tenet wrote:

It all used to be so simple with a company car - Cortina, Marina or a Cavalier and if you were really lucky a sunshine roof

I can remember the day my Cavalier Sri was delivered to the office. It had red plastic strips in the bumper and sort of check cloth seat backs , oh , how jealous was the Engineering Manager who could only have the 1.8 GL  2009 GS Auto Zermatt Silver - Sold June 21 after 10 years of ownership

2016 Subaru Outback SE 2.0 diesel SE Premium Lineartronic Sold 2024 after 8 years and 80k miles . Best Car I ever owned !

2023 Toyota Hilux invincible X 2.8 Auto .

Wouldn't you have been in to the early Sierra's after the Escort?

My first company "car" was a 1983 A reg Nissan Sunny van; your Escort was way above my pay grade!

Hi,
Escort then a Cortina Crusader (a run off motor similar to the Freelander metropolis-loaded with everything they had in the stores) then onto an early Sierra-Green,1.6 5 door-hated it!  Hit it he said, Hit it!--So I hit it, then he hit me---Doh!

MartynB wrote:

tenet wrote:

It all used to be so simple with a company car - Cortina, Marina or a Cavalier and if you were really lucky a sunshine roof

I can remember the day my Cavalier Sri was delivered to the office. It had red plastic strips in the bumper and sort of check cloth seat backs , oh , how jealous was the Engineering Manager who could only have the 1.8 GL

Back when SRI actually meant something and looked much more visually appealing with red stripes and badges.
Todays bland Vectra SRI is just a trim level

I'll take a Marina Estate 1.8 SDL in Sandglow (beige)

maffy wrote:

Hi,
Escort then a Cortina Crusader (a run off motor similar to the Freelander metropolis-loaded with everything they had in the stores) then onto an early Sierra-Green,1.6 5 door-hated it!

I remember the Crusader! Did you ever see the wonderful Arena program, "The Private Life of the Ford Cortina"? Essential viewing on YouTube if you haven't Look out for the phrase "some poxy hatchback!"

discofan wrote:

MartynB wrote:

tenet wrote:

It all used to be so simple with a company car - Cortina, Marina or a Cavalier and if you were really lucky a sunshine roof

I can remember the day my Cavalier Sri was delivered to the office. It had red plastic strips in the bumper and sort of check cloth seat backs , oh , how jealous was the Engineering Manager who could only have the 1.8 GL

Back when SRI actually meant something and looked much more visually appealing with red stripes and badges.
Todays bland Vectra SRI is just a trim level

I'll take a Marina Estate 1.8 SDL in Sandglow (beige)

People say that we're badge snobs now with brands but, back in the day, the status difference between having a 1.6 L or a 1.6 GL wasn't so much a matter of life, or death; it was way more important than that!

Exactly,
the slightest thing bought out the greenest eyes- remember the Ford Quadrophonic joy stick to balance your speakers- Load of crap, but if your motor came with one, well!!!

Mind you, Green eyes have not changed at all over the years!!!!!!

I might be mid-fifties, Bald, cynical and an old git, but I can honestly say jealousy has never been part of my life- wastes too much time, coveting your neighbours chattels, they usually have ridiculous loans, mortgages and credit card debt-me I owe no one anything, that way I can be a miserable, cynical old git with a smile on my chops!!!  Hit it he said, Hit it!--So I hit it, then he hit me---Doh!

excellent!!

PS: Yes, I remember the joy stick!

Tigger,
Just looked up the Ford Cortina on YouTube, fantastic, quite nostalgic, love the old fashioned levels of vehicle status, no extra's just the basic ford model you were given dependant on your paygrade/level- good old times.

I know company cars are a fairly rare thing, but still works for me, wouldn't have it any other way.
Jealousy from others on "new Contracts" who have to supply their own motors and claim mileage. on the other hand I pay a load of tax in every way but have no car worries in that respect, all costs are deducted at source via PAYE and HMRC , I have no repairs, maintenance, tyres, fuel to worry about on a daily basis---bliss!

Long may it continue I say.

Bring back public floggings and hangings I say!!!!!!!

Oh yes, The joystick, I NEVER got it balanced correctly and if you were driving at the time it was impossible  Hit it he said, Hit it!--So I hit it, then he hit me---Doh!

