Light commercial advice please - 3008?

Buzwaldo

I drive a car for work, but am considering changing to a commercial vehicle for a variety of reasons.
My current workhorse is a Passat, but no longer need to carry more than one passenger.
I carry a certain amount of gear for my work (boot in car is full, with some gear on back seat). Milage not massive 10-15K miles per year.
I'm not mad on large 4 wheel drive jeep types - too big, and too heavy on fuel (diesel).
I had an Mitsubishi Outlander as a family car a few years back, and while it was ok, I preferred the feel and drivability/stability of a 'lower' car.
I want something not too big, but not too small (just right:)) . 4 wheel drive would be nice, but only useful very occasionally, so probably an extravagance.
Have had car derived van (309) in the past, and see such as auris and golf van currently, but consider them a bit small.
What catches my eye currently is a 3008 commercial, but would be interested to hear anything else I might consider.
Small/medium jeep type or commercial variants of car/suv. I'm not that much of a car enthusiast, so not even sure what else is out there or needs to be considered. I would like something that 'drives well' however (had a Peugeot partner van for a while - a chore to drive).
Probably buying new, or newish if available. All opinions welcome.
TIA.

selectamatic

Ford kuga commercial would be worth considering too.

GavMan

C5 Aircross are doing a commercial and essentially the same vehicle as the 3008

Buzwaldo

selectamatic wrote: »

Ford kuga commercial would be worth considering too.

Saw a second hand kuga commercial which had 4 seats, but I reckon 2 seat commercial variant is also available. Will check it out.
Had I known that I could get such a small commercial vehicle with 4 seats, I may well never have gotten the Passat.

Buzwaldo

GavMan wrote: »

C5 Aircross are doing a commercial and essentially the same vehicle as the 3008

Will check that out too. Citroen garage is nearby, but I know the Peugeot guys well. Not well enough to pay a premium for ‘same’ vehicle though. Need to check prices.

Mooooo

Would a normal van not suit better? Caddy, etc. If you prefer a car an estate may suit, tend to have bigger boots than most suv types anyway and look better

Buzwaldo

Mooooo wrote: »

Would a normal van not suit better? Caddy, etc. If you prefer a car an estate may suit, tend to have bigger boots than most suv types anyway and look better

I drove a Peugeot partner for a few years, and I don’t want to go back to that level of ‘comfort’ again, although I’m sure they’ve improved. I don’t mind spending the few extra bob, but don’t want too big either.
A car or estate (which I have as family car) would be grand, and it’s what I am currently using. Unfortunately BIK etc dictates that I need a ‘commercial’ vehicle, and I’m trying to get to car like level of comfort.
Wonder also about Mitsubishi asx. Do they do it in commercial vehicle? Quick search suggests not, which I find surprising.

Drifter50

I changed for a 151 Kuga commercial with 4 seats not the van, last year. Best thing I ever did, super car, ticks all the boxes and I can fit my ladder in if I need it.
I`ll change it again next year for another one

colm_mcm

Buzwaldo wrote: »

I drove a Peugeot partner for a few years, and I don’t want to go back to that level of ‘comfort’ again, although I’m sure they’ve improved. I don’t mind spending the few extra bob, but don’t want too big either.
A car or estate (which I have as family car) would be grand, and it’s what I am currently using. Unfortunately BIK etc dictates that I need a ‘commercial’ vehicle, and I’m trying to get to car like level of comfort.
Wonder also about Mitsubishi asx. Do they do it in commercial vehicle? Quick search suggests not, which I find surprising.

The ASX is an antique at this stage.

Have a look at the Seat Ateca commercial
Nissan also did a commercial Qashqai

Buzwaldo

Seat Ateca looks interesting, but I can’t find a commercial version in my google search. Will ring the local dealer tomorrow and suss it out.
Would have the advantage of 4wd which is not a necessity, but would be handy at times.
Thanks.

