blonde poker forum

As regular readers of this board will know, after suffering my midlife stupidity I went out and bought a number plate. Obviously not having a car to put it on was a bit of a limitation but knowing at the time that it was likely that I would be changing my job and therefore my car then that situation would resolve itself.

So here we are a couple of months later and indeed I will be starting my new job on Monday. Sure enough there will be a new car to be ordered and it will have to fit into the company car policy. So what is the company car policy? Well dear reader it goes as follows. European car manufacturer, Diesel, large boot for lugging kit and a certain value.

So basically they would like me to get a 3 series or an A4 or Passat, something of that ilk. Now don't get me wrong they are all good cars but FF5 5NAT deserves to go on a car that mirrors the purchase motivation. After all I never thought I would buy a number plate but having done it I feel this next step is crucial. If I put the plate on a BMW people just look at it as "there goes a personalised tosser in a BMW". So I have spent some time in checking out all my options and this morning I have put in my request.

Yes this morning I asked for a Skoda Superb Saloon 2.0TDI PD 140 Laurin & Klement. The choice became more and more obvious as I researched the category. Firstly I have yet to see a personalised number plate on a Skoda. Now I am sure somewhere there is a lunatic who has done this.........but not in Bricket Wood. My prejudice about Skoda has been changing for some time. I mean any car manufacturer who can make a car out of cake deserves respect from this rotund body. Finally the symmetry of buying a number plate that I thought I would never have and sticking it on a car that I thought I would never drive just feels right somehow.

Now of course the company have not said yes yet but one can only hope

Good car. 

Out of interest.  Why did it have to be a European manufacturer?

Good car

Worrying Obsession.

you can put a private plate on a company car?

as long as I pay for the transfer and get agreement from the leasing company that the plate belongs to me if I leave I think I should be okay

To choose a Skoda over a BMW >:?

You must be on glue.

P.S Good luck

Regards

M

A skoda is basically a VW anyway.

The VW passat is the same as the Skoda Octavia. Down to the brakes, engine and suspension. The only differences are the finishes inside. That go's for the VW Sharan which is the as the Ford Galaxy and the Seat Alahmbra.

yep rebadged and manufactured in Spain

Out of the 4 cars you listed the Skoda would come 5th in my rankings.

Congratulations on getting the new job.

Octivia is a decent Car.. all in the name of a plate.. Good Choice though 

Very little difference between the two manufacturers these days. The days of BMW claiming to be a prestige marque hae long gone. They are probably now positioned at the top end of the mass market producers, alongside VW.

Going to a BMW dealership these days is like going to Tesco.

Regards

Lazaroonie

being a monkey its not unusual to go out on a limb - but i'm going to hazard a guess here that i reckon he doesn't think they are the same.........

A Montecristo or a Hamlet on the other hand - maybe you'll get him on that one............. ;D

 ;scarymoment;

LMAO

When comparing all my options I refered extensively to the JD Power survey. These are people who have the car. Who live that particular car makers dream. What became immeadiately apparent is that the so called prestige German marques in the lower end of their product offerings suffer badly in terms of customer satisfaction. There does seem to be a type of emperors new clothes syndrome going on. Along the lines of I've got a BMW it must be good.

Also the so called prestige German Marques have made an unbelievable job of stripping everything from their product offering and then charging you for things that other manufacturers class as standard.........like wheels......oops my mistake they have included those.

The choice is rational. Skoda produce cars currently that not only exceed the customers expectation of them but offer great build quality and value for money. You can tell me as much as you like that BMW are better than Skoda but you ought to be aware that you have no clothes on

Just because they are both German companies, you should be looking to ally your brand with someone stronger than Aldi....anyway...

I have driven many prestige marques in my time, and have spent more than my fair share of hours in car dealerships - I am merely responding with my experiences of how I am treated.

Currently I drive an E-Class merc, which I have owned for about year. At the time I tried out a BMW 5 series and was hugely disappointed. In comparison to the previous 5 series it was a huge let down.  It felt cheap and nasty. (too much plastic). The attitude of the dealer was pretty poor as well, like a "these cars basically sell themselves". Well, not to me they didnt.

As I said I have bought and sold many prestige cars over the years. In terms of the dealership experience, this is what is likely to make you go back as much as the car experience. If I am spending over 30 grand on something, I want to be made feel special.

Jaguar : Had 4 of these. Maybe the cars were less than reliable, but the dealerships brilliant. This all changed tho when they started selling rebadged mondeos.

Lexus : The sales guy I knew from Jag went here, I bought a GS from him once. Great Service

Mercedes : Had some bad experiences of merc dealerships, but my local one is really good.

BMW : I was interested in the X5 when it first came out. I was basically told I couldnt have one cos they were keeping them all for their "special customers".

