Member Since: 13 Aug 2021
Location: Southport
Posts: 7
2005 with low tax or newer car with higher tax ?
As the post title , I was wondering what people's thoughts are on if I should buy an older well looked after pre 2006 land rover discovery 3 and save 300 a year on road tax per year or get a newer car which might be slightly newer with less potential repairs but pay the extra , 600 per year which is shocking
Plus what is better the auto or manual ? Or is this personal preference.
I have recently took a 2005 auto and was quite surprised about the performance, the internet has led me to believe that these are really slow and suffer from being under powered, but it seemed ok
What do ya think ?
13th Aug 2021 7:59 pm
LT
Member Since: 31 Dec 2005
Location: South West
Posts: 23369
On the grand scale of Discovery ownership, £300 is neither here or there. Three fills of diesel. 2006 D3 HSE (Original & still the best)-GONE
2010 D4 HSE (A bit bling)-GONE
2014 D4 HSE (Almost too bling)-GONE
2015 D4 HSE (A heated what?)-GONE
2016 D4 Landmark (Written Off)-GONE
2016 D4 Landmark (Surely the last!) PD1881 rims-GONE
2017 FFRR SDV8 Autobiography
13th Aug 2021 8:04 pm
Darkginger1
Member Since: 13 Aug 2021
Location: Southport
Posts: 7
True
13th Aug 2021 8:10 pm
rrhool
Member Since: 28 Aug 2014
Location: Norfolk
Posts: 4400
Mine is manual, but I think if I was buying another I'd get auto. The manual is ok, but I think auto suits this size of car much better.Richard
D3 SE 2007. Triumph 2.5Pi 1973. Ferguson TEA20 1948.
Discovery 2 4.0 ES 2001- Gone
Discovery 1 300Tdi ES '95 - Gone
Range Rover Classic '79 - Gone
13th Aug 2021 8:29 pm
LT
Member Since: 31 Dec 2005
Location: South West
Posts: 23369
Oh and auto is so much better. Nothing wrong with the manual, but the auto box transforms it. 2006 D3 HSE (Original & still the best)-GONE
2010 D4 HSE (A bit bling)-GONE
2014 D4 HSE (Almost too bling)-GONE
2015 D4 HSE (A heated what?)-GONE
2016 D4 Landmark (Written Off)-GONE
2016 D4 Landmark (Surely the last!) PD1881 rims-GONE
2017 FFRR SDV8 Autobiography
13th Aug 2021 8:31 pm
aja4x4
Member Since: 14 Apr 2019
Location: Westbury
Posts: 2459
A good 2006 vehicle will cost no more repair than a later vehicle.
I also love these vehicles with an auto box so much more relaxing to drive.Andrew
D3 2.7tdv6 2005
D4 3.0 SDV6 Commercial died and gone to LR heaven
D5 3.0 SDV6 HSE
13th Aug 2021 8:59 pm
galwaygreen
Member Since: 30 Oct 2011
Location: plymouth
Posts: 6525
our tax for d4 2016 just come in £340...adblue car
14th Aug 2021 12:19 am
DIY Ace
Member Since: 06 Feb 2019
Location: Hampshire
Posts: 882
I bought a 2005 HSE 2.7td on principle to avoid the hefty tax. But I bought relatively blind on ebay, the car then needing torque converter, Park brake overhaul, sun roof drains, brake discs, belt service, etc. It came with no paperwork at all.
Moral of my story - buy a good example and don't focus so much on the year.
An older well-maintained one will be better than a newer one that's been abused. The age (and mileage!) is almost irrelevant with these vehicles, it is all down to the diligence of previous owners.
Lastly - auto all the way in my opinion. These are heavy vehicles and I can't imagine enjoying the constant gear changes needed of a fairly lazy 2.7td.2022 BMW i4 M50. Bought Oct 2022. 10,200 miles and counting...
2014 BMW 435d convertible. Bought July 2021. 58,000 miles and counting...
2005 Discovery 3 HSE Auto. Bought Feb 2019. 169,000 miles and counting...
2009 Freelander 2 XS Manual. Bought Sep 2013. SOLD Aug 2021 (already regretted!)
Member Since: 14 Mar 2021
Location: West Sussex
Posts: 287
Could always look at a newer D4 commercial…most have the 5 seat conversion and a few have the 7 seat conversion.
It’s a nice way of getting into a D4 as it’s only 265 tax a year being a commercial.
