d j hutton wrote:

I've been having a similar conversation with the vat people. The business of changing windows/seat numbers doesn't affect the Defenders ability to be classed as vat reclaimable apparently. This is because the load carrying capability is over 1 ton, and that's as far as it goes, any other considerations are declared 'moot' by this fact. This is from the horses mouth at Vat office who rang me back to confirm. So a SW is also vat reclaimable despite windows and doors as it can carry over 1000kg, I don't think the same can be said for a 90 though.

The road tax is a different matter, I lost the plot with that, but got the impression that the GVW had to be over 3.5 tonnes to qualify (130 area) and was then told that the lowest tax was £210 which is what the new ones are anyway, so gave up there.

This is at odds to what I assumed and my accountant told me so that's why I checked.

Still gone for the Utility as I liked the look, the secure (ish) storage and it was 1k or thereabouts cheaper and we didn't want to have a pair of seats hanging around the garage for the next 10 yrs or so.

Windows can be added back in no problem it seems but I was quoted 1k for that anyway so we'll see how we get on with no windows for a bit - its coming next week (110 orkney grey xs model) pdi done and looked over, all looking nice, 3.3 miles on the speedo and a big chunk off the asking price plus a bit from the tax man - a no brainer really.

Its the 2.4 motor so hope we have done the right thing with that (the 2.2 wasn't coming in when we ordered and they were another 1k to buy)


Can't wait for next sat.

DJ