Reliable low-tax diesel Luxobarge with affordable maintenance

Looking for a 2008+ diesel luxobarge subject to lower tax as a second car. Ideally a model with proven reliability and something with moderate maintenance costs and a ready supply of spurious/scrap parts. I'm not sure how the diesel ratings work in practice - I see some v6s with €500/yr tax and more on €1800 tax, so looking for suggestions on low tax monsters.

bazz26

There are two ways of looking at post 2008 luxobarges, those that have low tax but have higher asking prices or those with lower asking prices because the motor tax is higher.

You don't mention anything about what your budget is and also as it's a second car do you actually need a diesel or is your primary focus just low motor tax because generally with luxobarges the motor tax is only a miner factor in the total cost of ownership rather than the most important one.

Basically, I'm looking for something big and comfortable, to do low mileage in, with low cost of ownership. Budget is anywhere from 2k to 10k depending on what I see. Obviously, if it's €10k I'll want a high probability of getting a good few years out of it. For a €2k machine I'd be happy to get a year or two out of it and sell it on for pocket money. I realise that any of these cars can develop a fault that makes them economically infeasible to repair, and that I'm playing the odds on not getting a lemon.

bazz26

So what have you looked at so far?

James Bond Junior

Hard to look past a Volvo S80 imho.

Not a lot - there was a lump hybrid lexus posted hear about 2 months ago that got me thinking about it. First time I wanted a Lexus since the Soarer. I've just been doing the maths. I'm the right age for the insurance. I was thinking about going the classic route, but I'm not equipped to do anything more complex than an oil change, so I'm probably better off going for something a generation newer. Audi, Beemer, Merc, Lexus - maybe even something off the wall like a Renault Vel Satis that would have a great spec and have done all its depreciation already.

James Bond Junior

[Deleted User] wrote: »

Not a lot - there was a lump hybrid lexus posted hear about 2 months ago that got me thinking about it. First time I wanted a Lexus since the Soarer. I've just been doing the maths. I'm the right age for the insurance. I was thinking about going the classic route, but I'm not equipped to do anything more complex than an oil change, so I'm probably better off going for something a generation newer. Audi, Beemer, Merc, Lexus - maybe even something off the wall like a Renault Vel Satis that would have a great spec and have done all its depreciation already.

E38 7 series with an LPG kit might be nice. Approaching classic insurance stakes in a lot of cases.

James Bond Junior

James Bond Junior wrote: »

Hard to look past a Volvo S80 imho.

I like them, but those diesels are 1.6s I think? Seems a bit weak for a car that size?

Gravelly

If you are doing low mileage, why do you want a Diesel? Better to go with petrol from a maintenance cost and reliability point of view.
My choice would be either an Audi A6 or a Mercedes E Class - both would be very reliable, very comfortable, and can be gotten with relatively low tax post 2008.

James Bond Junior

James Bond Junior wrote: »

E38 7 series with an LPG kit might be nice. Approaching classic insurance stakes in a lot of cases.

Was thinking about an LPG conversion alright. Unfortunately only one seller of LPG near me and he's charging 10c a litre over the odds.

Gravelly

Gravelly wrote: »

If you are doing low mileage, why do you want a Diesel? Better to go with petrol from a maintenance cost and reliability point of view.
My choice would be either an Audi A6 or a Mercedes E Class - both would be very reliable, very comfortable, and can be gotten with relatively low tax post 2008.

Maybe I'm looking in the wrong places, but all the big block petrols I'm looking at have saucy tax. All things being equal, I would have a petrol.

bazz26

OP, what's your definition of a luxobarge? Mine would be 7 Series, A8, S Class, etc.

Gravelly

You could buy this big sexy beast and not have to worry about tax until next year:

https://www.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/audi-a8l-tdi-quattro-1-years-road-tax-amp-nct/18208460

Gravelly

bazz26 wrote: »

OP, what's your definition of a luxobarge? Mine would be 7 Series, A8, S Class, etc.

Mine too, but no cheap tax to be had on any of those.

bazz26

Yeah, that's the point I'm trying to get across. I think the context of luxobarge is different to the OP.

James Bond Junior

[Deleted User] wrote: »

I like them, but those diesels are 1.6s I think? Seems a bit weak for a car that size?

2.0d, 2.4d and similiar petrols.

Pity about the LPG, makes some very nice cars attainable to run day to day.

James Bond Junior

Gravelly wrote: »

You could buy this big sexy beast and not have to worry about tax until next year:

https://www.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/audi-a8l-tdi-quattro-1-years-road-tax-amp-nct/18208460

We had an identical one in the family a few years ago. A totally underrated car, the quattro is brilliant.

Gravelly

James Bond Junior wrote: »

We had an identical one in the family a few years ago. A totally underrated car, the quattro is brilliant.

Owned one myself a few years ago - utterly fantastic machine, would be on that one like a flash if I didn't have a long commute.

BorneTobyWilde

Mercedes s350 diesel would be one to go for. Will run for ever, cheap tax, think it's 500? for year.
Air suspension, all the bells and whistles

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2010-Mercedes-Benz-S350-Cdi-blue-efficiency-LWB-156k/263567323408?hash=item3d5dd63110:g:LqIAAOSwKJtatipO

Thanks folks. My definition of luxobarge may indeed be skewed as my daily driver is a 3 cylinder i10. Gret little car, but would fit in the boot of a luxobarge

Blazer

Gravelly wrote: »

You could buy this big sexy beast and not have to worry about tax until next year:

https://www.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/audi-a8l-tdi-quattro-1-years-road-tax-amp-nct/18208460

damn that's sexy..nct and tax to boot along with new tyres..
That's about 2.5k off the bat right there.

Heres Johnny

OP I think you should look at it from a total cost of ownership point of view.

I do that myself and I've a budget of about 120-150 euro a week I've set myself for motoring. The car earns me money though as I'm self employed.

Example I've a 523i e60 sport
20 a week tax
50 a week fuel
25 a week depreciation
20 a week repairs/maintenance
20 a week insurance

So think about this for luxobarge ownership

Generally the tradeoff is:

Newer and more fuel efficient with lower tax will mean high purchase price and depreciation

Older and less fuel efficient with high tax will be cheaper to buy and less depreciation

So come up with your figure and see what fits your appetite for cost

I don't think a 2008+ low tax will necessarily be more reliable than a 2006 with high tax so i would nearly ignore that as it's a complete unknown.

For low mileage, it's really a tradeoff between tax and depreciation for you. And I'd be leaning towards petrol.

commited

If you do low mileage stay away from a diesel.

As some of the other posters suggest, look at total cost of ownership:
- Purchase Price
- Tax
- Insurance
- Depreciation
- Maintenance
- Fuel

Some suggestions with "big" tax but low purchase point, depreciation & maintenance:
https://www.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/lexus-gs-2008-sport/18456442

Decent mix of cost, tax, insurance, fuel etc
https://www.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/bmw-525i-3-0l-216hp/18012258
https://www.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/bmw-5-series-m-sport-trade-ins-to-clear/18446931