Sooo I've moved to the Netherlands. I still have my property and a few cars in the UK (visit regularly and need somewhere to stay and transport)
but I'm now trying to sus out what to do about cars. Ultimately the Dutch road tax system and fuel costs currently make the UK system look like
it is free. Example being in the UK my Hilux Surf costs me a couple of hundred quid a year to tax and fuel is about what 1.70 these days. In NL its
about 3k a year road tax (diesel is 115% more per year than petrol, weight for weight) , with fuel at the 1.90 mark.
I've got a couple of choices. Spend 7kish and buy a cheapish high miler light diesel (something like a pug 1.6 hdi) - pay 100 a month for tax and
get 50-60 mpg. Or B take my 370Z over there, pay about 1k to convert and register it there, and pay about the same in tax but get half the mpg, but at
least have a smile on my face.
it really depends on how long you expect to be in NL.
oh and may I ask, where in NL?
Saving 2k a year in tax to spend on fuel for the 370z sounds sensible to me, at least it's not sitting at home rotting.
As mentioned it all depends on millage, time expected to be in NL etc.
What do they drive? Could you sell some UK cars and get a better already registered NL car.
Minimise (sell) your UK cars down to 1.
Buy whatever's the lowest cost to tootle about in in NL. If you're in a town/suburban area get a pushbike - there's clearly a reason
why the NL's are big into cycling. Note that NL bikes are quite different to bikes we ride in the UK. They ride more upright bikes with chain
covers and built in locks and lights etc. They're not generally riding what I'd refer to as a drop bar road bike or an MTB.
...and whereabouts in NL are you?
[Edited on 18/3/22 by nick205]
quote:
Originally posted by gremlin1234
it really depends on how long you expect to be in NL.
oh and may I ask, where in NL?
quote:
Saving 2k a year in tax to spend on fuel for the 370z sounds sensible to me, at least it's not sitting at home rotting.
As mentioned it all depends on millage, time expected to be in NL etc.
What do they drive? Could you sell some UK cars and get a better already registered NL car.
How would it work if you came back to the UK would you be liable for import duty or as you could prove long term ownership would it not apply?
I'd use the Z. Sod spending that many miles a year in a crapbox to save a few quid on fuel.
I've never understood what people see in the 370z tbh but that's just me. Personally I'd get a fun little runabout, Fiesta, Corsa etc or something older that feels fast while not going fast or using much fuel. I have an old Fiesta and compared to the serenity of the Leaf feels like I'm constantly about to die and I'm rarely going over 65mph in it lol
quote:
Originally posted by nick205
Minimise (sell) your UK cars down to 1.
Buy whatever's the lowest cost to tootle about in in NL. If you're in a town/suburban area get a pushbike - there's clearly a reason why the NL's are big into cycling. Note that NL bikes are quite different to bikes we ride in the UK. They ride more upright bikes with chain covers and built in locks and lights etc. They're not generally riding what I'd refer to as a drop bar road bike or an MTB.
...and whereabouts in NL are you?
[Edited on 18/3/22 by nick205]
quote:
Originally posted by Mr Whippy
I've never understood what people see in the 370z tbh but that's just me. Personally I'd get a fun little runabout, Fiesta, Corsa etc or something older that feels fast while not going fast or using much fuel. I have an old Fiesta and compared to the serenity of the Leaf feels like I'm constantly about to die and I'm rarely going over 65mph in it lol
quote:
Originally posted by sdh2903
How would it work if you came back to the UK would you be liable for import duty or as you could prove long term ownership would it not apply?
I'd use the Z. Sod spending that many miles a year in a crapbox to save a few quid on fuel.
Buy a nifty lpg Little car to run around in. Keep the Nissan, take it over occasionally?
quote:
Originally posted by coyoteboy
quote:
Originally posted by nick205
Minimise (sell) your UK cars down to 1.
Buy whatever's the lowest cost to tootle about in in NL. If you're in a town/suburban area get a pushbike - there's clearly a reason why the NL's are big into cycling. Note that NL bikes are quite different to bikes we ride in the UK. They ride more upright bikes with chain covers and built in locks and lights etc. They're not generally riding what I'd refer to as a drop bar road bike or an MTB.
...and whereabouts in NL are you?
[Edited on 18/3/22 by nick205]
You're trying to kill my enjoyment of life aren't you
I'm very much in a rural environment and all my sports involve taking equipment to even more rural locations, so biking is only possible to commute, which I already do.
Despite the constant assertion that NL is public transport heaven, it's really not, they're just stubborn. It's a 30 minute cycle to work for me, or a 12 minute drive, it's 1hr 10 minutes on 3 buses. Just like pretty much everywhere I've lived, if you already have a car, it's pointless using anything else as it becomes more expensive rapidly.
quote:
Originally posted by coyoteboy
quote:
Originally posted by nick205
Minimise (sell) your UK cars down to 1.
Buy whatever's the lowest cost to tootle about in in NL. If you're in a town/suburban area get a pushbike - there's clearly a reason why the NL's are big into cycling. Note that NL bikes are quite different to bikes we ride in the UK. They ride more upright bikes with chain covers and built in locks and lights etc. They're not generally riding what I'd refer to as a drop bar road bike or an MTB.
...and whereabouts in NL are you?
[Edited on 18/3/22 by nick205]
You're trying to kill my enjoyment of life aren't you
I'm very much in a rural environment and all my sports involve taking equipment to even more rural locations, so biking is only possible to commute, which I already do.
Despite the constant assertion that NL is public transport heaven, it's really not, they're just stubborn. It's a 30 minute cycle to work for me, or a 12 minute drive, it's 1hr 10 minutes on 3 buses. Just like pretty much everywhere I've lived, if you already have a car, it's pointless using anything else as it becomes more expensive rapidly.
Oops double post!