Not ideal but at least it won't turn into a Mondeo:

 

Interestingly this also puts it into the highest bracket with company fuel cards. From next year the tax on these will also be affected by the CO2 rating....

All in all it had better be a fun car as its going to be relatively expensive to run - especially if it also, as I suspect, comes with a short service window.

BK

 

i'm not sure about this company car tax thing and who would buy a 8 if they were on a company car scheme or allowance?

Surely those that do get a company car or a car allowance won't go for the Mazda...they'll stick to Mondeos, Passats, Vectras etc etc probably diesel variants too? These guys go through cars every 2 years and the Mazda won;t appeal. On the top end of the scale, those that get super luxury car benefits will let the wife use the bentley, merc , 7 series etc etc, depreciation nightmares funded by the company.

I guess what I'm trying to say is that if i had to have a car for business purposes, wether it be a company car or funded through a car allowance scheme, i wouln;t go for the Mazda RX8.

As a private buyer who sits behind a desk all day, and only uses a car for pleasure, then the 8 is perfect. As a business car...no

 

Agreed Ed, mines a hobby as well!!

Cheers
Oilman

 

I beg to differ on this one Ed

After years of driving dull company cars and having to choose from a shortlist, when my company offered me a cash allowance a few years ago I jumped at the chance.

As a car nut, taking the money gives me the opportunity to buy what I want, and best of all someone else pays for it!

Ive had two Impreza's and now hopefully the RX8, but I must admit most people at my company still opt for the company diesel car, or opt out to buy something really dull to save money.

The only downside is that Ive got used to changing my car every 1-2 years, which is why I do get worried about depreciation.

I did 7000 business miles in the last year in the rock hard suspension of my STi, so in comparison I think the ride on the RX8 will be much better.

 

Ditto - Allowance = RX8. (well , part of it anyway)

Dont think many actual company cars will be rx8s though - tax is too high. Allowance is a completely different issue - not taxed on CO2 , but just as income....

M.

 

So how will that work then? The fuel is currently treated as a benefit in kind and thus is already taxed. Are they going to tax it twice?

 

Chris said: So how will that work then? The fuel is currently treated as a benefit in kind and thus is already taxed. Are they going to tax it twice?[B]

No its based on the new rules. You pay a charge based on a standard amount based and the CO2 rating

i.e tax rate x [Co2 % rate] x standard amount

The rx8 is in the highest 35% bracket for CO2 and the standard amount for next year is £14400

[http://www.inlandrevenue.gov.uk/cars...harge_0304.htm[/URL]

Cheers

J

 

Ouch so thats £5k if you get free personal fuel (£0 if you dont).

I think I spend £2500 on fuel in my Focus (18k miles a year) I expect 30-40% rise in that to say £4000. better do a lot of free fuel miles in that company RX-8.

 

OK so this assumes that the RX-8 is a company car. I have a fuel card for use with my own car and I will do this with the RX-8 too so I assume the rules for this have not changed.

 

I would like to put a different angle on this if i may
I work for a very large company who are still sadly for me in the dark ages with allowing opt outs, cash alternatives we just have an monthly allowance and a list of about 2500 cars to choose from.
I currently have a 325ci with a few extras the tax each month costs me about £234 per month, the 8 on the other hand is going to cost me £257.The point to consider though is next year when the BMW will cost me a further 2% which equates to £252 and because the 8 is already maxed out on tax the 2 amounts have been bridged.
I am interested in the comments about being reimbersed for petrol based on CO2, our company works it out purely on engine size which is the killer on this car which is a 1.3 on paper. I need a very convincing piece of evidence to show it is not the same as a Ford fiesta when it comes to fuel consumption and that the 2 1.3 engines are completely different. i have read it is more like a 2.6 so i will try and convince them to give me a fuel allowance that mirrors that:D

I actually think a lot will go for this as a company car especially once they see it. In any company you have the diesel audi owners and you also have those that go for it and order a TT or subaru regardless of tax

Ed

 

Have a look at this :
https://www.ir-portal.gov.uk/calcula...t/CctPage0.jsp

Under engine capacity :

"Engine capacity
This is the car's engine size in cubic centimetres (cc). For tax purposes the engine capacity falls into three categories
1400cc or less
1401 to 2000cc
over 2000cc

Cars that do not have a recognised engine capacity (such as rotary engined cars) fall into the 'over 2000cc' category.

Cars powered by electricity alone should included in the 'No engine size (electric cars only)' category. "

And a quote from the international engine award who calssed it in 2.5-3.0 litre :
http://www.ukintpress.com/engineoftheyear/25-3.html

"Although a 1.3-litre at rest, the RENESIS is the equivalent of a 2.6-litre when in motion and is indeed officially classified as part of this category by some European states. But such is the nature of a rotary engine, which sees pressure contained in chambers created by different areas of the housing and convex faces of a triangular rotor, that one could even theoretically judge the engine to be a 3.9-litre! "

 

Rob,

Many thanks for that link I will use that when putting my case, on the other hand i may be pleasently surprised to find that once out the car is put into that catagory anyway by the Epences dept.

Ed

 

I'm opting out of my company car, currently a Golf GT TDi, which is both economical and a decent drive. My angle on this is that if I opt out, the company pays me £350.00 per month, which not only goes towards a top up loan on the 8, but basically takes care of my depreciation. I'm not going to make money, but hey I'll be driving one great car.

I'll still get 45p per mile for the first 10,000 miles and even though the RX is relatively un economical to a Golf etc, should, touch wood, see me about right.

The biggest benefit I see of all this though is not being another, Audi, BMW, Volkswagen, soul-less driver, with comfortable slippers!!

 

I'm a 'perk' company car driver i.e. my business miles are under 1200 per year. The tax on my Fiat Coupe turbo plus is near the max already.
With the tyres and discs consumed in it's 32000 mile life and the small paint jobs from car parks, stone chips and vandals, I'm happier staying with the company than having an allowance.

Since I'm already near the max tax, I don't mind paying the cost of 3 or 4 pints of beer per month to enjoy the Rx8. I shall have it for 4 years.



Titanium, leather, high power. Ordered 11 April 03

Can't wait to get my hands on it!:D :D :D