CC and Tax rates, also ~1.5L car suggestions.

cianclarke

I was looking at the tax rates for cars, and wow - expensive stuff! Very expensive... I'm a 17 year old student driving a Hyundai Accent 1.3, so not too bad for me - but I was looking at upgrading, to 1 98 VW Passat 1.6 litre. The insurance doesn't seem to jump at all, and for around the same price I could have a four door car, more legroom (I'm 6'4, accent is horrible for long journeys), and a lot more equipment, a much nicer interior. I was getting all excited, then I saw the tax rates - the price jump in CC seems huge. It's hard to justify an extra €100 every year for that little bit more, especially since next year funds will be tight.
My question: Am I right in saying that since the 1.6 litre passat is 1,595cc that it falls under the "1501 to 1600cc" price range, €391 per year? At that, it might just be affordable.

Finally, can anybody suggest me a good car around the 1.5 litre mark or below with the same comfort level? The year would be 98 or less, and I've looked so far at A4's and the Passat. Not as big a fan of the BMW 316, and the passat is cheapest, and quite good looking. I'm open to other suggestions.
Many thanks for any help given.

Henry Ford III

Yep a Passat 1.6 costs €391 per annum to tax.

I'd be concerned however.

If you are a student and on a limited budget, a 1.6 car will be really expnsive to run. Tax and insurance are one thing. Fuel consumption is a bigger issue, and service and potential reapairs will be bigger again.

Think again.

fletch

I'd be a bit concerned also if €100 in a year is enough to sway you from a car...think you really need to ask can you afford the car in the first place

cianclarke

That's what I'm trying to ask myself. I'm going fine with the accent in terms of running costs and repairs. Will the fuel economy and running costs be really that much more on the 1.6 passat?
To be honest I don't really *need* the new car, but it would be a nice idea, and is certainly appealing (I'm sure you can see my reasoning!).
Any insight into the running costs of the passat VS the accent, a low mileage one?

Thanks for the help.

Henry Ford III

The running costs will be sufficiently more to make a €100 or €200 difference in road tax a triffling matter.

A VW service can cost €500 and I've seen some mentioned here much pricier again.

bazz26

cianclarke wrote:

That's what I'm trying to ask myself. I'm going fine with the accent in terms of running costs and repairs. Will the fuel economy and running costs be really that much more on the 1.6 passat?
To be honest I don't really *need* the new car, but it would be a nice idea, and is certainly appealing (I'm sure you can see my reasoning!).
Any insight into the running costs of the passat VS the accent, a low mileage one?

Thanks for the help.

If a 1.6 is going to be a struggle to run why don't you go for something around 1.4 instead. Marginally around the same as you are spending now. Something like a 1998/1999 Golf or Bora, the 1.4 will not set your heart beating but these cars are just as comfortable as a Passat. What is your spending budget? You could probably find a 2000 1.4 Seat Leon for similar money (€5.5k to €6k).

cianclarke

Henry Ford III wrote:

The running costs will be sufficiently more to make a €100 or €200 difference in road tax a triffling matter.

A VW service can cost €500 and I've seen some mentioned here much pricier again.

I wouldn't be going for a full dealer service though, I'd get it done by the local garageman. The idea with buying a passat with low mileage is run it until around 160,000 miles or when it stops going...

bazz26 wrote:

If a 1.6 is going to be a struggle to run why don't you go for something around 1.4 instead. Marginally around the same as you are spending now. Something like a 1998/1999 Golf or Bora, the 1.4 will not set your heart beating but these cars are just as comfortable as a Passat. What is your spending budget? You could probably find a 2000 1.4 Seat Leon for similar money (€5.5k to €6k).

Thanks for the suggestions. I'm actually looking at going through the UK for the cars, and I don't like the old shape golf. (I know, picky aren't I! :P)
Regarding speed - doesn't matter a tap to me, I just want a comfortable car.
The main problem is legroom - in the accent there is just too little of it...

bazz26

Best of luck. Have you actually spotted a particular car over there or are you still looking? The reason I ask is that in the UK it would be very hard to find a 1.6 litre Passat. I'm not sure they even ever sold them there in 1.6 litre. In the UK road tax is based on the emmissions rather than engine size so most would be either 1.8 or 2.0 in this class of car. Most 1.6 litre engines over there would be in cars the size of a Golf or Focus. You might have better luck over the border up north.

peasant

Here's a bit of a long shot ...but have you ever looked at these?

http://www.carzone.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carid=368019

not pretty, I admit, but bags of room (leg and head), unbreakable reliability and even in 1.3 not too slouchy

colm_mcm

peasant wrote:

Here's a bit of a long shot ...but have you ever looked at these?

http://www.carzone.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carid=368019

not pretty, I admit, but bags of room (leg and head), unbreakable reliability and even in 1.3 not too slouchy

oh god......

peasant

colm_mcm wrote:

oh god......

Yeah ...that's what I thought ... until I drove one. (as a courtesy car)

Not bad at all ...miles better than a Hyundai Accident anyway:D

...but then again ...that's not difficult at all, now is it?

An hey ....they race one on Top Gear !!!!

cianclarke

bazz26 wrote:

Best of luck. Have you actually spotted a particular car over there or are you still looking? The reason I ask is that in the UK it would be very hard to find a 1.6 litre Passat. I'm not sure they even ever sold them there in 1.6 litre. In the UK road tax is based on the emmissions rather than engine size so most would be either 1.8 or 2.0 in this class of car. Most 1.6 litre engines over there would be in cars the size of a Golf or Focus. You might have better luck over the border up north.

Strange, I had three 1.6 litre passats lined up, no 1.8's! Thanks for the advice.

peasant wrote:

Yeah ...that's what I thought ... until I drove one. (as a courtesy car)

Not bad at all ...miles better than a Hyundai Accident anyway:D

...but then again ...that's not difficult at all, now is it?

An hey ....they race one on Top Gear !!!!

Actually I wouldn't rule it out, no... It's not pretty, but for a 1.3 it doesn't seem half bad... I'll look into it at least.
And hey, for a first car the accent isn't THAT bad, it's better than an escort!
Thanks all.

colm_mcm

but the Liana feels so cheap!!!!

cianclarke

So does the accent. :P
I might stretch the extra €100 every year for the Passat.

If I'm getting it serviced locally, and parts second hand unless it's something important (tie rod, brakes etc) will I notice much of a difference in maintinence costs? Are VW parts very expensive, any cheap sources?
Danke.