MBIE claim the lowest total cost of ownership vs the alternatives. There's probably some prestige/marketing value for BMW in supplying the fleet, it's quite likely that the price is discounted heavily. They won't tell us - so we don't know. On that point, fair enough that price isn't disclosed during the tender/evaluation process, but after it's a "done deal" they should tell us IMO - it's our money they're spending. Given MBIE's recent behaviour - spending vast sums of money on questionable office decoration etc - a bit more openness on the car deal would have been nice.
westwyn,
Oct 2, 7:18am
The pricing has always been extremely sensitive and confidential- in as much that BMW (or whatever the chosen supplier is) gains as much by being seen to the be the supplier of Crown cars, thus the discounting is (I'm reliably informed) simply not commercially available to other customers. By disclosing the price (even after negotiations) this would enable competitors to evaluate the point "to beat" next time, and worse, give rise to demands by BMW's other corporate clients to match the deal. I've no issue with this deal- or the previous two, under two successive Governments, and having seen the residuals that were gained when the last batch were sold, I think the claims around a low cost of ownership are justifiable, given the likely service / warranty sweeteners in the pot too.
skull,
Oct 2, 9:18am
I agree entirely with westwyn, the price needs to remain between BMW and the government. If it doesn't you can put a ring around it the price won't be as good next time. All we need to know is that at the end of the contract the residual value of the cars when sold makes the total cost of ownership good value by comparison to other deals at other times. I don't remember ever being told the cost per car when it was Holdens and Fords so no need for it to be different just because it's Euro.
jmma,
Oct 2, 10:00am
The vehicles are being leased rather than purchased.
Does this make a difference to the statement below?
"All we need to know is that at the end of the contract the residual value of the cars when sold makes the total cost of ownership good value by comparison to other deals at other times"
elect70,
Oct 2, 10:07am
The old ones would be a good buy if they were in govt tender but I bet BMW got them . Probably on a lease deal .
skull,
Oct 2, 10:12am
Yes it does, I guess we can delete the residual value bit so it just comes down to total cost of ownership. The price should remain commercially sensitive in my opinion.
morrisjvan,
Oct 2, 4:13pm
The government isn't really paying for them at all. You and I are, and as such , have a right to know how much, surely ?
mm12345,
Oct 2, 4:24pm
I agree - but it seems most people in this thread don't. Helicopters, bridges, and wage packet for senior public servants is all fair game and just as (or more) "sensitive", but no - the price paid for cars using our money is top-secret for some reason. Why cars - what's so "special" about them"? They're mass-produced appliances FFS - even if they are a LWB version.
If the "sensitive" part is about advertising value to BMW having our MPs endorsing the brand, then it's no different from getting army uniforms at a discount because they had a McDonalds logo - we should know what the deal was that saved our money.
poppy62,
Oct 2, 4:57pm
Anyone can Phone BMW and ask how much to "Lease" a new 7 series p.a. then ask how much for 10, 20, 30 and you'll get a rough idea of cost. Nice cars anyway, visiting dignitaries and first impressions et,al.
petal_91,
Oct 2, 6:36pm
Cool. They should sneak a few V8 and V12 petrols in there for use by the PM and other top people though.
serf407,
Oct 2, 6:47pm
BMW could have thrown in a few i3s for the Green Co-leaders and other sensitive types. Do they ever need haste to attend rugby games?
westwyn,
Oct 2, 7:09pm
The i3 hasn't the range that a Crown car needs, at a moment's notice. EVs may well play a part in a Crown fleet- one day- but not until the range is improved.
elect70,
Oct 3, 12:36pm
BMW downsized the whole range now all smaller capacity hi pressure turboed .& enough electronics to get a manned spacecraft to mars & back
saki,
Oct 3, 12:44pm
BMW dont lease the cars out, a leasing company buys them and leases them to the government,.
richardmayes,
Oct 3, 1:43pm
I have always been impressed by how wide and low the 7-series BMWs are.
If you could strip all of the superfluous junk out of an old high-mileage one, and bring it back to just a shell with a V12 and a drivers' seat in it, it would probably be a pretty sweet track day car.
horsygirl,
Apr 1, 11:06am
Trade them in quick before the electrics crap out.
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