X5 v. Cayenne v. M-500 v. ????

Awlrightly, here's thread to get you SUV haters blood boiling (not to mention Bush bashers).

Next week, I'm gonna buy a new company car that qualifies for the $100,000 write off, which means that it has to be over 6,000 pounds GVWR. (Oh man, I can just see the Dean type Greenies starting to foam at the mouth. Ah, nuthin is finer than getting the goat of liver lipped winnies first thing in the morning. Life is good.)

But which gas guzzling, Mother Earth hating, bloatmobile should I buy?

Mercedes is dumping M-500s because they have a new model coming out next year. Plus, they need the money. But after taking such a huge depreciation hit on a 2001 E55, I'm not feeling too good about Mercedes right now.

The regular Pepper truck will work. (I'l love to get a turbo, but $90K is a bit rich for my blood. I need to save the money for timing belt changes,ha!)

The BMW X-5 is about $10k cheaper and BMW just redid this truck with better traction control.

The VW Egg truck looks interesting, but I can't get the salesman to call me back. I hate begging people to take my money.

Lexus makes big SUV, but they are getting just a little too blingy for me.

So what do you think?

Signed, Confused in Tejas!

 

Ah, do you have one of these Queenies in stock?

I thought about the RR, but haven't heard very many good comments about reliability. Wanta hear a bad Brit joke? "How come the British don't build computers?" "Because they can't figure out how to make them leak oil...."

 

Actually Jim, I saw this pic earlier today and I gotta say, it sure looks interesting. Do they make this in pink? "Good ahead... make my day."

 

Are you sure about that? Here's the Tax Code section:

Sec. 280F(d)(5) Passenger automobile
(A) In general
Except as provided in subparagraph (B), the term "passenger automobile" means any 4-wheeled vehicle--
(i) which is manufactured primarily for use on public streets, roads, and highways, and
(ii) which is rated at 6,000 pounds unloaded gross vehicle weight or less.
In the case of a truck or van, clause (ii) shall be applied by substituting "gross vehicle weight" for "unloaded gross vehicle weight".

Basically, the way you play the game is to find a car/truck that flunks this test. Because this means that the vehicle will not be subject to the depreciation limitation rules.

And the only way to confirm this is to look at the plate insider the driver door. Last time I looked both the X5 and the (ah-choo) Pepper car were over 6,000 lbs GVWR.

I had to scratch that big Nav Boy cause everybody knows that pimping ain't easy.

 

Actually, that makes sense seeing how the sticker on the Porsche is so much higher. Did you lease through Porsche?

Of course, with a lease, you don't get the depreciation write off, but if you got a decent mileage number and a good residual, your total cost of ownership might be better. Hmm... might have to think about dat. I bet that I could blow away Luigi's Lambo with a Pepper Turbo. Yeah, Baby!

 

BTW, here are some other options from the IRS Reguations...

(ii) List of vehicles.
Vehicles which are qualified nonpersonal use vehicles include the following--
(A) Clearly marked police and fire vehicles (as defined and to the extent provided in paragraph (k)(3) of this section),
(B) Ambulances used as such or hearses used as such,
(C) Any vehicle designed to carry cargo with a loaded gross vehicle weight over 14,000 pounds,
(D) Bucket trucks ("cherry pickers"),
(E) Cement mixers,
(F) Combines,
(G) Cranes and derricks,
(H) Delivery trucks with seating only for the driver, or only for the driver plus a folding jump seat,
(I) Dump trucks (including garbage trucks),
(J) Flatbed trucks,
(K) Forklifts,
(L) Passenger buses used as such with a capacity of at least 20 passengers,
(M) Qualified moving vans (as defined in paragraph (k)(4) of this section),
(N) Qualified specialized utility repair trucks (as defined in paragraph (k)(5) of this section),
(O) Refrigerated trucks,
(P) School buses (as defined in section 4221(d)(7)(C)),
(Q) Tractors and other special purpose farm vehicles,
(R) Unmarked vehicles used by law enforcement officers (as defined in paragraph (k)(6) of this section) if the use is officially authorized, and
(S) Such other vehicles as the Commissioner may designate.

So, what about a Ferrari cement mixer? Paint that puppy red and when Alan Lambo flips you off from behind, just pull on the pour lever and DUMP!

 

Jim, go back and read the Code Section carefully --

A car needs to have an unloaded Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (unloaded-GVWR) that is over 6,001 pounds to qualify.

A truck has to have a Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) that is over 6,001 pounds.

It is the Weight Rating that counts, not the crub weight of the vehicle itself.

The car versus truck label comes from the manufactuer and the DOT.

So if the DOT says that your bloatmobile is a truck, and if the truck has a GVWR that it over 6,001 pounds, you're in.

The only way that I know to confirm this (because the manufacturers publish only the GVW and towing capacity numbers) is to actually look at the DOT plate on the driver's side door.

You are either pregnant or not.

Now, where can I find one of those trucks you mentioned earlier?






the term "passenger automobile" means any 4-wheeled vehicle--
(i) which is manufactured primarily for use on public streets, roads, and highways, and
(ii) which is rated at 6,000 pounds unloaded gross vehicle weight or less.
In the case of a truck or van, clause (ii) shall be applied by substituting "gross vehicle weight" for "unloaded gross vehicle weight".

 

Huh, are you having flashbacks! Disco Duck?

 

Ask and you shall receive....

Sec 280F(a) Limitation on amount of depreciation for luxury automobiles
(1) Depreciation
(A) Limitation
The amount of the depreciation deduction for any taxable year for any passenger automobile shall not exceed--
(i) $2,560 for the 1st taxable year in the recovery period,
(ii) $4,100 for the 2nd taxable year in the recovery period,
(iii) $2,450 for the 3rd taxable year in the recovery period, and
(iv) $1,475 for each succeeding taxable year in the recovery period.

Sec. 280F(d)(5) Passenger automobile
(A) In general
Except as provided in subparagraph (B), the term "passenger automobile" means any 4-wheeled vehicle--
(i) which is manufactured primarily for use on public streets, roads, and highways, and
(ii) which is rated at 6,000 pounds unloaded gross vehicle weight or less.
In the case of a truck or van, clause (ii) shall be applied by substituting "gross vehicle weight" for "unloaded gross vehicle weight".
(B) Exception for certain vehicles
The term "passenger automobile" shall not include--
(i) any ambulance, hearse, or combination ambulance-hearse used by the taxpayer directly in a trade or business,
(ii) any vehicle used by the taxpayer directly in the trade or business of transporting persons or property for compensation or hire, and
(iii) under regulations, any truck or van.