As the business sector continues to bounce back from the ravages of the coronavirus pandemic, so too are the transport needs of growing businesses returning. Choosing a car for business use has always been a big decision to make; the car is a statement as well as a utility, and with thousands of pounds worth of investment going into it, you need to be sure you make the right choice. Here are four questions you should be asking yourself when buying a car for your business.
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What Type?
Depending on your business needs, the vehicle type you should go for may change. If you need boot space for projects, prototypes or even luggage for longer trips, you may want to go for a larger executive saloon or estate care. But if you’re also going to be transporting colleagues, you may be after an even larger SUV to accommodate passengers. For city driving, you might want to choose a smaller, tighter-handling car that can manoeuvre through city traffic and park in tighter spots – but many hatchbacks do not quite have the sleek, professional look your car should be emanating. As a result, it may be wise to sacrifice agility for comfort, and look for a smaller executive car.
Diesel or Petrol?
The question of whether to go with a diesel or petrol car is becoming increasingly difficult to answer, as technological advancements bring their advantages closer together. Generally speaking, though, diesel engines have better performance and fuel economy at higher speeds and on long stretches of motorway. Petrol engines, however, perform better over shorter stretches, in cities and on B-roads.
New or Used?
It is important to weigh up whether you should be a new or a used car; your business’ car budget may depend heavily on the answer. New cars are more or less untouched and unblemished, with an engine guaranteed to be reliable for tens of thousands of miles to come – but they’re harder to find than ever before, and expensive to boot. Meanwhile, used cars can a bit more of an unknown quantity, but there are many reliable used cars available on the market, and the market is especially vibrant. Without a full service history, though, you might be missing crucial repair work that has been done, and the paintwork may not meet the expectations of your colleagues. A good middle ground is to find a recent used car, with few miles on the clock but a depreciated price to reflect its nature.
What Colour?
Colour might be the last thing on your mind when it comes to picking the right car for your business needs, but it will be the first thing on the mind of your potential client when you drive up to meet them. As such, it would be wise to think carefully about colour; primary colours such as red and yellow might not inspire much confidence in your peers, whereas blacks and gunmetal greys give off a far more professional air.