The day of judgment will finally come for all you company car beneficiaries - retirement, incomes slashed, money purchase pensions not living up to your expectations so enjoy whilst you can and don't get sniffy about old bangers.

Only joking but many a true word spoken in jest

Talking Cortina- my mate, back in the 60's, had a bronze 1600e with a black vinyl roof. The dogs dangle bits and a great bird puller and what about the Lotus Cortina real porn to a sexually frustrated 21year old. MY 09 GS manual in Lago Grey, Wood Co arm rest and side bumper strips - now sold.

MY 15 SD4 SE Auto Orkney Grey with colour coded Bumper Door Mouldings

I ran my first FL2 as a company car, which was great but, to have kept with a company car, it would have needed to be under 129g and even worse than that, a 320d touring!! Me, in a doll's house of a car!

I've been on pence per mile, with my own car (two FL2's and two D4's), ever since. Company cars can still make sense, but not if your choice of car is completely stupid, like mine is

The company car tax on my current D4 would be £770 per month, with the fuel benefit being a further £278 per month!!! A total of £1,048, before my employer also gets robbed by HMRC for supplying a car over 129g

It still may be worth checking you tax liability on taking free private fuel, as HMRC usually make wildly inaccurate assumptions (in their favour) about the amount of private fuel you use. Try using this link:

http://comcar.co.uk/fuel/benefit/

By my calculations, a driver of a 129g diesel would need to do slightly > 16,000 private miles a year for the HMRC assumptions to be legitimate

Hi Tigger,
Don't have a problem per se with pence per mileage, what I do have a problem with is the A-B, B-C mileage reporting that is required by HMRC- I find it too time consuming, Whist I do many long journeys, most of my work when I arrive is based on very small distances and I could fill two A4 mileage reports a day- not happening I'm afraid.-unless it becomes compulsory.

But then, who knows in the future, the freelander is 185 Co2 which costs me just shy of £1000 per month, whereas the new evoque I am after is 135 C02 which would set me back about £750 a month, still a lot, but for me to buy, maintain, buy tyres etc is still a good deal for me.

Tenet, I am not immune to car costs, my wife has her own (new) car and we are responsible for buying, insuring maintaining that, so when the day of judgement comes we will have a nice set of wheels-hopefully.

What's a pension?

I am not ken Dodd with a wardrobe full of white fivers but tend to put our money is very low risk places, building Society accounts- low return at the moment though, but that will change in due course once the world gets back on an even keel
I remember when you could retire to the country on £100,000 and live in quite some luxury- doesn't seem that long ago (even though it is in reality)

Unless I am a complete Dipshit (very possible) will keep plugging away and keep putting the odd shilling by.

Cortina 1600E, bronze, Black roof!!!! Dreams were made of this car.  Hit it he said, Hit it!--So I hit it, then he hit me---Doh!

What I meant to say re the Cortina 1600 E was not only was it a car that dreams were made of, I suspect quite a few families were made in them too!!!!!

ooh, er Missus!!  Hit it he said, Hit it!--So I hit it, then he hit me---Doh!

The mileage reporting is a pain, but all the HMRC needs can be compressed down to one A4 spreadsheet per month and it does mean that I can choose exactly what I want and when I want to change it, without having to refer to anyone!

Will your company be okay with exceeding the 129g barrier?

Used to go to many of the 1600E events with an E owning friend in the early to mid '80's, so when a Director once told me that he had one "but I probably hadn't heard of them", it turns out that I knew them better than he did!

Hi Tigger,
Have I missed something? what is the 129g barrier, is it new or something ongoing? please tell me and I will bow to your superior knowledge-then look it up!!!

I only look at what the car & fuel will cost me, leave the rest to the bean counters at the office!

They happily signed off on the Freelander metro! 2 years ago and my boss told me it was cheaper than my old C Class 136g! merc!! I found that hard to believe to be honest, but was so pleased to get the freelander-never took his statement up with him.

Please don't dash my dreams of getting the Evoque I have chosen, as from my end I save over £200 a month

Normal procedure though, if it's official-leave it to the accountants, bank etc etc etc The WIFE!!!  Hit it he said, Hit it!--So I hit it, then he hit me---Doh!