I've just got an offer from CG technology practice, and am just weighing it up as to whether it's worthwhile leaving my current role for this.They give a certain % of your base salary as flexible benefits and I need to know how much of this roughly would be eaten up by taking the car to decide whether it's worth my while moving.So does anyone know the approximate cost per month of something like a Audi A4 or BMW 3 series through the flexible benefit scheme?Also, I have been told this includes car insurance. Now does this mean my 5 years claims bonus have gone to waste? Or can my no claims bonus be used when insuring my company car through the company?(Don't want to loose my no claims bonus and I believe your no claims bonus expire after 2 years if they are not used?) Any help appreciated.

From what I remember (about 2 years ago) a BMW 3 series basic spec (318d ES with a couple of options) worked out around £350 a month in total once you've taken the BIK into account and think that was for basic rate tax payer.

Pfft, you can get a 10 year old Mondeo in near-perfect condition with only 100K on the clock for around £500. And then you own it outright, too. Why not save your cash? I mean, if you're going for a low-spec car such as a 3-series BMW, you might as well save the cash properly and get a Mondeo. They're nice cars, too. Comfy and reliable.

can't remember exactly the Capgemini package but something like this1. you are / are not allowed a car;if yes2. allowance includes depending on grade but given BMW 3 assuming consultant grade enough for carso if you get 10k flex - 6 would be needed for BMW 3ish leaving 4 for health, pension, bike to work, gym, marriage counselling, lawyer, redundancy protection and death etc etcAs BEP points out if you get your own car then on example above you could take extra 500 quid a month on your wages before tax and use approx 4k insuring yourself for instant death or divorce Isn't life wonderfulDC

can't remember exactly the Capgemini package but something like this1. you are / are not allowed a car;if yes2. allowance includes depending on your grade enough for car but given you mention BMW 3 I am assuming consultant gradeso if you get 10k flex - 6 would be needed for BMW 3ish leaving 4 for health, pension, bike to work, gym, marriage counselling, lawyer, redundancy protection and death etc etcAs BEP points out if you get your own car then on example above you could take extra 500 quid a month on your wages before tax and use approx 4k insuring yourself for instant death or divorce Isn't life wonderfulDC

[quote]Pfft, you can get a 10 year old Mondeo in near-perfect condition with only 100K on the clock for around £500. And then you own it outright, too. Why not save your cash? I mean, if you're going for a low-spec car such as a 3-series BMW, you might as well save the cash properly and get a Mondeo. They're nice cars, too. Comfy and reliable.[/quote]It's what I'd rather do, buy something older but get more choice in what you want without being restricted by lease rates and the horrendous BIK on anything remotely interesting. Plus even with having to fund the maintenance etc yourself it still should save you some cash.Ok so you won't likely be in something brand new, depends if that matters to you or not I guess.Also remember if not taking a company car you can claim tax relief on any difference in your mileage payments between the HMRC recommended rate and what your company actually pays (if they do pay below the HMRC recommended rate).

Yeah, the benefit of a company car is negligible when you compare the dreadful main dealer servicing costs and BIK and depreciation and awful finance arrangements and lack of being able to claim mileage costs against the light-hearted peace of mind you get from being the proud owner of a used Mondeo or similar.Plus it helps with one's blood pressure... if it gets nicked while you're working in Birmingham, who cares? Don't even bother with the insurance, just buy a new one. And if somebody slams a supermarket trolley into it, so what? As opposed to flying into a screaming rage when you find that you got a little chip in the paintwork because a stone flew up and marked the otherwise immaculate paintwork.And if you're worried about what other people will think of your social status, remember it's a case of bigger fool them! And if it really concerns you that much, maybe stick a personalised plate on it or something to hide the age. Short of looking at the number plate, most people can't much tell the difference between a 2 year old car and an 8 year old one anyway.Ah yes, this is definitely the way to go

Hmm, I wonder, what is the use of spending all those late hours in MC roles, if you are thinking twice about a 3-series Work hard, live hard - get that beemer. Old cars are for bushy eyebrow partners :)

Yeah, even the local benefits bums drive around in BMW X5's.As hedgie says, it's nice to know that those 100-hour weeks pay off well, hey? Taking it hard from junior managers in client organisations, not to mention your own back-stabbing colleagues, 100 hours per week, just to pay the monthly finance charge on a 3-series beemer. Has this industry really come to this?