Member Since: 10 Dec 2007
Location: Dijon
Posts: 4
Buying soon!...any tips?
First of all, hello to everyone here on the forum...I'm new
I will be buying a D3 very soon (hopefully), maybee a new Commercial, or maybee a used car with a higher spec, with the intention of having in converted into a commercial.
(I live in France, and vat is reclaimable only on vehicles with 2 seats!)
The commercials seems a bit low on spec compared to some of the other models...and it seems there is a certain percentage of options that must be fitted by the factory, so adding certain options after is not possible!
The perfect car would be;
Commercial in met black/dark green with body coloured arches,and black windows obviously.. 8)
as close to most of the UK SE or HSE spec as possible, BUT not really bothered about the sat nav or tv, or blue tooth thing, or leather seats in fact!
Probably with under body protection, roof rack, tow bar and maybee a few other external options...
So what's the question?...Ok, with a budget max to around £30k..and the catch is, I need to PX a 05 Navara...Whats my best bet, Commercial with all the extras, or 2nd hand car and do the conversion?
btw; conversions here cost 1500 Euros by landrover, and then qualify as commercial for the vat. Seems at 1st glance to be 1500 Euros then to get my seats removed, and be given a piece of paper from Landrover!
Had a test drive the other day...that's why I'm here, and that's why I want one, lol.
"we're all just tax producing livestock...but it's great to be alive"
14th Dec 2007 9:39 am
jm105845
Member Since: 21 Aug 2007
Location: dublin
Posts: 271
commericial
hi have a silver tdv6 commeicial auto
drives and feels like a passenger version
in ireland they leave all the glass in the back and just blacken out the glass with
a piece of carpet like material
they place a flat floor where the back seats used to be
disco looks like a passenger version with darkened out glass
order a commericial and add on any extras you want
go for the auto and all terrain response
conversions here cost 1500 Euros by landrover, and then qualify as commercial for the vat. Seems at 1st glance to be 1500 Euros then to get my seats removed, and be given a piece of paper from Landrover!
Disagree!!! The conversion here costs £1500 (about 2300 Euros) and they do a heck of a lot more than simply remove the seats. I don't know the VAT laws in France but if they are similar to the UK then it will be worth it.
I have a full UK SE spec 2-seater van and I love it. Wouldn't buy a standard commercial even if someone else was paying
The older I get, the more I realise that people confuse wrinkles for wisdom
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14th Dec 2007 12:18 pm
splicer
Member Since: 15 Sep 2007
Location: Bristol
Posts: 24
Quote:
Wouldn't buy a standard commercial even if someone else was paying
Bit harsh there JMC. I have an XS commercial which suits me fine and as far as I recall there wasn't anything you couldn't order as extra if you wanted it.
scarfish, you are right to be careful about ordering extras factory fitted. I'll always be wazzed off that I don't have bluetooth on the radio/stereo and it can't be retrofitted.
14th Dec 2007 12:51 pm
SPOTTER
Member Since: 06 Dec 2006
Location: Adrift........
Posts: 3095
does yours have a heated cargo floor then JMC if it is an SE???end of an era ....... maybe a Defender when it appears.......
In Ireland the commericals must have steel plating behind the side window glass, and the seat attachment holes have to be welded....think there are other requirements but cant remember now.
On the news last night there was some guy having his commercial 4x4 impounded because he put rear seats back in, they are really cracking down on that here at the moment. Customs are often parked outside my place of work and just randomly pulling people.....sorry think i went off the original point there
14th Dec 2007 5:20 pm
scarfish
Member Since: 10 Dec 2007
Location: Dijon
Posts: 4
K, thanks for the advice fellas.. Was going for the terrain response already (cheers JM105845)..but I'll give the blue tooth thing another look, splicer, cheers.
Must confess.. don't do my updates on new technology, so don't actually know what blue tooth is all about yet! without sounding "fik" and all that, lol.
JMC, your conversion looks like a lovely job.. any chance you could list the changes that were made, for me?
remove seats, cargo floor, etc ?
At the mo' it seems a standard commercial with the extras may be the way forward based just on my budget and the prices! I'll need a fat warranty with it, and the top range models seem to hold their value a bit too well.
15th Dec 2007 9:56 am
andybb
Member Since: 14 Dec 2007
Location: Worcester
Posts: 31
Hi
I've ordered a D3 XS commercial. I did look at the conversion option, which means you can reclaim the VAT on the purchase, but from my investigation the reg docs would still show it as a standard car so if you wanted to run it a a company car you pay standard company car tax. Whereas a commercial vehicle as a company car attracts no tax if you pay for private fuel. If your company pays for private fuel your taxed on a £3000 a year benefit. As far as I could find out that's the situation in the UK, not sure about France
Oh and you can get pretty well any extra you want on a commercial.....see below.. Soon.....D3 XS Commercial...Stornoway Grey...Auto..Sat Nav...PTI...iPod doc...Leather...heated deats...Company Car...but not too many £'s to GB ..a true Scotsman..born & bred
the reg docs would still show it as a standard car so if you wanted to run it a a company car you pay standard company car tax.
