Stepping down to 1.4

senordingdong

Well....1.39 specifically.

Have been driving 1.6 focus diesel for two years (07) and was thoroughly happy with it. Unfortunately someone has relieved me of it recently.

After the pay out, I've decided to go for a 08 for the tax and have found one that ticks all the boxes except for the engine size.
Am I wrong to think that there would be minimal difference in stepping down to the 1.39? Most of my driving is urban/suburban and I'm doing less than ten thousand miles a year btw.

colm_mcm

The 1.4 is quite sluggish, but you may not notice. 1.6 petrol has the same tax post 08 IIRC

bazz26

Are we talking about a 1.4 petrol Focus here?

If so then it's not cheaper on the new tax system. Both the 1.4 and 1.6 petrol Focus on the new tax system cost the same - €570 per year.

If you want something 1.4 litre on the new tax system that is cheaper to tax then look at something like a Hyundai i30, Kia Ceed or a Toyota Auris 1.33 litre (not the older 1.4 litre).

mullingar

Avoid the 1.4. It's painfully slow.

If it has to be petrol, get the 1.6

senordingdong

mullingar wrote: »

Avoid the 1.4. It's painfully slow.

If it has to be petrol, get the 1.6

Could take either tbh, my mileage is quite low.

I thought the tax system changed in 08?

I had kind of hoped that the difference would be negligible to someone like me. (low mileage urban driving)

bazz26

The tax did change in mid 2008. Cars first registered between 1st Jan and 30th June 2008 had the option of being taxed on which ever system was the lowest. Cars originally registered from 1st July 2008 had to go on the new tax sysem.

Not all cars automatically on the new system where cheaper to tax though. It's based on the car's Co2 ratings and the petrol Focus engines were piss poor on Co2 hence why they cost more to tax on the newer tax system. They stopped selling them in early 2009 because nobody bothered buying them any more.

If you want a low tax 2008 petrol car then don't bother with a Focus.

senordingdong

So....what you're saying is go for a 08 diesel our a 09 if it's petrol?

bazz26

What I am saying is that a 1.4 litre or 1.6 litre petrol Ford Focus originally registered after 30th June 2008 will be taxed on the newer tax system but because those engines have high emissions, the tax on them will be €570. If you don't do enough miles to justify a diesel then I don't seen the point in buying one just for cheap tax.

BTW people really focus too much on cheap motor tax and totally ignore the white elephant in the room - how much the car is costing to buy. They will happily spend thousands more on buying a cheap to tax car in order to save a small amount on annual motor tax.

senordingdong

Okie dokie.

Will be taking out a loan regardless so just want to keep the day to day costs as low as possible.

Atlantic Dawn

Factor in to your calculations that in 3 years time if your lucky the car will be worth 50% of what you bought it for. So if you are getting your €200 a year super cheap motor tax but it's costing you €3000 a year in depreciation you are not making savings.

senordingdong

Atlantic Dawn wrote: »

Factor in to your calculations that in 3 years time if your lucky the car will be worth 50% of what you bought it for. So if you are getting your €200 a year super cheap motor tax but it's costing you €3000 a year in depreciation you are not making savings.

A fair point but I don't look at cars as consumer items to trade up when the next model comes out. Like phones etc.

I would be planning to hang on to it as long as possible, not with a view to getting rid of it.