll get hold of a roof box.