You are correct that my docs show it as a standard car but I certainly don't pay standard company car tax as mine is classed as a CDV (car derived van). It has been checked out and approved for VAT/Tax purposes as a van, yet for other legal purposes it is a car. There are only two real differences between the conversion and the genuine commercial:
1. I can do 70mph legally
2. I pay more VED
Oh, and one more...... I have 5 seats in my loft which may re-appear after the van has reached the end of it's company life and I buy it off the company at a reasonable price.........
splicer wrote:
as I recall there wasn't anything you couldn't order as extra if you wanted it.
When I got mine (06MY) the commercial wasn't actually available and I understood (perhaps wrongly) that the commercial options weren't going to be the same as the SE spec (particularly the quality of the leather).
splicer wrote:
I'll always be wazzed off that I don't have bluetooth on the radio/stereo and it can't be retrofitted.
So there are options on mine that can't go on the genuine 'commercial'
spotter wrote:
does yours have a heated cargo floor then JMC if it is an SE???
Err No Does any D3 have a heated floor....... The older I get, the more I realise that people confuse wrinkles for wisdom
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8th Jan 2008 1:41 pm
splicer
Member Since: 15 Sep 2007
Location: Bristol
Posts: 24
Quote:
1. I can do 70mph legally
That is a smart move.
Quote:
So there are options on mine that can't go on the genuine 'commercial'
No....I just should have ordered it factory fitted and not dealer fitted....applies to all D3s.
What about the leather? Is it the same in the commercial as the SE/HSE or is it (as I suspect) the poorer version that was being offered in the S spec?The older I get, the more I realise that people confuse wrinkles for wisdom
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8th Jan 2008 2:24 pm
andybb
Member Since: 14 Dec 2007
Location: Worcester
Posts: 31
Quote:
You are correct that my docs show it as a standard car but I certainly don't pay standard company car tax as mine is classed as a CDV (car derived van). It has been checked out and approved for VAT/Tax purposes as a van, yet for other legal purposes it is a car. There are only two real differences between the conversion and the genuine commercial:
1. I can do 70mph legally
2. I pay more VED
Oh, and one more...... I have 5 seats in my loft which may re-appear after the van has reached the end of it's company life and I buy it off the company at a reasonable price.........
B CKS
I should have signed onto disco3.co.uk before i ordered mine
Info I got from the stealer was that if it's converted to a van it's still a van on the docs. Which you confirm is correct.
However I therefore assumed you would pay company car tax rate
But as usual you should never assume DOUBLE B CKS
Regarding the spec.
You are correct the XS car and XS commercial specs are slightly different but I thought that most of the goodies available for the car are available on the commercial.
I certainly got all I wanted.
As to the quality of the leather I let you know after my backside has been in and out of the seat for 6 months Soon.....D3 XS Commercial...Stornoway Grey...Auto..Sat Nav...PTI...iPod doc...Leather...heated deats...Company Car...but not too many £'s to GB ..a true Scotsman..born & bred
8th Jan 2008 2:26 pm
andybb
Member Since: 14 Dec 2007
Location: Worcester
Posts: 31
ooooppss !! Sorry, somehow got the quotes round the wrong bit Soon.....D3 XS Commercial...Stornoway Grey...Auto..Sat Nav...PTI...iPod doc...Leather...heated deats...Company Car...but not too many £'s to GB ..a true Scotsman..born & bred
ooooppss !! Sorry, somehow got the quotes round the wrong bit
You can always use the edit button.......... The older I get, the more I realise that people confuse wrinkles for wisdom
Founder member of Club FFRRV
Club Orange, Mint or Fruit
Club Walnut Sniffers
8th Jan 2008 2:34 pm
andybb
Member Since: 14 Dec 2007
Location: Worcester
Posts: 31
Quote:
You can always use the edit button..........
To edit my order with the stealer?????
And get a standard XS Soon.....D3 XS Commercial...Stornoway Grey...Auto..Sat Nav...PTI...iPod doc...Leather...heated deats...Company Car...but not too many £'s to GB ..a true Scotsman..born & bred
You cannot post new topics in this forum You cannot reply to topics in this forum You cannot edit your posts in this forum You cannot delete your posts in this forum You cannot vote in polls in this forum
without sounding "fik" and all that, lol.
..a true Scotsman..born & bred 
Does any D3 have a heated floor....... 
CKS 
