Company car Vs Essential user allowance

[T25]

Some advice and help if you gentlemen don't mind, though I fully expect a bit of TakinraPiss
Things over here are changing at a pace, and as it has been a good few years since I last had a company car (with associated high taxation ) I am not sure which way is the best to go. The possible role entails a high level of travel at a moments notice, so public transport is out, but what is the panels opinion about the options ?.
As far as I can tell, I am better off having an essential user allowance than I would be if I had a company car, but opinions as always, most welcome.

[Olivepage]

Nah

Go for the company car

Not that much in cost, but pays the difference in the complete absence of worries.

If it breaks down, another appears as if by magic

You don't get bills for repairs

You don't worry about parking in iffy areas

You don't need to argue with insurance companies

You find company cars rev to about 1000rpm more than ordinary ones

You always win any "I dare you" situation

You don't care how much it depreciates

You never need to wash it

You don't have palpitations if someone scrapes the paint.

You don't have to haggle with salesmen when you want rid of it

No brainer really.

[sahona]

You say you will actually be out and about so the company car is tops. All been said above. If you were just an occasional user but justified, then a cheapo banger could be the way, unless company image comes in as well. I made squiggabucks with an old toyota years ago, but had to park well away from the main entrances...

[Superstrath]

So if you use your own car for company business, how much can you charge them per mile for the use of it?
Say I get a new car, the cost of which is covered by a negotiated salary hike, on which, obviously, I pay tax. I assume that all company miles then covered can be claimed as expenses. Correct or not?

[claymore]

We pay 40p per mile for my car which is Diesel Volvo.

I have to pay the additional premium for business risk insurance

[Nick]

.
It depends on if they are going to give you a car you want. As others have said, there is nore money to be made from running around in your own old banger, but more potential hassle as well.

We use out own car for company biz as Webcraft can;t afford to provide us with one (or at least, not one I woujld be prepared to drive )

So you are about to become a wage slave again then?

[T25]

So you are about to become a wage slave again then?

Also a slave to somebody elses idea of which hours are to be worked
Being self employed has its good points, one of which is that if I have an outside job scheduled for a morning visit, and on looking outside I find that it's not nice out there, I just change things around and do the afternoon (inside) job in the morning, and hope the weather improves for the afternoon. Though the M.D.'s job would have similar benefits, if I get that one, I have a feeling I'm more likely to get the one where I have to supervise teams of workers all over the country. That would entail very high mileage, so the company car sounds like the better option. However, the M.D. position would also entail high mileage, but from office to office with occasionally a site visit, rather than site to site and write up in the evening, and more local than national.
Scarey thought, having to travel to an office away from home again