Audi : Awful, just awful. It was a shame, cos I really fancied a Q7 at the time.

My Beemer has been 100% reliable, but the tyres wear out. Shocking.

"Just because they are both German companies, you should be looking to ally your brand with someone stronger than Aldi....anyway..."

Actually Aldi are very good at what they do. However M&S All day long

"I have driven many prestige marques in my time, and have spent more than my fair share of hours in car dealerships - "

You sound like a tourist or professional test driver

"Currently I drive an E-Class merc,"

You must be older than I thought

"The attitude of the dealer was pretty poor as well, like a "these cars basically sell themselves". Well, not to me they didn't."

Sounds True. If you did not buy the BMW you either cannot afford it or your tight 

"If I am spending over 30 grand on something, I want to be made feel special."

BMW pride themselves offering outstanding customer service. If you do not get a good experience from BMW.
You need to have a look at your attitude and smile a bit more. "I want to be made feel special" Go to  Spearmint Rhino
 

"Jaguar : Had 4 of these. Maybe the cars were less than reliable, but the dealerships brilliant. This all changed tho when they started selling rebadged mondeos."

Don't see Jaguar as Competition

"Lexus : The sales guy I knew from Jag went here, I bought a GS from him once. Great Service"

Must of been a one off.

"Mercedes : Had some bad experiences of merc dealerships, but my local one is really good."

Word must have got around your a tourist 

"BMW : I was interested in the X5 when it first came out. I was basically told I couldn't have one cos they were keeping them all for their "special customers".

Very Shrewd business keep your regulars happy. Jaguar might think your special. Any one who has bought 4 Jaguars
 must be special. You must be unique.   

"Audi : Awful, just awful. It was a shame, cos I really fancied a Q7 at the time."

I have a poker pal who wanted one of these 6 months ago Audi "No Deals Matey" I bet you canget 10k off one of these monsters then all you have to do is find somewhere to park. 

All Good Fun

Regards

M

Wow M, you must be the best salesman ever, I'll be surprised if Snatty doesn't cancel his order immediately and have a BMW instead.

All good fun.

Regards

Tom.

I think you may be right DOG.   

Regards

M

lmao..now that Sir, is a cracking reposte. Well done!

The Beemer cup-holders are superb.

Well what can I say......I have just informed "she who must be obeyed" about my enlightened decision on car choice. She doesn't get it.

Well that's another positive then
Still no news from the company......the silence is scary, or maybe they are still laughing

So all other makes other than BMWs are rubbish?

:dontask:

I'll stick with my 13-year old Datsun - never lets me down.

I personally prefer Jaguar over Beemers but admittedly that's also because I don't want to be seen as a "beemer driving twat" and on top of that Jaguars are actually cool cars (the old XJ6 not the new one) whereas beemers are...well beemers...very good cars but look like they should be driven by estate agents.

the mrs might like one of these

http://www.autocar.co.uk/VideosWallpapers/Videos.aspx?AR=227527&CT=V&FLT=24|34| (http://www.autocar.co.uk/VideosWallpapers/Videos.aspx?AR=227527&CT=V&FLT=24|34|)

 I don't want to be seen as a "beemer driving twat"

rotflmfao

I doubt the BMW will make a difference.

All good fun

Regards

M

Well, he wouldn't be a 'beemer driving twat' without a BMW... :dontask:

I have said it before on here but beemers have horrible interiors, it's all plastic yuck.
Most of my pals (die hard beemer drivers) now own audi's, a footballer i know chopped his X5 for a golf LOL!!
My best pal has one of those csl thingies ??? which is a 3 series with all the weight taken out, all plastic and fibreglass body panels.
It is the b*****ks to look at and drive but mechanically pants, it increases in value every year though so he's happy.

I agree Mercedes or Audi. Aesthetically some models are lovely. A BMW is all about Driving.

You refer to M3 CSL

A great car. In the last 18 months or so has not lost much in value and  low milage cars may be creeping up
in value. I cannot think for a moment it is "mechanically pants" but hey ho lively debate and all that.

A hard car to live with day to day but with only 422 for the UK market a future classic.

I hope he's got Silver Grey with CSL Alloys.

And yes I've had a Footballer customer who swapped his X5 for a Golf to travel to Birmingham and back.

Regards

M

Yeah csl silver grey, it has a plate inside the engine compartment i believe with the limited edition number on it though it is high 300's i think (i guess the lower numbers are worth more).
Awesome to drive but he has had numerous problems with it mainly electrical, lcd brake lights is one i can name.

Audis are much more beautriful cars than beemers and surely noone can honestly say otherewise.

The RS4 is miles ahead of the M3 also.

I am of the opinion though that the 5 series is attractive in a strange way i cant explain but BMW havent made more of an atrractive car than the first M3's, smae goes for merc goes with the 190E with the cossy engine  ;kev;