Motivating sales staff is a tricky business; they are the front line and you need to keep them upbeat. They are also very image conscious and their cars represent your company as much as them.
But brand new cars cost a lot of money don’t they? So how about looking at nearly new cars, and putting a corporate number plate on them? Here are Used Car Expert’s top picks:
Why buy?
We have looked at year 2008 because they are basically still new, very low mileage and under warranty, but pick them up at an auction and you will save a huge amount off the list price. Our picks get gradually more expensive to reflect the difference in prestige between the junior sales rep and the regional head of sales. We looked at the small and large ‘family cars’ and ‘sports cars’ segments.
Honda Civic
For the young rep just starting out, here is something that looks cool with a space-age design. But as a business leader, you can't argue with the technology, reliability or build quality. The only draw back is that prices remain high across the range.
Toyota Avensis
For the salesman with a big region or lots of miles to cover, a slightly bigger car with a diesel engine is a must. Regarded as better looking than the older model but having lost none of its strength, the Avensis is an excellent all-rounder. Plus, it’s not a Mondeo.
BMW 3-Series
The head of sales wants respect and wants recognition. The BMW is still the most-craved brand. The 3-Series is expensive and popular but probably worth it. Handling and performance are market-leading. Space and equipment are average.
Volvo C70
For the top salesman of the year, something that looks very glamorous, but costs surprisingly little. A GT car that combines the benefits of a coupe with the fun of a soft top. Very comfortable cruiser.
Which one should I choose?
With the Honda Civic, you want to look at the 1.8 petrol engine because it’s cheaper than diesels to buy and much better drive.
The Toyota really needs to be diesel because the purchase price is not dissimilar to the petrol engine, but will cost a lot less in fuel: As much as £800 for every 10,000 miles infact.
With the BMW, anything less than a 2.0 litre engine just doesn’t deliver the smooth quality that your head of sales has earned. Hopefully, now he is managing the team more and on the road less, the extra money on fuel won’t be too noticeable. Equally, there’s no point buying a car for open road driving like the C70 and putting a clattering diesel in it.
What sort of price should I pay?
If you are looking to buy from a dealer or auction, these are the models that have been traded in early from fleets. So they are suitable for corporate work. They are also the models that show some of the highest depreciation for their first 12 months on the road that we can find – saving your business a fortune. These are Used Car Expert’s target prices:
A 2008 Honda Civic i-VTEC SE 1.8 with average mileage of around 8,120 should be between £10,762 and £12,181, having suffered over 32% depreciation over the last 12 months.
A 2008 Toyota Avensis D-4D T 2.0 with average mileage of around 13,023 should be between £9,124 and £10,027, having suffered over 41% depreciation over the last 12 months.
A 2008 BMW 3-Series 320i SE 2.0 with average mileage of around 5,422 should be between £16,476 and £18,625, having suffered over 25% depreciation over the last 12 months.
A 2008 Volvo C70 i SE Lux 2.4 with average mileage of around 4,146 should be between £16,118 and £18,220, having suffered over 29% depreciation over the last 12 months.
Our choice
Depending on who the car is for, there is much to commend all of these cars. The BMW is one of those cars that you can’t go wrong with in terms of staff satisfaction. But, like the Volvo, you pay for what you get and the accounts team may not feel now is the time for such cars.
The Avensis is less common than Mondeos and Vectras, offers reliability and for Toyota, healthy prices. It’s just a shame that it’s a bit bland.
So it is the Civic that arguably provides the best compromise of qualities. It delivers fuel efficiency (43 mpg), a modern image, driver fun and reliability.
For more used car buying advice, prices and depreciation news, fault checks and more, visit www.UsedCarExpert.co.uk