New Defender spec

[Andrew K]

What do people think of fitting a middle front row seat to a 90 Commercial, or should you just put an old sofa in the back instead[joke]
Do those that have one actually make use of it? TIA.

 

[Hilly]

I do some won’t do you think you will ? No one knows but you .

 

[Andrew K]

The seats dont look especially comfortable and my kids are adults now, but it would handy on odd occasions , or for a dog perch maybe?

 

[Mounty]

I would say it might be a handy addition on the 90 Commercial if theres enough occasions that you think it might be useful. Having had 2 seater commercials for 20 years, there were times where it would have been handy. Driving a D/C pick up now, I can count on one hand the number of times I've had a rear seat passenger in 18 months.
I'm looking at the 110 and for me the storage areas in the middle of the front seats are more useful than the extra seat.

 

[Cowabunga]

It makes a very handy box to collect trash when folded forward.

 

[Andrew K]

It makes a very handy box to collect trash when folded forward.

I expect people like Bearmach will be offering after market pop up seats to go in the rear before long, so maybe i wont bother.The fact the new model is comfier to drive, and could encourage more use of the vehicle puts a bit of a spin on things.

 

[Andrew K]

I would say it might be a handy addition on the 90 Commercial if theres enough occasions that you think it might be useful. Having had 2 seater commercials for 20 years, there were times where it would have been handy. Driving a D/C pick up now, I can count on one hand the number of times I've had a rear seat passenger in 18 months.
I'm looking at the 110 and for me the storage areas in the middle of the front seats are more useful than the extra seat.

I am wondering if it would be possible to just get a non commercial car and claim all or part of the VAT back on that,as it would be pretty much 100% business use here?

 

[Mounty]

You'd need to speak to your dealer and accountant. Used to be something called VAT qualifier on some vehicles. Bit of a grey area but plenty used to do it especially on LR's.
Just beware on the 90 passenger version, with the rear seats folded down, the floor is not flat like in the 110. There is an annoying 3" or so step. I think its around where the rear of the rear seats are?

 

[Andrew K]

You'd need to speak to your dealer and accountant. Used to be something called VAT qualifier on some vehicles. Bit of a grey area but plenty used to do it especially on LR's.
Just beware on the 90 passenger version, with the rear seats folded down, the floor is not flat like in the 110. There is an annoying 3" or so step. I think its around where the rear of the rear seats are?

Noticed that Andrew, looks a bit odd compared to the 110,but I guess they ran out of room due to the shorter wheelbase on the 90?

 

[Cowabunga]

I am wondering if it would be possible to just get a non commercial car and claim all or part of the VAT back on that,as it would be pretty much 100% business use here?

You can claim 50% of the VAT back on business contract hire. If you don't intend to keep it more than three or four years, it is a cost and tax efficient method of running a business car. If it is always parked at a workplace and not your home, and used 100% for work, then you can, or used to be able to claim 100% VAT back.

 

[Cowabunga]

You'd need to speak to your dealer and accountant. Used to be something called VAT qualifier on some vehicles. Bit of a grey area but plenty used to do it especially on LR's.
Just beware on the 90 passenger version, with the rear seats folded down, the floor is not flat like in the 110. There is an annoying 3" or so step. I think its around where the rear of the rear seats are?

Can a small bale of hay or two dozen fencing posts and wire fit in the back of a new 90? If not, what's the point? Go for a 110 for a more practical vehicle.

 

[Andrew K]

You can claim 50% of the VAT back on business contract hire. If you don't intend to keep it more than three or four years, it is a cost and tax efficient method of running a business car. If it is always parked at a workplace and not your home, and used 100% for work, then you can, or used to be able to claim 100% VAT back.

Would probably keep for around 8 yrs, similar to existing D Max pickup. That makes me more inclined to own it. Not sure how farm vehicles stand up to the hire company scrutiny once you are done with them ? I try to look after our vehicles but those guys like to find fault IMO.

 

[Andrew K]

Can a small bale of hay or two dozen fencing posts and wire fit in the back of a new 90? If not, what's the point? Go for a 110 for a more practical vehicle.

