Possible Dilemma

[outlaw118]

I've applied for another job -two in fact, one "field based" and another in london Docklands. - About 20 miles - an hour in rush hour.The field based one has a car allowance attached to the benefits package; I'm guessing that it will be an amount that i can spend on a lease deal, ie £400pm ( and hopefully the"change" will go in my pocket").What'll I get for this, and whats recommended. I've never leased a car before, have no idea about tax etc. I should also add, that I'm 6 foot tall and "well upholstered" (120kg at last count, around 19.5 stone).The other job will mean a commute. whilst my Volvo is lovely, it's not the most economical in the world, and parts and servicing ain't cheap. It's done 101k at the mo, so it's only just run in (!), and my Escort Pervertible, 1.8Si on an L has got less miles (87k) and would drink less, but if I rack the miles up on that, will whatever value it has just disappear?ORshould I flog the Volvo, get some readies, and stick the Escort in for sc****ge, and get something new, economical and reliable. And dull.Any thoughts much appreciated.

[Station]

Flog Escort, buy TD motor from the 90's.

[Guest]

and stick the Escort in for sc****ge, and get something new,

Wash your mouth out with soap.......

[outlaw118]

Yes I know the S word is banned on here, but what the hell...its a Escort, theres loads left....

[Pete-M]

I bought an immaculate '97 Xantia TD with 80k on the clock from my local auctions about three years ago for £450.There are still bargains out there, but they're a lot harder to find...

[Mr Lobster]

If you take the job with the car allowance, what conditions do they attach to the allowance? Does the car have to be less than XX years old, 5 door and to a certain specification etc?A lot of companies won't give you £400 a month and then let you run around in a £1000 car...

[Akron]

IMHO buy a new car using the car allowance. I would recommend the Skoda Octavia 1.6 diseasal. Very good on fuel, low tax and very comfortable loads of leg and elbow room. I am 6'2" 17 stone, I did 1000 miles in a day coming home from France in mine, no back pain perfectly comfortable only stopping for fag breaks.

[Father Ted]

Pug 405 NA Dizzler, run it on chip fat and after 5 years retire to Bournemouth.

[r.welfare]

If no strings are attached to your allowance (my experience is that it is often "preferred" that you convert the cash into a car - but the only "strings" such as 4 seats etc I have encountered are if you use the allowance to opt into a company car scheme), the world is your lobster. Of the nicer 90's diesels, the Cit ZX seems to offer a good blend of hardy mechanicals, cheapness and availability, but watch for rust in the inner front wings. Otherwise, have you considered a petrol-powered Toyota Carina E? Unbreakable and very economical to boot.I'd say put together a shortlist of half a dozen possibles and then buy the one with the lowest number of owners and thickest service history. If you're being bunted £400 a month for a car allowance, your employers will not be too chuffed if you buy a shed that is unreliable!

[Milford Cubicle]

Buy a Nissan Primera petrol, they are super reliable and almost as economical as an old-school TD. I fit in them fine and I'm "about" your weight.

[Torsten2001]

Of course there's the superb Rover 218 Diesel

[Guest]

You can get some pretty nice motors for £400, I'd just buy another one each month, rack up a collection of tidy Bluebirds and Carinas etc.

[M'coli]

LPG the Escort!

[VWPowered]

i got my Passat 1.9 TDI for €700 cant go wrong really

[UglyAmerican]

Make it a 405 or 406 then? It won't die.