Alibaba

Buzwaldo wrote: »

I drive a car for work, but am considering changing to a commercial vehicle for a variety of reasons.
My current workhorse is a Passat, but no longer need to carry more than one passenger.
I carry a certain amount of gear for my work (boot in car is full, with some gear on back seat). Milage not massive 10-15K miles per year.
I'm not mad on large 4 wheel drive jeep types - too big, and too heavy on fuel (diesel).
I had an Mitsubishi Outlander as a family car a few years back, and while it was ok, I preferred the feel and drivability/stability of a 'lower' car.
I want something not too big, but not too small (just right:)) . 4 wheel drive would be nice, but only useful very occasionally, so probably an extravagance.
Have had car derived van (309) in the past, and see such as auris and golf van currently, but consider them a bit small.
What catches my eye currently is a 3008 commercial, but would be interested to hear anything else I might consider.
Small/medium jeep type or commercial variants of car/suv. I'm not that much of a car enthusiast, so not even sure what else is out there or needs to be considered. I would like something that 'drives well' however (had a Peugeot partner van for a while - a chore to drive).
Probably buying new, or newish if available. All opinions welcome.
TIA.

I'm almost in an exact same position myself. Had a landrover 4x4 , jeeps expensive to run and maintain if you haven't got the use for them.
Looking at something along the lines of commercial van .
Have driven a few .
Like the caddy but having a look at a few more makes.

The Undecided One

The Ford Transit Connect is very car-like, I drove one for a while and it's really nice to drive, loads of space for all the tools you need and sliding door.

I was really surprised how comfortable it was.
I drive a Vito daily but the Connect beats it hands down.

L-M

You can commercialise any Jeep to a two seater.

With the reduction in VRT (To 13.3%), but adding in the cost of conversion and paperwork, they usually work out at the RRP of the passenger version, less the VAT.

Pkiernan

selectamatic wrote: »

Ford kuga commercial would be worth considering too.

Or go for its more manly cousin, the Renault Twizy!

Alibaba

Was looking online at a Kia sportage commercial.
They look ok but don't know anything about them.
Any good ?

Buzwaldo

OP here. I was approaching this because my accountant said to get a commercial vehicle, saying that me claiming mileage on my own car (Passat) will be more likely to attract an audit.
I work through a company (family owned, small company) rather than as a sole trader or partnership. Thus any vehicle the company provides has benefit in kind tax implications for me. I started this thread thinking that a commercial vehicle (provided by the company) would attract BIK of 5% rather than 30% for a car.
However it seems that revenue tightened up on BIK in the last few years and in effect any vehicle that’s not built from day one as a commercial will attract 30% BIK. Thus all the commercial conversions, Touareg, Q7, etc will be same BIK as a car. Similarly 3008 van which I was looking at, and most likely outlander commercial, anything that has 4 doors etc.
Hence to get low (5%) BIK, I would need to go for a caddy/partner/berlingo type van, or something like the genuine crew cabs Navarro, L200 etc. I am a bit uncertain what I will do at this stage, possibly just stay driving my car for another while.
Incidentally if I was trading as a sole trader or in a partnership the issue would not arise, it’s just having a vehicle provided by a company, and the strict BIK parameters that apply, means i need to tread carefully.
It’s as much an issue for the taxation forum as the motors one.

R.O.R

Forget Crew Cabs, they don't qualify for 5% van BIK.

Anything registered as a 2\3 seat commercial qualifies for the flat rate BIK regardless of how it starts out life. The legislation for BIK could be read otherwise, but that is to stop someone buying a car, taking the rear seats out and saying its a van.

I'd be slightly more wary of the likes of the Ateca van as they aren't official manufacturer conversions, just dealer, but I think they are still OK for 5%BIK. We don't touch any none official conversions, but I think the 3008 is an official conversion.

Alibaba

I'm thinking about going for a caddy.
Would the 102 Bhp be the one to go for or would most go for 75 bhp.
Not intending to pull a trailer or box , but maybe in the next couple of years..
Looking at a few .