Thanks but dont really need the extra size of the 110, and because i want the Six cylinder diesel 90 it will have to be new rather than a cut price 4cyl. Interestingly LR seem to be discounting the 4 cylinder cars now that engine spec has changed. Either JLR had a lot of 4 pot engines looking for a home last year or it is emissions led?

 

[Iron150]

this is off gov website so looks possible to me if its 100% business, it also states that if claiming on commercial vehicle that would need to be 100% business use also

Vehicles and fuel costs
Buying a new car
You may be able to reclaim all the VAT on a new car if you use it only for business.
The car must not be available for private use, and you must be able to show that it is not, for example it’s specified in your employee’s contract.
‘Private use’ includes travelling between home and work, unless it’s a temporary place of work.



QUOTE="Andrew K, post: 7354520, member: 490"]
Would probably keep for around 8 yrs, similar to existing D Max pickup. That makes me more inclined to own it. Not sure how farm vehicles stand up to the hire company scrutiny once you are done with them ? I try to look after our vehicles but those guys like to find fault IMO.
[/QUOTE]

 

[Mounty]

Thanks but dont really need the extra size of the 110, and because i want the Six cylinder diesel 90 it will have to be new rather than a cut price 4cyl. Interestingly LR seem to be discounting the 4 cylinder cars now that engine spec has changed. Either JLR had a lot of 4 pot engines looking for a home last year or it is emissions led?

Some cancelled orders in there too. Lots of people who had 4 pots on order cancelled them and re ordered a 6 pot once LR released details of the new engines.

 

[Andrew K]

Some cancelled orders in there too. Lots of people who had 4 pots on order cancelled them and re ordered a 6 pot once LR released details of the new engines.

Yes, you would think they would have had a base model to use up the 4 cylinder motors rather than expect people to splash out serious money on high spec vehicles compromised by the power unit?Not sure where they are engine wise with the Disco range etc...

 

[warksfarmer]

What do people think of fitting a middle front row seat to a 90 Commercial, or should you just put an old sofa in the back instead[joke]
Do those that have one actually make use of it? TIA.

when I was on the test panel for the new defender between 2016 and 2019 we were shown a multitude of seating options and they definitely had a few versions of the traditional bench seat. We were quizzed about it at length so I’d say have it because it definitely seemed that’s the way LR wanted it to go.

 

[Timbo]

Yes, you would think they would have had a base model to use up the 4 cylinder motors rather than expect people to splash out serious money on high spec vehicles compromised by the power unit?Not sure where they are engine wise with the Disco range etc...

The Petrol and Diesel 6 cylinders are now, I believe BMW based, coupled to the ZF 8HP -they've done this because they can buy-in the these already-superbly refined powertrains with with or without integrated Motor generators** (that just work) ALOT cheaper than developing their own, which lets be honest, LR are shocking at doing.


** - just as grenadier are proposing to do.

 

[Cowabunga]

The Petrol and Diesel 6 cylinders are now, I believe BMW, coupled to the ZF 8HP -they've done this because they can buy-in the these already-superbly refined powertrains with with or without integrated Motor generators ALOT cheaper than developing their own, which lets be honest, LR are shocking at doing.

You are not the first I've heard claim that they use BMW engines now. Have you any real references for this? I have very big doubts, because they have their own six cylinder [and four and possibly three cylinder] petrol and diesel engines built at their new state of the art dedicated engine factory just off the M54, north of Wolverhampton. These are their so-called 'Ingenium' series engines and are more like a Fiat design than a BMW, but all their own work.

Lets see this alleged mysterious BMW engine and with proper references to its use by JLR in a press release or magazine editorial or, better still, from either BMW or JLR's horse's mouth please.

Otherwise I call 'bullcrap' on it.

 

[Timbo]

You are not the first I've heard claim that they use BMW engines now. Have you any real references for this? I have very big doubts, because they have their own six cylinder [and four and possibly three cylinder] petrol and diesel engines built at their new state of the art dedicated engine factory just off the M54, north of Wolverhampton.
Lets see this alleged mysterious BMW engine and with proper references to its use by JLR in a press release or magazine editorial or, better still, from either BMW or JLR's horse's mouth please.

Otherwise I call 'bullcrap'.

I'd rather keep my source, who is deep in JLR, very anonymous.