[Tengocity]

I recently changed job (within same company) and went from an office based role to a field based role managing a team which covers a geography ranging from Cornwall across to Lincoln, including Wales, but excluding London and the South east. Since then my business mileage per month has gone from maybe 200 miles per month plus 800 on muting miles to about 1800 miles. I do also cover a lot of personal miles visiting family in Scotland and Europe, and so looking at around 30-35k miles this year.
As I'm already opted out of the car scheme and in a pcp I'm doing all these miles on my own car, though will claim a lot of tax relief along the way.
On one hand I feel that the high miles means having a nice car is even more important than before, but on the hand it does seem at times a waste of such a nice car to be using it so hard as business tool.
I've noticed too that I've stopped washing it so much by hand and using the local hand car wash.... So really seems that high usage of a car for work has dulled the sense of it being a prized possession and a treat.
Interested to hear how others view their car?

[ZeroFx]

This is why i went for the 530D.

Good MPG/Power/Comfort/Value

I get my car washed by mobile valet every 2 weeks for £20 inside and out and he does a good job.

[Quantox]

After "temporarily" lending my Legacy 3.0R to my son, I was left with my good lady's Qubo wheelchair adapted "car" to use as a personal vehicle. It's great for its utilitarian purpose but with rock hard susp. and no sound deadening on the lowered floor it grates on you after a while. Hence my recent acquisition of the 330dx. It's only used for local trips, so is a totally unnecessary vehicle in real terms but it's great to take it for a blast now and again.

Cheers

Q

[Nick the Greek]

I agree Terry.

If you're out repping and therefore putting large miles on your car it is easy for it to become a 'tool of the trade'. Inevitably, it will also pick up knocks, scratches and stone chips on the way lessening the special feeling.

TBH. If I was putting that kind of miles on a car, I'd be tempted to spend, say, ten grand on a Vectra, which is a great long distance car, and tuck an Aerial Atom up in the garage safe in the knowledge it is effectively depreciation proof, whilst being more fun that Kelly Brook in a bath full of custard and smarties.

[JustChris]

Fir me the only part that is business tool is, it must start every day and must be under warranty. After that the gloves are off for me, spend so long in it has to be nice.

Doubt there would be a 'normal' set of responses from a forum.

[leon1984]

Mine has to do both, albeit limited mileage at around 8k a year, split 50/50 business/personal.

I've never fussed over cars though, polish army can clean them, swirl it right up and I couldn't care. It's a tool, can provide some fun and I get a nice one because... Well I kinda have too due to work image more than anything!

My bikes were immaculate though and I could spend hours cleaning them

[Tengocity]

Originally Posted by Nick the Greek

I agree Terry.

If you're out repping and therefore putting large miles on your car it is easy for it to become a 'tool of the trade'. Inevitably, it will also pick up knocks, scratches and stone chips on the way lessening the special feeling.

TBH. If I was putting that kind of miles on a car, I'd be tempted to spend, say, ten grand on a Vectra, which is a great long distance car, and tuck an Aerial Atom up in the garage safe in the knowledge it is effectively depreciation proof, whilst being more fun that Kelly Brook in a bath full of custard and smarties.

But spending so much time in the car, actually using all the features actually makes it even more important that it's a great car!

Thankfully I can drive to meet one of my reps, park my car somewhere safe, and poodle around with them, thus avoiding the car park lottery several times a day!

But I now think it will be even more important for me to get that weekend toy again though.

[Tengocity]

Originally Posted by Chris The Manx

Fir me the only part that is business tool is, it must start every day and must be under warranty. After that the gloves are off for me, spend so long in it has to be nice.

Doubt there would be a 'normal' set of responses from a forum.

I know there will be no normal response but interested as to how people see their cars. On this forum it's more enthusiasts so probably not a typical cross section of the public though.

[....,,,,..,,..]

It's a business tool, that spends majority of the time (and its miles) doing personnel miles.

Mine lost its 'precious' tag when it was a week old, when 2 little shit bounced a brick of the bonnet.

Been clocking a few miles on the Wife's Peugeot GTI and really love just how driveable that car is, I am actually liking it more than the ST..

However, that 3.0 6 cyl car is really sublime at times.

It will take a lot of thought when I replace it...

[SkyJawa]

I don't see the point of a car being a prized possession any more. You can be careful as you like to keep it pristine (choosing parking places etc) but 90% of the public don't give a shit, car park ding disrespect etc. I like it to look decent, but tbh don't go to town on it any more, it's a car, just a family or work tool, gets an occasional snow foam to keep the worst off, and infrequent full on washes/waxes.

[JustChris]

Originally Posted by Tengocity

I know there will be no normal response but interested as to how people see their cars. On this forum it's more enthusiasts so probably not a typical cross section of the public though.

Agreed. My mileage is around 20-25 so you're really pushing it, need the diesel obviously I'd say. Know what you mean about the creeping in of machine washes etc, was the same even with the M4, it can't get too precious really.

[Wills2]

I spend so much time in my car as I live in Yorkshire but I have a lot of meetings in the SE, so I insist on having a car that can take it all in its stride and deliver me unruffled after 5 hours at the wheel.

I do about 2500 miles a month.

[Tengocity]

Originally Posted by Chris The Manx

Agreed. My mileage is around 20-25 so you're really pushing it, need the diesel obviously I'd say. Know what you mean about the creeping in of machine washes etc, was the same even with the M4, it can't get too precious really.

