currently they’re giving you money to buy and maintain something for work and you’re pocketing the cash instead.
This is exactly what I’m doing
My grade qualifies for a ‘status car’ , but we can just take the allowance as cash.
Those apply to me also – it was well recognised and communicated that we had to actually have a car but how much we spent on it etc was irrelevant.
My car is a good car, in great condition with a decent (ie non rust bucket) image.
The rules have changed very suddenly with 3 months notice. One of the reasons I’m so annoyed is that I’ve recently completed the payments on it, and Mrs K has just started full time maternity, so the extra cash really helps, a reduction of which will feel painful.