Advice needed - noob to 4X4

enrique66_35

Hi all,

Not sure this is the right place to post this but anyhow...

I've had 99 Corolla since I first started to drive about 10 years ago but it's getting to point with NCT every year and maintenance costs that I need to part ways and since I was a kid I always wanted a pickup truck, specifically a Hi-Lux.

So I'm looking for advice from the community for someone who's only ever driven a petrol car what do I need to know when switching to a 4X4 light commercial vehicle? (I'm also considering other pickups).

My budget is about €5K but might seek a loan to bump that up for the right truck.
What's involved in the DOE/CVRT? Is it vastly different to the NCT?
I'll be just using the truck as my everyday driver commuting to work etc so not for commercial purposes - where does that leave me for insurance? Recommended insurance companies? I've a clean full licence almost 9 years and never had a claim.

Any advice very welcome! Thanks.

doctorchopper

Technically since you are not using it for commercial purposes is "should" be taxed privately. Which is going to cost a fortune as most are at least 2.5 litre. So that will be minimum 1000 euro a year for tax. Doe is done every year at around 100 euro. Insurance i'd guess around the 5-600 euro mark. If you decide to go the pickup route and are looking at navaras make sure you have a close look at the chassis by the rear leaf spring forward mounts as a lot of them are failing due to corrsion.

kay 9

Consider a ford ranger too. Great little pickup.

pete4130

Whatever you do, do not get a Navara. My work vehicle is a Navara, 2011 D40 model and its just a bag of crap. Poor fuel economy, always down on power, electrical issues, poor ground clearance (lost the oil sump 2 weeks ago). Not to mention the chassis cracking issues, which I am waiting/hoping to happen to get rid of the Navara.

You can't go wrong with a hilux. The 3.0 D4d engines aren't too bad. The older non turbo 3.0L engines are pretty solid but a bit on the slow side.

Got to remember with a pickup/ute that you will never, ever have a boot to securely put things into, especially in Ireland. Tyres are more expensive too, road handling isn't as good, fuel economy not great, repairs are expensive with any 4x4.

Bigus

Yes your mpg will drop from 40 to 20 most likely and factor in 500 annually in Maintenance on top of CRVT To get it through. In summary unless you have a business to subsidise running a Proper 4x4 it'll seriously affect your aftertax net income . If you're not towing anything consider a more modern private tax efficient faux 4x4 /SUV like a post 08 tax sportage or similar.

colm_mcm

Get a drive in one, the novelty will soon wear off.

Also if keeping a Corolla on the road is a pain, then a pickup will be much more expensive and will also require an annual test.

_Brian

Friend was saying he inquired from his insurance company and they won't transfer his no claims bonus over to a commercial, he'd loose his bonus and have start building a new one.
His insurance would be over €1000 when he's currently paying less than €500

enrique66_35

Thanks for your input guys. Some sobering stuff and I think the more I research this the less of a flyer it probably is. I should have another year's NCT on the Toyota Friday so I'll have a bit of time to really think about what my best move is.

I think the novelty thing/the five year old in me is probably what's driving this notion, if you'll pardon the pun, and I got a bit carried away.

Thanks again for the reality check!

mythos110

Running costs on a 4x4 are higher - fuel, tyres, general maintenance etc.

Also, the DOE is every year IIRC anyway so no advantage from that perspective

enrique66_35

I didn't even get as far as running cost considerations as (correct me if I'm wrong) the more pressing issues are
1 Insurance - I'm getting the "a member of super duper team will contact you shortly" (they don't) fob off when trying online quotes. The only quote to give actual numbers was Chill and that was €1200.
1A Insuance (no claims) - I have close on 10 years (at my next renewal in Sept) no claims built up and it seems if I were to switch to commercial this would go in the bin after 2 years and no credit would be given on the commercial policy for it.
2 Tax - Not as much of a big deal as I expect I can just give my PPS number to carry on paying commercial tax rates although I'm not sure how legal that is if I'm not carrying on a trade to warrant a commercial tax rate. Switching to private (if it's possible) seems like it'd be crazy money like €1000+

The only get out on the insurance front would be to keep on my car and keep my private motor insurance for the sake of no claims (about €500/year at the minute) and get the truck as a second vehicle. Expensive and I don't really have the space for 2 vehicles with the wife's car as well in the mix.

Thanks for advice fellas, looks like I need to either move house/start up my own company for this to be a viable option!

Del2005

enrique66_35 wrote: »

I didn't even get as far as running cost considerations as (correct me if I'm wrong) the more pressing issues are
1 Insurance - I'm getting the "a member of super duper team will contact you shortly" (they don't) fob off when trying online quotes. The only quote to give actual numbers was Chill and that was €1200.
1A Insuance (no claims) - I have close on 10 years (at my next renewal in Sept) no claims built up and it seems if I were to switch to commercial this would go in the bin after 2 years and no credit would be given on the commercial policy for it.
2 Tax - Not as much of a big deal as I expect I can just give my PPS number to carry on paying commercial tax rates although I'm not sure how legal that is if I'm not carrying on a trade to warrant a commercial tax rate. Switching to private (if it's possible) seems like it'd be crazy money like €1000+

The only get out on the insurance front would be to keep on my car and keep my private motor insurance for the sake of no claims (about €500/year at the minute) and get the truck as a second vehicle. Expensive and I don't really have the space for 2 vehicles with the wife's car as well in the mix.

Thanks for advice fellas, looks like I need to either move house/start up my own company for this to be a viable option!

You can swap the main and named driver on your spouses vehicle to keep your private NCD at every 2nd renewal, plenty of married couples with 1 vehicle do this and those that don't should, no need to do anything with the VLC as you have an insurable interest in your spouses property.