Buzwaldo

R.O.R wrote: »

Forget Crew Cabs, they don't qualify for 5% van BIK.

Anything registered as a 2\3 seat commercial qualifies for the flat rate BIK regardless of how it starts out life. The legislation for BIK could be read otherwise, but that is to stop someone buying a car, taking the rear seats out and saying its a van.

I'd be slightly more wary of the likes of the Ateca van as they aren't official manufacturer conversions, just dealer, but I think they are still OK for 5%BIK. We don't touch any none official conversions, but I think the 3008 is an official conversion.

Thanks for that, more or less what I gathered after looking into it. I note ‘could be read otherwise’ and refer to revenue. https://www.revenue.ie/en/employing-people/benefit-in-kind-for-employers/private-use-of-company-vans/index.aspx
‘is made solely or mainly for the transport of goods’
This is the bit I think I might have a problem with 3008 van or C5 van. They are not ‘made solely or mainly for transport of goods’ rather made as a car and subsequently (pre-reg) converted.
Would be interested if anybody has firm experience of this, or is it just up to how any revenue officer would choose to interpret it in an audit (and what ones accountant is happy with).
Also is it enough to black out rear windows, or does glass need to be replaced?

colm_mcm

Alibaba wrote: »

I'm thinking about going for a caddy.
Would the 102 Bhp be the one to go for or would most go for 75 bhp.
Not intending to pull a trailer or box , but maybe in the next couple of years..
Looking at a few .

I’d aim for the 102, although the 75 is still a 2.0 and has a decent amount of torque.
The 102 is also more fuel efficient than the 75.

R.O.R

Buzwaldo wrote: »

Thanks for that, more or less what I gathered after looking into it. I note ‘could be read otherwise’ and refer to revenue. https://www.revenue.ie/en/employing-people/benefit-in-kind-for-employers/private-use-of-company-vans/index.aspx
‘is made solely or mainly for the transport of goods’
This is the bit I think I might have a problem with 3008 van or C5 van. They are not ‘made solely or mainly for transport of goods’ rather made as a car and subsequently (pre-reg) converted.
Would be interested if anybody has firm experience of this, or is it just up to how any revenue officer would choose to interpret it in an audit (and what ones accountant is happy with).
Also is it enough to black out rear windows, or does glass need to be replaced?

C5 Aircross is listed on my system as a commercial, which means it's an official factory conversion. Same as the Kia Sporatage / Hyundai Tucson, which arrive in to Ireland as passenger vehicles and are converted locally. The Kia/Hyundai definitely qualify for 5% BIK so I wouldn't have any worries about the C5 Aircross.

3008 Commercials may be official, but not on my system as no one has enquired about them - don't have every single model up, but do have the majority of passenger and LCV's available in Ireland there. The 308 van is there as a factory commercial.

Most of these will have the rear side windows tinted, then carpeted on the inside. Very back window doesn't need to be tinted, but it's probably not a bad idea from a security point of view.

Ned Led Zeppo

All commercials have to be tested every year. It's the reason I gave up driving them.

colm_mcm

R.O.R wrote: »

C5 Aircross is listed on my system as a commercial, which means it's an official factory conversion. Same as the Kia Sporatage / Hyundai Tucson, which arrive in to Ireland as passenger vehicles and are converted locally. The Kia/Hyundai definitely qualify for 5% BIK so I wouldn't have any worries about the C5 Aircross.

3008 Commercials may be official, but not on my system as no one has enquired about them - don't have every single model up, but do have the majority of passenger and LCV's available in Ireland there. The 308 van is there as a factory commercial.

Most of these will have the rear side windows tinted, then carpeted on the inside. Very back window doesn't need to be tinted, but it's probably not a bad idea from a security point of view.

Isn’t it a thing that they qualify for €200 VRT if they’re factory?
Wasn’t the Focus van way cheaper than it’s rivals for a while there 5 years ago because of this?