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Lower mileage 185 upgrade..or downgrade?

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Old Mar 13th, 2019, 14:44   #1
Bigjimknickers
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Default Lower mileage 185 upgrade..or downgrade?

Just thinking out loud really!
My xc90 is on 173k Currently fitting a new gearbox but obviously reliability is what I’m needing- so I’ll give my xc the benefit for now but I’m considering an upgrade to a slightly newer 185bhp model, but...

Are all 2006 185s £540 a year tax?
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Old Mar 13th, 2019, 16:08   #2
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i think so yes until they had a change again 2009-10.

Also if you've been used to 163 type mileage be prepared for a drop to 28.5 mpg ish. 32-35 ish on a run (cruise control on @75mph ish.)

However i have the 185 in my MY2008 XC90 and am quite happy with it.

The 185 gives you 400 newtons of pulling power which puts it not far behind the V8 which gives 460 N (but not far off the V8's consumption figures un-fort unately).
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Old Mar 13th, 2019, 19:32   #3
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There's no correct answer, it's a balance.

The 163 BHP is a more reliable (simpler) engine, more refined, more economical and cheaper tax.

The 185 BHP is a better drive with more power, but not as refined, economical and the engines are more prone to niggling issues (but still structurally reliable) however the 6-speed box on the 185 BHP engine is much better and more reliable than the AW55 and the "geartronic delay" is much less.

Most post 23rd March 2006 185's are high tax (except manual gearbox cars).

If you can find a pre 23/3/2006 low mileage 185 then lower tax but it will be a pre-facelift model.

If only they did a 163 E3 engine with the 6-speed TF80......... :-(
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Old Mar 14th, 2019, 12:19   #4
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I think with my budget & the £540 pa tax on the 185, I’m going to have to stick it out with my old girl for now, then leap to a 200bhp 2011 one when I can afford one.
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Old Mar 14th, 2019, 13:16   #5
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I'd just get the car you want and pay the tax.... the difference between £315 and £540 is £18.75 a month if you pay by DD, there's no sense in spend £000's more to get a car where the higher depreciation loss in value will be substantially more than that a month...
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Old Mar 14th, 2019, 22:44   #6
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Thats exactly what I thought when i bought mine in 2014.

Plenty of £315 tax ones about but either too much to buy or didn't have the toys I wanted.
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Old Mar 15th, 2019, 11:07   #7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Tannaton View Post
I'd just get the car you want and pay the tax.... the difference between £315 and £540 is £18.75 a month if you pay by DD, there's no sense in spend £000's more to get a car where the higher depreciation loss in value will be substantially more than that a month...


My view exactly and the very reason that I bought my 2007 XC90 .

Yes £540 is eye watering but when you look at the monthly difference between that and the lower tax band ones it's not enough of an incentive to avoid a really nice car in the higher bracket.
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Old Mar 15th, 2019, 12:29   #8
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Ours is a 2005 163bhp manual and at some point in the near future we will be looking to replace it with a newer one but I’m looking to jump to the 200bhp one for a number of reasons it is supposed to be better on fuel than the 185 and they also fitted Bluetooth rather than the built in phone which i have now.
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Old Mar 15th, 2019, 18:52   #9
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Originally Posted by owenfackrell View Post
Ours is a 2005 163bhp manual and at some point in the near future we will be looking to replace it with a newer one but I’m looking to jump to the 200bhp one for a number of reasons it is supposed to be better on fuel than the 185 and they also fitted Bluetooth rather than the built in phone which i have now.
Exactly my reasons too.

Fingers crossed for tonight’s lotto!
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Old Mar 15th, 2019, 18:57   #10
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At this current age I don't really see the point of the 185BHP version.

I have the 200HP version and get 32plus MPG driving 75% mtorays at 70 and 25% local. I get around 30 driving locally.

The 200HP is not much more than the 185HP (later 185) and yet is a fair bit more efficient and cheaper to tax.

If you are on a budget then get the 163 model as whilst it is a bit slower it is more economical and cheaper.

The 185 is simply too thirsty and expecsive to be purchased.
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