Jeez 20-25k miles per annum in an M4 was always going to be a short term thing!

The last time I worked it out diesel makes sense at 15-18k and then only gets more one sided the higher you go.

Hats off to you for sticking with petrol.

[Nick the Greek]

Originally Posted by Tengocity

But spending so much time in the car, actually using all the features actually makes it even more important that it's a great car!

Thankfully I can drive to meet one of my reps, park my car somewhere safe, and poodle around with them, thus avoiding the car park lottery several times a day!

But I now think it will be even more important for me to get that weekend toy again though.

So are we in agreement on the Atom?

[Tengocity]

Originally Posted by Wills2

I spend so much time in my car as I live in Yorkshire but I have a lot of meetings in the SE, so I insist on having a car that can take it all in its stride and deliver me unruffled after 5 hours at the wheel.

I do about 2500 miles a month.

Dare I ask what your monthly fuel bill is and monthly payment?!

And there i said a high mileage M car wasn't doable!

[Slipperyshoe]

I'm in exactly the same boat as you Terry. Run a team going from Oxfordshire over to Suffolk and including north london but our projects can be anywhere in the country. 28kish a yr business plus 5kish personal. Visit the local car wash more and more. When I do wash myself I end up depressed at all the stone chips and damage its already picked up at only 10 months. Wish I'd gone for venture shield (as you have!).

Always a dillemma as what to do about a car. I'm actually in a bit of quandary as company just relaxed car policy to allow me up to 3l and INCLUDING petrol! They pay fuel too. Would love to push the boundaries and get an M3 but think I would be too disheartened at the fact that I would constantly be stressed about all the damage.....after all, at the mileage we do any car is worth f all after a few years.

Think I will try (very hard) to keep this for another 2 yrs. As I buy mine cash I will then pick up a 3yr old car (likely m3) and keep for a yr- car has to be 4 yrs or newer.

[gtsussex]

Ironically I think the more miles I do in the car and the more time I spend in it, the more important that it looks after me. I did over 120k in 7 series barges in 3 1/2 yrs. Would it have been cheaper to drive something else? Of course. Wouldn't have changed it for anything though.

I traded down to 335d because I knew my mileage was heading down to 25k a year and having fun was more important than overall refinement. And it is with some head scratching that I find myself in the bizarre predicament where deep down I know that if I replace it, I might well realise that it was (is) one of the best allrounders you can have (especially with my 'options') and I should have just run it into the ground.

The M235i is lovely - wouldn't want it as my everyday car but the wife loves it and really that's all that matters. It's a great car to 'get the papers' on a sunny morning but in reality, it doesn't really set my heart on fire. Suppose that's why I ordered 3-11 (which as it's purely for me, I find hard to justify). Which is why I'm moving towards an M4 and sod whatever mileage I do in it.

The good news Terry is that your car, like mine, has haemorrhaged on depreciation already so now is quite a cheap car per mile now on in. I'm seriously thinking I might well give my car to my no.2 in company if I go for an M4 as it's daft to get rid of it.

PS Fuel bill can't get any worse than when we had Supercharged RR (that wife did 18k a year in) and 750 (that I was doing 1k a week in). I got a bottle of champagne for Christmas from our local petrol station - I kid you not!!! I expect I pretty much paid his mortgage!!!

[MINIBen]

When I first hit the work road, o did 26k in six months in a 308 Sport, which then got swapped for a 308 Allure: gained sat nav but lost leather steering wheel and an arm rest. 15 of us in the team, all with the same car and my protest fell on deaf ears

I'm excited to get my BM, as it's something that I would consider with my own money, and I've chosen it; and I'll spend A LOT of time in it

A few of my colleagues have beef that we should have better cars than we do: more powerful engines, better spec etc due to the miles we cover.

Some people just think a car is a car, and don't even really consider the list; or choose the cheapest tax option

[Tengocity]

Originally Posted by Nick the Greek

So are we in agreement on the Atom?

Nah fuck that, every time I see one of them it seems to be spinning! It's the only thing I worry about when on a track day....

I'd want a car that's usable for road trips as well as light track use. Boxster with a manual box.

[ZeroFx]

i spend more time in car than i do in my own sofa so its got to be a good place to sit.

high miles = fast depreciation so you have to buy right every time you get a new car.

being in a shit vectra is horrible. i know i did it for 12 months before i quit.

[Slipperyshoe]

General view them from us 'high milers' is that we've picked a fantastic all round car. I don't think anyone with a 20k+ mileage can go wrong with a 6pot diesel.

[Tengocity]

Originally Posted by MINIBen

When I first hit the work road, o did 26k in six months in a 308 Sport, which then got swapped for a 308 Allure: gained sat nav but lost leather steering wheel and an arm rest. 15 of us in the team, all with the same car and my protest fell on deaf ears

I'm excited to get my BM, as it's something that I would consider with my own money, and I've chosen it; and I'll spend A LOT of time in it

A few of my colleagues have beef that we should have better cars than we do: more powerful engines, better spec etc due to the miles we cover.

Some people just think a car is a car, and don't even really consider the list; or choose the cheapest tax option

Yeah I have a mate who chooses based only on BIK tax. We think each other's attitudes to cars are completely crazy!