Time to change the work wagon

[talltimtam]

Well done !!! Glad to hear that you have a proper reason for needing a 4x4 as opposed to the folk who buy them just for status purposes.. you need to try here then ...http://www.bowler-offroad.com/

 

[V8mate]

My accountant says it has to be new as it has to be VAT qualifying so he can work his magic and reclaim the VAT and write the majority of the purchase off against tax. Otherwise I personally would never buy new as there are some excellent ex demo and pre registered cars out there with thousands off, particularly the larger SUV's like the R class and Q7

Just an open question - wouldn't an ex-demo still be a VAT-qualifying car, as the 'owner' is a business?

 

[raymont]

My understanding of VAT on cars is as follows.

VAT incurred on a car can only be recovered if that car is used exclusively for business purposes, the purchaser must be able to prove a car is not available for private use.

If there is any private use, no VAT at all can be recovered on the purchase of the car. There is no apportionment between private and business use, just a straightforward 100% VAT block.

As far as buying second hand goes, if VAT has been fully recovered on a car, that car will be “VAT qualifying”. If a qualifying car is sold VAT will be chargeable on its sale, and recoverable by the purchaser as described above.

Looking at used cars on the MB site it appears that some are ‘VAT qualifying’ meaning that VAT is recoverable.

I suspect this would be true of other manufacturers / suppliers.

I think the situation is slightly different for a leased car. When a leased car is available for private use, VAT recovery for a normal business will only be restricted by 50%.

 

[glojo]

2 reasons, job takes me off road down tracks, temp roads onto drilling sites and I live in a very isolated village which is difficult to get out of in bad weather, particularly last years floods but the subaru performed brilliantly the slightly increased wading depth made all the difference and its sure footedness on the slime left behind could not be faulted

I think it so wrong that folks feel the need to criticise someone for the type of vehicle they drive. Who cares why we want a specific car? Who cares if Ms 'X' only uses her Chelsea Tractor to take the children to school? Is this vehicle less economical than a big V8 mean machine? 4x4 bad, AMG blooming fantastic I'm a huge AMG fan and also like some Chelsea tractor's. If the tailgate of the GL was lower than it it highly likely we would have bought one, it wasn't, so we didn't.

If we all had the same tastes then wouldn't life be dull? We might all be driving around in either silver, or black coloured vehicles

Regards
John the 4x4 fan

 

[Mudster]

I think the situation is slightly different for a leased car. When a leased car is available for private use, VAT recovery for a normal business will only be restricted by 50%.

This bit is correct, not sure about the rest.

If it's a "Pool vehicle" and used for business use only and you have another vehicle for private use you can reclaim 100% on lease/contract hire.

 

[grober]

Turbo X

Is there a four wheel drive version of this or is all the drive through the front wheels? As I need 4x4

Saab have just brought out their TurboX version of their 93 saloon and estate wagon turbo-charged v6 with an improved version of the haldex 4wd system. http://www.saab.co.uk/main/GB/en/index.html The emphasis is on performance on road rather than off road capability so ground clearance might be a factor. I predict it will drink petrol. Future models may include the excellent twin turbo diesel engine but no info on that yet. The new Saab 95 allegedly will incorporate this 4wd system in some models as will a version of the new Vauxhall Insignia which shares the same GM Epsilon 2 platform. I really wonder why manufacturers continue to pair their 4 wd models with big petrol engines when the potential owner profile for this type of vehicle would indicate that a turbo-dieseled model would be a better seller.

 

[Rory]

Looking at used cars on the MB site it appears that some are ‘VAT qualifying’ meaning that VAT is recoverable.

I would have thought that all ex-demo cars and many nearly new cars would be VAT qualifying.

 

[flango]

I would have thought that all ex-demo cars and many nearly new cars would be VAT qualifying.

Not all there is a time limit and other rqualifying criteria (mileage etc) on ex demo and pre registered, 3 months I think but would have to check with accountant. Most dealers are holding on to demo cars longer than this and pre registered cars which dealers do to make their targets are not in as good a supply as they once were

 

[flango]

Well done !!! Glad to hear that you have a proper reason for needing a 4x4 as opposed to the folk who buy them just for status purposes.. you need to try here then ...http://www.bowler-offroad.com/

Now we are talking, excellent link and the Wildcat is awsome not sure what the tax man would make of it though and not sure about the practicalities either, thanks for the link though excellent

 

[flango]

This bit is correct, not sure about the rest.

If it's a "Pool vehicle" and used for business use only and you have another vehicle for private use you can reclaim 100% on lease/contract hire.

Without going into too much detail on a public forum I think this is the way our accountant works it, work wagon is solely for business and my Merc is my private car, VAT is a very specialist subject in this area so I leave it to the accountant but he's never failed me in 10 years