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WHAT should you be looking for when deciding on what make and model of vehicle is best for your small fleet?

Aesthetics, fuel economy, performance? Although all of these factors are important when it comes to a company car, the reliability and subsequent cost of maintaining your fleet should actually come top of the list – especially if you require a large number of vehicles.

Discount Car Parts Online are one of the web’s premier suppliers of second hand and replacement car parts. Read on as they explain the things you should be thinking about when choosing the ideal company car.

The cost of parts

First things first, it is worth considering the cost of replacement parts for certain makes and model of car. As a rule, the more expensive a vehicle the more expensive the spare parts will cost, so you can expect that a clutch change on a Mercedes-Benz is going to cost significantly more than the same repair on a Ford Focus.

Cost can also be defined by how long a certain repair takes – and this varies from car to car.

For example, a 10,000 mile service for a Ford Fiesta 1.25 or Vauxhall Vectra 1.8 takes less than an hour (0.9 and 0.7 hours respectively), however in a BMW 3231 2.3 it takes an estimated 2 hours. As many garages will charge by the hour for labour, this means you will be paying more for the job to be completed as well as on the upfront cost of the part itself.

The availability of parts

Are you looking to buy a vehicle whose model you haven’t heard of before? The chances are it is because it’s more obscure and therefore harder to find spare parts for. This is also going to make them more expensive.

It can also vary between manufacturers, as some are much better than others at keeping parts in stock. With this in mind, choosing the most popular choice of vehicle for your company car(s) may not sound particular exciting, but it could end up saving you money in the long run.