Cheap runaround for the Mrs - X5?
Discussion
We’re replacing our Audi A6 estate which the Mrs drives more than me. She wants something that isn’t as long as the Audi, has an upright driving position, has an autobox and is a ‘little tank’ . So far we have been looking at soft-roaders like the VW Tiguan and Volvo XC60. They seem like pleasant enough cars but I really begrudge paying £20k+ for 4 cylinder petrol or 5 cylinder diesel when we only do 4,000 miles a year. One of my requirements is to avoid paying £400+ in road tax per year.
Using some kind of twisted man logic I’ve come up with a solution which I have yet to run past my lady – a BMW X5 V8 on the basis that it is the same size as the Volvo, they seem to come with loads of toys and you can get models only 7 years old for under £10k from a dealer.
I’ve got no experience of these cars whatsoever. I’m happy to suffer 18mpg and expensive tyres as we do little mileage, but is there anything else I need to know about these cars? Will people spit at us? Are there any terminal problems?
Using some kind of twisted man logic I’ve come up with a solution which I have yet to run past my lady – a BMW X5 V8 on the basis that it is the same size as the Volvo, they seem to come with loads of toys and you can get models only 7 years old for under £10k from a dealer.
I’ve got no experience of these cars whatsoever. I’m happy to suffer 18mpg and expensive tyres as we do little mileage, but is there anything else I need to know about these cars? Will people spit at us? Are there any terminal problems?
No Idea about the X5 but my wife trundles around in a jeep cherokee, for much the same reasons you cite. you would be able to get much newer one for your 10k than the bmw, ours is 7 years old and would probably retail now for 4.5k it has been totally reliable for the 2 years we have had it. Being the 3.7 V6 it has plenty of grunt and it doesnt go too far making the fuel cost not too painful
They are good value, but only because no one wants them. They are really scared by the sub 20 mpg knocking about, so opt for the diesel. Yet in reality, the diesel will only be 4-5 mpg better at most.
M.I.L has a 3.0d sport MY 2006 and last time i was in it the trip said 21.8 average. Thats 80% town and lots of 2-3 miles journeys driving at a very slow pace. But when she comes to sell it, it will be worth a hell of a lot more than the petrol one because people go mad for this non exsistant mpg.
I think it makes sense, but if you are being tight about spending £400 a year in road tax, i cant see why you would want to loose thousands in depreciation come sale time? (or is it man maths vs i hate tax maths gone wrong?)
M.I.L has a 3.0d sport MY 2006 and last time i was in it the trip said 21.8 average. Thats 80% town and lots of 2-3 miles journeys driving at a very slow pace. But when she comes to sell it, it will be worth a hell of a lot more than the petrol one because people go mad for this non exsistant mpg.
I think it makes sense, but if you are being tight about spending £400 a year in road tax, i cant see why you would want to loose thousands in depreciation come sale time? (or is it man maths vs i hate tax maths gone wrong?)
R12HCO said:
I think it makes sense, but if you are being tight about spending £400 a year in road tax, i cant see why you would want to loose thousands in depreciation come sale time? (or is it man maths vs i hate tax maths gone wrong?)
It's the principle of paying £450 to the government whether I use the car or not. As sawman mentioned it's not consideration for this model as there almost all pre-2006 so £260, same as our current Audi. I don't mind the depreciation as I'll be saving money v. the previously mentioned Tiguan/XC60. I know I'll probably spend more than £400 additional fuel duty on petrol V8 v. diesel, but I really want a V8 burble in my life and it'll be our choice whether to fuel the beast or walk/cab/tube it.
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