So, I work as a software sales monkey. My trendy little San Francisco based company recently got bought by IBM and I'm now part of the 'Big Blue'. Nothing about that makes me happy, I've never been very corporate, however their company car scheme is pretty flexible.

Currently I take a car allowance as cash, which is what allows me to run my 2007 S/C as my daily driver.

Cutting through all the crap, basically, should I choose to use the IBM car scheme I can buy anything with a new OTR price of less than £80k. That of course got me very excited about all of the possibilities. (And yes, it has to be brand new).

(I say I COULD - of course there's a salary sacrifice linked to both purchase price and Co2 emmissions and all the exciting stuff is costly to buy and have poor Co2 numbers).

Anyway, whilst that means I theoretically COULD get into a basic L405, a new 991 Carrera (non-S), the new Cayman S, an Audi RS4, an F-Type or XKR etc - the reality is that it would cost me more than I'm willing to pay.

Looking at where I want to be budget-wise it seems that I'm landing in the sub £50k bracket - needs to be a diesel or hybrid and have a boot or be a 4x4 for the dog.

So you'd think I'd have options coming out of my ears.

The only car that gets close to interesting me is the Jaguar XF Sportbrake S Portfolio (the 275 bhp model) - around 6 seconds to 60mph, 45+ mpg combined, lots of nice toys, good boot and, to my eye, looks great.

So I'm going to kick the tyres on a few this weekend - but I've got a funny feeling that they'll leave me cold in comparison to the FF. In fact I know they will.

Anyway - the point of this rambling post is this....I don't actually think there's a single new car for sub £60k that I'd swap my Range Rover for.

My 84,000 mile, 6 year old, 18 mpg Range Rover that's worth about £18,500.

Isn't that amazing? Just goes to show that there's something very special about our cars. I can turn up in mine at any hotel / event / meeting / whatever - and pull in behind a £100k Aston Martin and not feel out of place. Yet, I bet turning up in a Jaguar estate, albeit a lovely car and worth nearly 3 times what my Range is....I wouldn't get that feeling.

Think I'll continue to take my car allowance as cash and run the S/C into the ground.  Past (too many to list, but a few favs)...
2007 Porsche 997 C2S Coupe
2007 FFRR 4.2 S/C
2012 Jag XKR 5.0 S/C
2014 Merc SL500 AMG 4.7 V8 BiTurbo (remapped to 560BHP)
2011 FFRR 4.4 TDV8 Vogue SE - Overfinch Conversion
2012 Porsche Cayenne Turbo
2018 AMG C63S Estate
2015 Mercedes GLE63S
2017 Maserati Levante Diesel
2017 Audi A6 Avant 3.0 Black Edition

Could you get into a run out model L322 Westminster TDV8 for 50k? Surely you can find a non-regsitered one that the dealers are trying to flog off cheap? 
07 Supercharged - Still breaking her in!

Boot soundproofing part 1 - http://www.fullfatrr.com/forum/topic15612.html
Custom exhaust - http://www.fullfatrr.com/forum/topic15296.html
18" wheels for Brembo equipped cars - http://www.fullfatrr.com/forum/topic15052.html

even those are nearly sold out here in Germany - some weeks ago there where a lot of them online ...  All my spelling errorz are belong to me!

2023 FFRR L460
2021 AM new Vantage

I was looking at leasing deals on the same model XF Sportbrake a few weeks ago. Out of curiosity.

Left me cold as well. The only estate car that excites me is another AMG E-Class... The E63. Or the new VXR estate.

But you're right, as are many others who've made the same point. For the money, it's almost impossible to equal an FF, let alone beat it. Si. <This is my name.

I eat rat poison.

A man ain't truly been insulted until he stands buck naked in front of a woman and she didn't even notice. Or care.

You could wait and get the new Sport  African Bush Junkie ... in London!

Stats:
2006 TD6 Vogue SE
1972-2015 DeRanged Rover
2001 P38 dHSE (SOLD)

New Sport is pushing the budget as soon as you add any decent toys...although (whisper this) I think I actually quite like it.

I have actually found a contender, the Audi SQ5.

Plenty of room for the dog, 0-60 in 5.1 seconds and claimed fuel economy of over 41mpg combined, sensible Co2 numbers too.

In order to get it to Range Rover spec I need to spend about £15k on extras...ahem...but I think it ticks all the boxes (pun intended).

It'll never feel as special as the FF, but I'm actually quite excited about it none the less.

Just waiting on the Audi Fleet guy to call me back about lead times and delivery dates etc, but probably looking at around August...so get to enjoy the Range for another good 3 or 4 months as well.  Past (too many to list, but a few favs)...
2007 Porsche 997 C2S Coupe
2007 FFRR 4.2 S/C
2012 Jag XKR 5.0 S/C
2014 Merc SL500 AMG 4.7 V8 BiTurbo (remapped to 560BHP)
2011 FFRR 4.4 TDV8 Vogue SE - Overfinch Conversion
2012 Porsche Cayenne Turbo
2018 AMG C63S Estate
2015 Mercedes GLE63S
2017 Maserati Levante Diesel
2017 Audi A6 Avant 3.0 Black Edition

Like you say yourself, you will not have the special feeling in any other car other than a range rover. Brand new there is very little sub 50k that is special in the same way, if anything.
I would keep your s/c and then upgrade to another newer used model and take the cash allowance all day long!

Keep the allowance gives you better flexibility  Present :2008 TDV8 HSE
Gone Audi A5 2.7TDI
Gone Discovery 3 HSE
Gone Mercedes CLK
Gone Range Rover 2.5 DSE

TheAllSeeingPie wrote:

Could you get into a run out model L322 Westminster TDV8 for 50k? Surely you can find a non-regsitered one that the dealers are trying to flog off cheap?

IMHO Do it: keep the fullfat and get a cheap car for the everyday slog like a Mini Cooper Diesel or something.

If mind changes alternatives could be:

The Evoque? (blasphemy!)
Merc CLS350 Sportbrake (seriously quiet, nice interior, quick)
BMW X3 30d (Fast and economical)
Cayenne Diesel (accomplished, leaves me cold though)
Defender (uncomfortable, but fits in with the hotel scene, some of the wealthiest ppl i know drive old defenders!)
Pre-reg'd Infiniti FX30d (does a bit of FFRR drama, rare, cheap)
Lease an L405
Skoda Superb Estate Diesel 4x4 Elegance: dull but competent, affordable.