To keep it strictly legal though the 5 seat conversion must be a bench seat that folds up to the front seats to form a bulkhead…. That way the seats are classed as temporary and it can maintain commercial status and taxation. They are still comfy enough but nowhere near the standard seats.A mod a week until I have nothing to improve or add.
14th Aug 2021 8:16 am
M3DPO
Member Since: 22 Sep 2010
Location: Notts.
Posts: 8109
galwaygreen wrote:
our tax for d4 2016 just come in £340...adblue car
…and cost probably £40,000+ more than the D3 the OP is wanting to pay.It can when others can't,
It will when others won't,
It goes where others don't.
14th Aug 2021 8:25 am
M3DPO
Member Since: 22 Sep 2010
Location: Notts.
Posts: 8109
DIY Ace wrote:
I bought a 2005 HSE 2.7td on principle to avoid the hefty tax. But I bought relatively blind on ebay, the car then needing torque converter, Park brake overhaul, sun roof drains, brake discs, belt service, etc. It came with no paperwork at all.
Moral of my story - buy a good example and don't focus so much on the year.
An older well-maintained one will be better than a newer one that's been abused. The age (and mileage!) is almost irrelevant with these vehicles, it is all down to the diligence of previous owners.
Lastly - auto all the way in my opinion. These are heavy vehicles and I can't imagine enjoying the constant gear changes needed of a fairly lazy 2.7td.
+1 I miss my old 2005 HSE D3, I now have a facelift D4 and no doubt in some areas they have gone backwards. I also think the first low tax D3 will become an icon like the Defender has done and prices will start to go up.It can when others can't,
It will when others won't,
It goes where others don't.
14th Aug 2021 8:31 am
Gary_P
Member Since: 03 May 2016
Location: Kent
Posts: 1523
If you are planning to drive through ULEZ areas (Birmingham, London, Bristol) then you might want to think about those costs when you make your decision.
It depends how ‘new’ you are thinking of. My observation is that in general, from looking at this forum, I see more major things going wrong with older cars , as you would expect. Having said that, mine needed a new rear prop shaft at around 35,000 miles and 4 1/2 years. If you have access to a good trusted independent or can do work yourself that will play into your choice. As has been stated another £300 a year on road tax is not really a deal breaker on these cars.Gary
-------------------------------------------
Discovery 4 HSE 2016MY
14th Aug 2021 10:07 am
CongoBoy
Member Since: 05 Mar 2019
Location: Wiltshire
Posts: 525
I have a 2008/MY 2009 TDV6 HSE with colour-coded bumpers etc.
With all I have done on it, I cannot justify (to me) selling it and looking for a later D4 in the lower tax bracket.
But when I looked for a Full Fat Supercharged I did specifically look for 2005/before March 2006 MY for the lower tax bracket, which is pretty much half that of the D3.
At the end of the day, if you run a D3/D4, the lower tax bracket is the least of your worries in the big picture of maintaining it!!2008 D3 HSE Stornoway Grey (UK)
2008 D3 HSE Izmir Blue- South African Spec. (Zimbabwe)
2005 FFRR SC V8- Java Black
1995 D1 300 Tdi Blue - (Sourced from the UK, shipped to Namibia, driven by me to RD Congo, then Zambia, now retired in Zimbabwe)
14th Aug 2021 10:50 am
aja4x4
Member Since: 14 Apr 2019
Location: Westbury
Posts: 2459
From a personal perspective i see a lot of low mileage D4's failing due to blocked DPF and EGR valves which can lead to a lot of other engine faults including bearing failures so much so its put me off buying a D4.
I will stick to my trusty old D3Andrew
D3 2.7tdv6 2005
D4 3.0 SDV6 Commercial died and gone to LR heaven
D5 3.0 SDV6 HSE
14th Aug 2021 10:50 am
Darkginger1
Member Since: 13 Aug 2021
Location: Southport
Posts: 7
s60r wrote:
Could always look at a newer D4 commercial…most have the 5 seat conversion and a few have the 7 seat conversion.
It’s a nice way of getting into a D4 as it’s only 265 tax a year being a commercial.
To keep it strictly legal though the 5 seat conversion must be a bench seat that folds up to the front seats to form a bulkhead…. That way the seats are classed as temporary and it can maintain commercial status and taxation. They are still comfy enough but nowhere near the standard seats.
interesting , will look to see if I can find one - thanks
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