Band C car - most powerful

mickdw

Im looking to change car to roughly a 2012 and Im restricted to band C due to self employed tax claim. That being the case, Im looking for as much power as possible and looking at maybe spending 30k total.
I should add that I want to change from front drive audi and having never had a diesel, if I'm going for one, it's going to be a 6 pot.
I guess I'm ruling out the majority of options really.
I would like a new model gs 450h but don't seem to be dropping in value at all and are rare as hens teeth. To be fair, I like a car that's rare.
Any ideas.

bear1

Cat C – 20% VRT - €330 road tax (currently)
BMW 535d/640d/740d – 313ps

Took this from another thread.


https://www.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/audi-a5-tdi-new-model-warranty-finance/10815033

https://www.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/audi-a6-3-0tdi-v6-204bhp-280-road-tax/10887567

https://www.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/mercedes-benz-e-class-e350-cdi-with-upgraded-amg/11225497

carsfan

F30 BMW 330d
2012 model if you can find one...

mickdw

bear1 wrote: »

Cat C – 20% VRT - €330 road tax (currently)
BMW 535d/640d/740d – 313ps

Took this from another thread.


https://www.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/audi-a5-tdi-new-model-warranty-finance/10815033

https://www.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/audi-a6-3-0tdi-v6-204bhp-280-road-tax/10887567

https://www.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/mercedes-benz-e-class-e350-cdi-with-upgraded-amg/11225497

Thanks.
I'm currently driving an A5 coupe so I think a change is wanted.
Its that 350 cdi band C? I doubt it.
Really my top choice was a cls 350 cdi but they are wrong tax band.
I can't see the 740d back in 2011 2012 belong brand C either.

bazz26

From what I have read the problem with the 3.0 TDi lump in the fwd A6 is that the extra weight makes the car very nose heavy. The Quattro is supposed to be way more composed. The 205bhp version of the 3.0 TDi is not supposed to be much of a better performer than the cheaper 2.0 TDi either. You'd really want to be looking at the more powerful 4wd versions.

You could also look at the A7 but it will be hard to find a decent powered quattro example for 30k.

JamieOS

If you are going Audi, you should really consider looking out for AWD regardless of the model. You may lose a few MPG, but its worth it. I've got a '02 A4 1.9tdi 128bhp Quattro and it handles really nicely. Plenty powerful enough for a daily driver, especially when remapped (although your insurer may charge extra or refuse to cover it if you do it/plan on doing it). My dad used to have a 03 A4 128bhp FWD and he couldn't believe the differences between that and mine.

Definitely look for a 245PS/242bhp 3.0tdi A6 Quattro rather than the 204PS/201bhp 3.0tdi. You might as well go with the 177PS/175bhp 2.0tdi model and save a fair bit on fuel. I've heard those V6s can drink a bit, but I can't say for sure since I've never owned one.

drunkmonkey

Where did you find this restriction, I'm in the same boat and about to change hopefully in the next few days.,
I assumed you can claim the capital expense what ever car you wants, current one isn't co2 based but the new one will be. But the one I'm after is in category D.
Spending somewhere around your own budget but it'll be a used car if that has any bearing on it.

drunkmonkey

Found it, I better talk to accountant in the morning, probably should have mentioned the car I'm looking at is 260bhp+ When we were discussing it the other day.

We could be ordering a pair of Golf GTE's yet : (

Complex cars!
The green car

Cars generally only attract the WDA but there is one exception to this and that is where a business purchases a new car with low emissions – a so called ‘green’ car. Such purchases attract a 100% allowance to encourage businesses to purchase cars which are more environmentally friendly. From April 2015 a 100% write off is only available where the CO2 emissions of the car do not exceed 75 gm/km. The cost of the car is irrelevant and the allowance is available to all types of business.

carsfan

Can you point me in the direction of where these revenue rules are?
I presume the "green" car has to be used exclusively for the business?

drunkmonkey

Had a look at it, this is only got to do with the timing of the write off, if your not concerned about that you can drive what you want, you end up in the same position. It's just that timing of the reliefs.
Phew he had me panicked, sticking with my band D intentions.

