Road tax implications

[Steve McF]

Hi all,

apologies if this is a stupid question, but.......

I've been looking around at Saabs again, and me being older, and them being cheaper, I thought I'd look at something a bit more gutsy than what I've been used to

I recently saw a 9-5 Vector 2.0 online, so I got some speculative insurance quotes. Then I adjusted the quote to take into account a possible remap (to take the standard 150bhp to 200bhp), and the quote increased by £100!!

OK, fair enough I suppose, but it then occurred to me, that with road tax linked to emissions etc, does the road tax band increase as well on a car if you remap it?

[phoenix]

No- it's based on the spec when sold new.

[Audax]

It wouldn't be possible to measure the emissions after remapping anyway, well, OK I guess it would but the costs of doing so would be somewhere in the hundreds of thousands of pounds range.

[Steve McF]

Thanks both, that's great. Just toying with the idea of buying a 9-3 Vector (or 9-5 Vector) and then getting it remapped to be an Aero(ish), if you know what I'm saying.

So the road tax would remain at the lower band, but you take a slight hit on insurance.

[Audax]

To be honest, if you want an Aero spec I would just get an Aero in the first place. An Aero shouldn't cost more than a remap compared to other cars and obviously you can always get an Aero remapped. Insurance for a modded car will probably be more expensive than just getting the Aero in the first place.

[twosaabs]

Last year I turned in the 9-5 2.2tid estate for a 9-5 Aero estate, and lo and behold virtually no increase in insurance. I suppose it's because if you bend it slightly, it doesn't cost much more than the more agricultural model .... 

[Steve McF]

It looks like even the post March 06 Aeros are still 300 quid a year rather than over 500 quid. That means I can look at cars with the dash facelift too

[Steve McF]

Well just acquired a 56 plate 9-3 Aero, and the road tax was......£280!!

And no I didn't make it to a facelift model, but never mind - have only driven it relatively short distances and locally so far, and I love it already!!!!

[StanleyB]

I just got my road tax demand for my 9-3 and it is £305

[Steve McF]

What is yours? An Aero too? Post March 2006?