CM Club: Car dilemma to lease or buy?

[surfandturf]

Hi All,

I am due to start CMing at the end of the month and need to get a bigger car sharpish! (I'm going to need an 8 seater and would love to swank around in a brand new one there aren't that many second-hand ones about) so I was thinking about leasing one.

It would in effect mean that the money I earn from one of my part-timers would in effect pay for the lease car or do I just drop the part timer and buy a 7 seater second hand Zafira which I can afford outright?

My DH has our 'family' car and I will only really be using the bigger car for business use. I'm just wondering what the best option would be regarding tax. Is the paperwork easier with a lease car as all the maintenance etc is generally included as part of the contact?

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

I bought a 2nd hand 8 seater. I have just had a 'temporary' multimac fitted (don't ask), which makes it into a 9 seater, so if you could afford a 2nd hand 7 seater and approx £1500 for a multimac, you would have an 8 seater.

I have never looked into leasing, so someone with an accounting brain might be along in a minute.

(NB: We can also use my car for camping weekends away and put the back seats down to sleep on)

what car have you got HSMM and how would you rate it?

I have a Toyota Estima import and before that I had a Toyota Previa. Both 8 seats. Nice cars. Comfortable for adults. Plenty of boot space. If you plough back through this Childminding section, there was a debate on a range of 7 and 8 seater cars which might also help.