carsfan

I'm self employed but only rarely use my car for work.
If I buy a green car can I write it off against my tax bill?

drunkmonkey

Yea writing off a new Golf GTE against your tax bill would be nice but no you can't.
My understanding from the conversation this morning is all this allows your to do is get the capital allowance quicker. Waiting for clarification from my accountant.

mickdw

drunkmonkey wrote: »

Where did you find this restriction, I'm in the same boat and about to change hopefully in the next few days.,
I assumed you can claim the capital expense what ever car you wants, current one isn't co2 based but the new one will be. But the one I'm after is in category D.
Spending somewhere around your own budget but it'll be a used car if that has any bearing on it.

My understanding of it is that with a private car used partially for business, if it's band c or better you can claim 24k over 8 years, capital cost reduced by percentage business use. Band d and e are restricted to half that with nothing allowable on lower bands

drunkmonkey

It's kind of gone out of my head now but was talking to the accountant and he said it will make little or no difference to me. The difference between a GTE and 530d was not worth thinking about in the grand scheme of things, picking up my band D, 530d this week:)

mickdw

drunkmonkey wrote: »

It's kind of gone out of my head now but was talking to the accountant and he said it will make little or no difference to me. The difference between a GTE and 530d was not worth thinking about in the grand scheme of things, picking up my band D, 530d this week:)

I was looking at them too. Some are band C but perhaps the newer ones.
So much nicer than a 520d anyway.
As I see it, if for example you were paying tax at 20 percent and used a band c car for 50 percent business, you would be saving 300 off tax bill...... not worth talking about.
If however you are paying high rate tax and use for 80 percent business, you are looking at 960 off your tax bill or half those figures from the band D car.
What I would need clarification on is whether it has any effect on other motoring expenses such as fuel, servicing repairs etc. If the claim was reduced in a similar manner on all those costs, it would be most certainly worthwhile sticking to the band c.

drunkmonkey

Wish I could remember, it was fresh in my head that morning after talking with the accountant.
I'm after having to get the 530 from the UK, there very thin on the ground here and to find the spec you want is nearly impossible. There all missing something, there's a 530d sport 2011 in bluebells for 34k and the 535d in morrisons for 40k and neither of them have adaptive suspension so permanently stuck in bouncy m-sport mode. There's another private one for 35k for a 2012 and it has all the essentials, there's a nice one up in spirit but that's missing the sat nav and it's 35k, hard to win:o
Picked up a 10, with 54k on the clock and all the toys, 3d sat nav, paddle shift, adaptive suspension for about what you'd pay for a 10 one here if they ever existed. No great saving but got the one I wanted with, room to put up to 100k on it before I sell it.

Yea newer one's band C but are you going to spend and extra 20k to save 700 euro?

mickdw

drunkmonkey wrote: »

Wish I could remember, it was fresh in my head that morning after talking with the accountant.
I'm after having to get the 530 from the UK, there very thin on the ground here and to find the spec you want is nearly impossible. There all missing something, there's a 530d sport 2011 in bluebells for 34k and the 535d in morrisons for 40k and neither of them have adaptive suspension so permanently stuck in bouncy m-sport mode. There's another private one for 35k for a 2012 and it has all the essentials, there's a nice one up in spirit but that's missing the sat nav and it's 35k, hard to win:o
Picked up a 10, with 54k on the clock and all the toys, 3d sat nav, paddle shift, adaptive suspension for about what you'd pay for a 10 one here if they ever existed. No great saving but got the one I wanted with, room to put up to 100k on it before I sell it.

Yea newer one's band C but are you going to spend and extra 20k to save 700 euro?

I'd be looking for 2012 or newer really.
The 530d might be too expensive.
obviously if the income tax savings are small, it's not really worth considering in the overall scale of the costs of running a car. As long as going above brand c doesn't effect the ability to claim other costs. The other running costs excluding cost of car itself for me last year were in the region of 6k so max use will have to be made of that income tax wise.

drunkmonkey

Your at 35-50k for a 2012/2013, I would have liked a 2014 facelift model but your gone up around the 55k mark when you can pull home a 2014 520d se for about 35.
I specked up mine on the BMW website and I was gone over 90k for a new one, think i'll live the 10 reg if it means i'm saving 65k over the car new. Hoping my depreciation will be minimal over the next 2/3 years as the bulk of it has already been borne buy the 1st owner.

drunkmonkey

You'd have to seriously consider this one if your trying to come up in the years, has all the toys and adaptive suspension, it's a UK import but it's a nice colour and the milage is right, i know it's the 520d but it shouldn't have the timing chain issue and it's still 180bhp, it also has the bmw maintenance pack on it to cover servicing here https://www.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/bmw-520d-se-2014-automatic-low-miles-142-reg/11280505

Oafley Jones

Looking for a GS450H and they are incredibly scarce though. See there's one FSport (2012) for 39k at the moment. Would rather avoid that suspension. Can't see the OP being satisfied with a 520D, 180BHP is a fair drop from 345.

mickdw

Oafley Jones wrote: »

Looking for a GS450H and they are incredibly scarce though. See there's one FSport (2012) for 39k at the moment. Would rather avoid that suspension. Can't see the OP being satisfied with a 520D, 180BHP is a fair drop from 345.

There is a 131 in Cork also - not an F sport for 40k.
Looking at uk models, there seem to be genuine cars from lexus dealers asking £21k. I'm figuring I could have one of those here vrtd for under 35k euro.
Still id rather spend around 30k.
Spending any more than that, I'd probably chance a pcp on a new car.

drunkmonkey

You'd have an 11 back and plates, for about 26k. There's one in a Lexus garage about 30 miles from where I'm picking up mine http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201601150117816/sort/atcustom/postcode/b357nw/radius/1501/make/lexus/model/gs_450h/price-from/500/page/1/usedcars
It's close to Bristol airport so they'd probably pick you up and your 2hrs from the Pembroke to rosslare ferry. I think a 12/13 will blow your 30k budget.

mickdw

Ya, the old models are certainly within budget.
Im more dreaming of https://www.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/lexus-gs-hybrid-f-sport-4dr-auto/11231066

If I forget about band C, Its going to be something like this:
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201601190226554?page=1&maximum-age=up_to_5_years_old&model=cls&sort=default&make=mercedes-benz&search-target=usedcars&postcode=b357nw&onesearchad=used%2Cnearlynew%2Cnew&radius=1501&logcode=p

drunkmonkey

I like the look of the CLS with the new nose, VRT is a bit steep 10.5k, If sterling goes the way there predicting over the next few weeks you might have it home under 30, there's none here with that kind of mileage, be interesting to see what there asking for this http://www.driving.ie/used-cars/Mercedes-Benz/CLS-Class/350-CDI/200814540695985290/

mickdw

drunkmonkey wrote: »

I like the look of the CLS with the new nose, VRT is a bit steep 10.5k, If sterling goes the way there predicting over the next few weeks you might have it home under 30, there's none here with that kind of mileage, be interesting to see what there asking for this http://www.driving.ie/used-cars/Mercedes-Benz/CLS-Class/350-CDI/200814540695985290/

The vrt goes between 7300 and 10k depending on what you tick.
I know the original cls was always down as sports coupe even though it was 4 door.
I believe the current one is referred to as 4 door saloon.
They are in the 570 tax band so co2 less than 169.

That cls you linked is at my local audi dealer - well the used car Portacabin outlet attached to the vw / audi dealer. They generally retail high mile stuff or stuff too old to stick on the main dealer forecourt out of this place.

drunkmonkey

Mileage is suspecially low on it...

Mmm I'd still pick the 530 over either of them though. Hard to match the drive even thought the Lexus is the most luxurious.

mickdw

drunkmonkey wrote: »

Mileage is suspecially low on it...

Mmm I'd still pick the 530 over either of them though. Hard to match the drive even thought the Lexus is the most luxurious.

Too many 5 series about. The 530 is in a different league to the sea of 2.0d but still I'd rather something alittle more rare.

drunkmonkey

mickdw wrote: »

Too many 5 series about. The 530 is in a different league to the sea of 2.0d but still I'd rather something alittle more rare.

Not as common as a 5 series, I would of but mrs thought there too big https://www.donedeal.ie/view/10991144